Majella and Daniel O’Donnell with Ruby Mason at the launch of the Irish Cancer Society’s 27th Daffodil Day last March.
Cancer survivor Majella O’Donnell is to speak publicly in Derry next week about her battle with the illness.
The wife of legendary Donegal singer, Daniel O’Donnell, will be one of a number of speakers during the week-long Little Way Novena retreat in St Eugene’s Cathedral.
After she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, Majella underwent a double mastectomy before going on to raise over half a million pound for the Irish Cancer Society.
The 53-year-old will be one of a number of high profile speakers during the Little Way Novena which will begin at 7.30pm this Saturday with Mass with the Sacrament of the Sick to be celebrated by retired Bishop of Derry, Most Rev Dr Edward Daly.
She will be the guest speaker on Tuesday evening.
The theme of the retreat is “You receive from God as much as you hope for’.”
Two of the most integral elements of the Novena (Monday to Friday) will the morning Eucharist at 6.30am and 10.00am and the Evening Devotions at 7.30pm featuring a guest speaker.
Bishop of Derry, Most Rev Dr Donal McKeown, will speak during a “time prayer and devotions” at 6.00pm on Sunday.
Guest speaker on Monday will be David Quinn.
A journalist who specialises in religious and social affairs, he is director and founder of the Iona Institute which promotes marriage and religion in society.
Jenny Sinclair, founder of the Together for the Common Good project, will speak on Wednesday evening.
As the only daughter of Bishop David and Grace Sheppard she is responsible for the Sheppard legacy and administers Better Together Trust which she established in 2011.
Archdeacon Robert Miller, Rector of the Combined Parishes of Christ Church, St Peter’s, Culmore and Muff will speak on Thursday.
On Friday, the final evening of the retreat, Angela Hayes and her son Alan will share their experiences of losing Angela’s husband and Alan’s father, Tommy, in 2002 and her son and Alan’s brother, Thomas. in 2011 to raise awareness on suicide.
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