Tape Date: 17^th February 1999

I hope this letter finds you well. With the season of Lent upon us, we have a number a pieces for this week’s tape. We explore the Psychology of Lent, take a look at Prayer and Lent and finally view Lent from a liturgical perspective. We cover Trocaire’s Lenten Campaign and we speak to Fr. Luke Monahan about Religion as a exam subject and Suicide and young people. Bishop Paul Colton tells of the shock he got on becoming the new Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and New Ross. We have Frank Fahy on Pilgrimage and items on Women’s World Day of Prayer and Weakness.

What about this for a new idea for Lent, the Jesuits have a Prayer page on their internet Website. Alan McGuckian SJ talks to us about it.

Side A:

1. Crossways: News in the Church and the World. In our main report this week, we hear from the recently nominated Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Canon Paul Colton, on the life of a Church of Ireland Bishop in the modern day. The News was read by Alan McGuckian SJ and Paula O’Gorman.

Time: 5.55

2. Trocaire Lenten Campaign: Each Lent, Trocaire asks people to think more about the developing world and to contribute money to support its projects around the World. The Theme for this year’s campaign is Third World Debt. John O’Reilly spoke to Fionnuala Gilsenan, Project Officer for Asia, about this year’s campaign.

Time: 4.39

3. Lent and the Christian Journey: Sr Patricia Holden is a Liturgist at All Hallows College, Dublin. Here she talks to Peter Scally about Lent as a season of Christian initiation. But don't most of us think of Lent as about 'giving things up'? Surely, Lent is a season of penance?

In: (Holden):"Penance isn't an....…………... moment powerful." Out (Holden)

Time: 5.45

4. Gerry W. Hughes SJ - Prayer and Lent: Gerry W. Hughes, the Jesuit writer on spirituality, who lives in Birmingham, has many works to his name, including the award-winning God of Surprises. Peter Scally interviewed him about prayer and Lent, but began by asking him, as an expert in spirituality, did he have a wonderful prayer life?

In (Hughes):"(laugh) If by that you mean ......... at least do a little bit." Out: (Hughes)

Time: 5. 19

5. The Psychology of Lent: During the six weeks of Lent, many people will make some sort of small sacrifice, from giving up sweets to abstaining from alcohol. But what exactly is the point? Are people trying to achieve something or is it nothing more than a remembered gesture from our schooldays? Paul Andrews is a Jesuit priest and a consultant psychotherapist, and he believes there is much to be gained from using Lent as an opportunity to exercise control over our appetites. Mark Harkin asked him what the psychological significance of Lent is.

In: (Andrews) "If you talk of ................................……..I should do?" Out: (Andrews)

Time: 4.29

6. Pilgrimage: Pilgrimage has always been an important part of the lives of Christians, and of the Jewish people before them. In modern times, the word ‘pilgrimage’ has become associated with bus trips to Knock or aeroplanes to Lourdes, more than with the experience of being on a journey towards God. Ballintubber Abbey, in County Mayo is the starting point for an ancient Irish pilgrimage route, and Father Frank Fahy, has many years of experience at directing pilgrims who come to walk and reflect. Martin Browne asked him what pilgrimage is.

In: (Fahy) "I suppose it is life…………of our human development." Out: (Fahy)

Time: 4.17

Side B:

1. Religion as an Examination Subject: Religion is about to be introduced as an examination subject in secondary schools. What impact will this have? Will it make a difference to the number of young people who will be interested in religion? Does it have implications for the parish? Marie Stuart RSM talked to Fr Luke Monahan about these questions. Luke is a Marist priest, an educational consultant at Marino Institute and national co-ordinator of the Irish Association of Pastoral Care in Education.

In: (Stuart) 'What is the position ………….. when they choose it' Out: (Monahan) Time:5.25

2. The Jesuits' Prayer Website: On Ash Wednesday, the Jesuits launched a prayer site on the internet. It will run throughout Lent, and will be updated on a daily basis for people to log-on to each day whether at home or at work. The launch of the site marks the culmination of months' work at the Jesuit Communication Centre in Dublin by Alan McGuckian SJ and his team. Mark Harkin asked him what's on the prayer site.

In: (McGuckian) "It's a series of..............……. gimmicky about it." Out: (McGuckian)

Time: 5.41

3. New Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross: At the end of last month, the Church of Ireland chose a new bishop. Canon Paul Colton, the Rector of the large Dublin parish of Castleknock, Mulhuddart and Clonsilla, will become the new bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross in a few weeks' time. Our reporter, Peter Scally, met Canon Colton and asked him how he felt when he got the news.....

In: (Colton):"Well, it was a shock ...…... within the Church of Ireland." Out: (Colton)

Time: 5. 30

4. Weakness: Most of us don't like thinking too much about our weaknesses. Many of us have tried very hard to get rid of them. Br Alberic Turner takes a different view. He talked to Marie Stuart RSM about accepting our weaknesses as part of being human. Marie first put it to Br Alberic that most of us have tried to get rid of our weaknesses. Br Alberic is a Cistercian brother based at Moone Abbey, Co. Kildare.

In: (Turner) 'We have and I think …………………… and gives us life' Out: (Turner)

Time: 6.08

5. Women's World Day of Prayer: 5^th March marks Women's World Day of Prayer. It's a global, interdenominational phenomenon that has its roots in the United States of the nineteenth century. May Byrne is one of the people organising events in Ireland. Mark Harkin asked her what happens around the country on this day.

In: (Byrne) "Well, the annual Women's.......................and their families." Out: (Byrne)

Time: 3:45

6. Suicide and Young people: Figures for 1998 show that 500 people died by suicide, an increase of 15% on the previous year. Most people who die this way are male and between the ages of 15 and 24 years. What happens to parents? What happens to a family when someone in the family dies by suicide? How can neighbours and friends be helpful and supportive? Marie Stuart RSM put these questions to Fr Luke Monahan. Luke is an educational consultant at Marino Institute and has done extensive work with schools around dealing with suicide amongst students.

In: (Stuart) 'What happens to parents ….. going is terribly important' Out: (Monahan)

Time: 6.02

Luke Monahan is editor of Suicide Bereavement and Loss: Perspectives and Responses, which was published recently. The book examines all the issues around suicide, bereavement and loss and is an invaluable handbook for parents and everybody who deals with young people. It is available from Marino Institute, details on the flyer enclosed.