9th July 2008

1.  Croagh Patrick
Reek Sunday, on the last Sunday of July is when up to 25, 000 pilgrims from all over the world, many in their bare feet climb Croagh Patrick. Situated near Westport, Co. Mayo it has been a place of pilgrimage since the arrival of Celtic Christianity in the 1st Century and possibly before the Celts.  A more recent pilgrim has been the Archbishop of Tuam, Dr. Michael Neary and he told Eileen Good about his earliest memories of climbing the Reek

2.  G8 in Japan  
As food and oil prices increase dramatically pushing more people into extreme poverty, the world waits for leadership from the G-8. Earlier this week, Pope Benedict XVI joined his voice to the appeals on the members of the G-8 to make good on promises to the poor. Miriam Gormally interviewed Max Lawson, policy officer with Oxfam who is currently over in Japan and asked him if the G-8 meeting were making an impact. 

3.  News from Zimbabwe
It is just over one week since Mugabe won the second election in Zimbabwe. It was an election that made a mockery of democracy, with only one man as a choice. Since then the people of Zimbabwe have been trying to get on with their lives in the face of brutality and soaring prices. Miriam Gormally spoke to Oskar Wermter, a Jesuit in Zimbabwe to ask him how people are feeling about the situation. 

4.  Samaritans 24/7
‘I don’t know where to turn’   ‘Nobody cares’   ‘I’m all alone in the world’   ‘I just want to hear a human voice’  - these are just some of the comments that Samaritan volunteers hear regularly on their 24/7 helpline.  On the 24th. of this month (24/7) the Samaritans are having their Nationwide Awareness and Fundraising Day and want people everywhere to be part it.  Eileen Good asked Suzanne Costello, Director of Samaritans, about the idea behind 24/7.

5.  Ethos of St. John of God Brothers
Mention that someone is in ‘John of Gods’ and people usually assume that the person is being treated for an alcohol related problem. But there are many more services available there, under the ethos and philosophy of St. John of God – which is, “that people are the creation of God, with intrinsic value and inherent dignity.” Bro Kilian Keaney told Eileen Good about those services.

6.  Suicide Liturgy
Suicide numbers, sadly, continue to rise in Ireland.  As this happens, family and friends struggle to find ways to cope with the tragedy and also how to have a meaningful liturgy.  Mary Connell is Pastoral Co-Ordinator in Castlebar where the Parish Team is devising a new Liturgy to help those bereaved by suicide.  She told Pat Coyle how this initiative came about.

7.   Remembering Frank Duff
Fr. Barney McGuckian was the speaker at this year’s annual commemoration ceremony of Frank Duff, founder of the Legion of Mary. Fr. Barney spoke to Eileen Good about the influence of the Legion world wide and his memories of the times when he met Frank Duff.

8.  Refugees and Jobs
Applying for refuge status in Ireland is a long and drawn out ordeal. While waiting news people live in what is known as direct provision. This usually means very basic food provisions and often-overcrowded accommodation, plus a weekly allowance of 19euro a week. These conditions have been strongly criticised by the Vincentian refuge centre as not giving people a real opportunity to integrate. Miriam Gormally met Turan, from the centre, to ask what he thought of the direct provision provided by the state. 

9. Music:  Rain Down
This week our music selection is taken from the CD Come to the Feast Instrumental Arrangements by Tom Kendzia.  The piece is called Rain Down.

23rd July 2008

1.  World Youth Day            
This month in Australia, young people from all over the world gathered for the 23rd World youth Day. They prayed, danced and celebrated their faith. The highlight was meeting the Pope. And this year, the Pope issued a full apology for child sex abuse by priests and clergymen, saying that “Victims should receive compassion and care, and those responsible for these evils must be brought to justice.” Miriam Gormally spoke with Paul Rooney from Youth 2000 in Ireland at the event in Australia and he described the excitement of the world youth day in Australia.

2.  Story of Lourdes  
As pilgrims worldwide celebrate the 150th anniversary of Lourdes, Eileen Good met with Msgr. John Moloney, now retired, who has visited Lourdes 51 times, and for 15 of those visits he was the Spiritual Director for the Dublin Diocese.  He has also written extensively about Lourdes and the Apparition of Our Lady in 1858.  He recapped on the story of St. Bernadette and also about the early years of arriving as a pilgrim in Lourdes.

3.  Upcoming Olympics
As the Olympics approach, controversy over the situation between China and Tibet continues. Graham Kinch who climbed Everest this year was out there while the Chinese were brining the Olympic Torch up to the summit. Tension was high at the time and he explained to Miriam Gormally just how it affected their climb.   

4.  St. Paul
Periodically the Church sets aside an entire year to encourage all of us to focus on some important aspect of our Faith.  Pope Benedict XVI has announced that from June of this year to June 29th. 2009 the Church would observe a year of celebration in honour of St. Paul the Apostle.  Pat Coyle spoke to Fr. Peter Briscoe about St. Paul and started by asking him about St. Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus.

5.  Blessed Damien
Pope Benedict has announced that Blessed Damien – the Leper Priest – will be declared Saint within the next year.  This follows the cure of a woman, in Hawaii, of cancer through her intercession with Bl. Damien. Eileen Good spoke to Fr. Eamon Alyward of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary and asked him about Fr. Damien and his life caring for lepers in Hawaii.

6.  Attitudes to Refugees
While the Irish Government continues to talk about the importance of an integrated society, this summer saw the closing of the Integrate Ireland Language and Training centre. Miriam Gormally spoke with Hassan who talked about the difficulties of living as a refuge in Ireland as well as his disappointment that the centre was to be closed.

7.   Changing Times in the Church
In recent times parishes around the country are being asked to look at new ways of encouraging lay people to participate in the life of their local Church – and this means looking at traditional roles in a new light. Pat Coyle spoke to Fr. Eugene Duffy, lecturer in Theology and Religious Studies in Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, about these issues and about the new ministry, in Ireland, of the Lay Deacon.

8.  Urban Soul
Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we all tried to be kind to at least one other person? This is the message of Reggie Dabbs, Pastor and motivational speaker. He has inspired people from all over the world with his message of respect and kindness and his vision of creating a better world. He was over in Dublin speaking with young people who were involved in Urban Soul. Reggie began by explaining to Miriam Gormally what Urban Soul was about.

9. Music:  Nada Te Turbe
This weeks music piece, Nada Te Turbe comes from the Taizé Community.  For more information see www.taizé.fr