2nd April 2008

1.  40 Years of Concern
It’s hard to believe that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the charity Concern.  Set up by John and Kay O’Loughlin Kennedy in March 1968, Concern now operates in more than 30 countries with a staff of over 4,000.  Eileen Good met up with Concern’s Chief Executive Tom Arnold and began by asking him if an impact was being made in the eradication of global poverty?

2.  Suicide in Ireland
Suicide is something that all families and parents dread. It brings on feeling of loss as well as guilt. Unfortunately suicide rates in Ireland continue to remain high, especially amongst young adults. Miriam Gormally met Suzanne Costello from the Samaritans to find out why?

3. Remembering Chiara Lubich
Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolore and considered to be one of the most influential women in the Church died recently at 88. The Focolore group worked on world unity bringing together people from all walks of life. Miriam Gormally phoned Susan Gately, member of the Focolore in Ireland to find out what was so special about this woman and her work. 

4.  Divine Mercy Sunday
Divine Mercy Sunday takes place the Sunday after Easter to remind us that the promises of Easter are not just for one day. It is a time to celebrate the good news of Love and Mercy. Miriam Gormally met Cathal Price PP to find out more.

5.  Dawn Without Darkness
Watching a parent die can raise many questions. Helen Gallivan saw her own Mother go through a long and painful death, one which she calls an “unrelieved darkness.”  Watching her Mother loose hope, Helen struggled with her own faith. She tells the story to Eileen Good, a story, which ultimately bore fruit to her book, “Dawn without Darkness.”

6.  Heart to Heart
Since winning the hearts of the nation on You’re a Star, James Kilbane has continued to tour and perform in Ireland, America and England.  He has also found time to release 5 hit albums.  His latest album Heart to Heart focuses on songs of praise for our Lord, and songs of honour for Mary.   Here he discussed the themes of the album with Eileen Good.

7.  The Universe of Little Towns
Every little town is a universe and Jim O’Halloran SDB gives his insights into his own town of Callan. He also explores how the Church of the future will be based on the community living of small towns. He explains all to Eileen Good.

8.  A Waste of Dreams?
Jack Houlahan has worked as an addictions counsellor, facilitator and training consultant, as well as lecturing on addiction for the past 25 years. He has recently written a book –A Ghost in Daylight: Making Sense of Substance Misuse – where he identifies the pattern behind uses of substances.  He suggests to Eileen Good that one of the best ways to overcome substance misuse is to manage substance use.

9.   Movie Review:  Michael Clayton
Michael Clayton is a legal thriller film which chronicles the attempts of attorney Michael Clayton to cope with a colleague's apparent mental breakdown and the corruption and murderous intrigue within a major client of his law firm. As well as George Clooney the movie stars Tilda Swinton who won an Oscar for her role as Karen Crowder.

10.   Music:  Amazing Grace
This week’s music piece is the traditional favourite Amazing Grace taken from James Kilbane’s latest album Heart to Heart.

16th April 2008

1.  Communion and Confirmation
We are now in Communion and Confirmation season, celebrations that are becoming more and more extravagant. Fake tans and limos are now almost the norm. However amongst this excess there are still people for whom these events are a huge financial burden. Miriam Gormally asked Mairead Bushnell from the Vincent de Paul about the help that is needed for families at this time

2.  The Tibet Question
In 1950 China, under Mao made claim to Tibet. Since then Tibet has seen huge changes including a government in exile and the emergence of a resistance movement amongst Tibetans. Recently the conflict has come to a head with clashes and protests over the Olympic Torch relay. Miriam Gormally met Neil Steedman from the Tibet Support Group Ireland to ask him how he feels about the relay and about the Olympics being held in China.

3. Blessed Columba Marmion
This year marks the 150 anniversary of the birth of Dubliner Blessed Columba Marmion.  During his lifetime, he was a curate in Dublin, Professor in Clonliffe College, a chaplain for Redemptorist nuns and a women’s prison before getting permission from his bishop to become a monk in 1886. Pat Coyle spoke to Fr. Jim Caffrey, Rector of St. Paul’s Church, Arran Quay, Dublin – where Bl. Columba was baptised, to hear about this man who was beatified by Pope John Paul the Second in 2000.

4.  Adult Faith Development
Siobhan Larkin works at the Milltown Institute in Dublin where she is Head of the School of Adult and Continuing Education and Director of the H.Dip in Adult Religious Education.  Having worked in this field in New Zealand for over 30 years, she is convinced that the challenge for the Church in Ireland right now is to build on people’s Faith with a view to building a faith community for the future.

5.  News from Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has been in the news a great deal lately as the nation worries about how far Mugabe will go to ensure that he remains in power. Protestors against Mugabe and even those who voted against him now fear beatings and torture. Miriam Gormally phoned Oskar Wermter SJ living and working in Zimbabwe and asked him what the atmosphere there was like. 

6.  Consumer Values
For world day of communication, Pope Benedict reminded us of the need for responsible messages from the media. Martha Yvette Aguilar from El Salvador spoke of how her country was suffering due to the climate changed caused by the excessive lifestyle of developed countries. She explained the role that the mass media had in shaping this excessive living. 

7.  Pilgrimage - Santiago
The pilgrimage ‘season’ is now well under way, with people all over the country heading off to various destinations.  One of the increasingly popular venues in recent years has been the walk to Sandiago de Campostela in Spain.  Peter O’Connor spoke to Jim Galvin Secretary of the Irish Society of the Friends of St. James about his experience of doing the Camino.

8.  Slavery in Ireland
Despite the abolition of slavery over 100 years ago, there continue to be exploitation of people throughout the world. Dr. Daire Keogh is a lecturer of History with St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra and conference speaker on the topic of modern day slavery. He answered Miriam Gormally’s question about whether there are still forms of slavery existing in Ireland.

9.   Movies that Matter
Richard Leonard is Director of the Australian Catholic Film Office and Catholic Church Television in Australia, where he also lectures in film and media in the University of Melbourne.  He was in Ireland recently to launch his book ‘Movies that Matter – Reading film through the Lens of Faith.’  Pat Coyle met with him and asked him that very difficult question for a film buff  -  what are your favourite films?!

10.   Music:  When this Day is Done
This week’s music piece is taken from Liam Lawton’s CD A Day of Our Own – Music for Wedding Liturgy.

30th April 2008

1. Vocations Crisis
Recent headlines about Vocations have been very stark  -  according to a recent editorial in the Irish Catholic "The number of priests in Ireland is plunging, according to the latest Irish Catholic Directory, 160 priests died in the last 12 months and only 9 were ordained to take their place”. Eileen Good asked Brenda Drumm, from the Catholic Communications Office in Maynooth if these figures indicated a crisis.