Tape Date: 22nd July 1998

Well, this is our last tape to you before the end of August. It being summer - allegedly - many people take off on pilgrimage. We hear about Taizé and Lourdes. We hear about life in Peru and Nigeria, and we hear about how things are now in Northern Ireland.

Side 1

1. Crossways: News in the Church and the World: An organisation called Asylum Rights Alliance recently held a press conference where they called on the Irish Government to allow asylum seekers work and study while they await the outcome of their case. Mohammed Haji, a native of Somalia, was at the press conference. In our main report we hear why he wants to work and study. The news was read by Elaine Comerford.

Time: 5.48

2. Mayo Women's Refuge and Support Services: In recent years we have heard much about domestic violence. Mayo Women’s Refuge was established in Castlebar in 1994. Clinics are now held in different areas of the county and Educational and Awareness Raising programmes are run. Josephine McGourty is director of the services and she talked to Marie Stuart RSM about the realities of domestic violence, the isolation, fear, shame and powerlessness people feel in the situation. Most importantly she says ‘nobody has to live with violence, the first step is to break the silence and tell someone’. Help is available. (Any person experiencing violence and looking for help can call 1800 341900, this is a freephone number)

In: (Stuart) "Is domestic violence............want to do that." Out: (McGourty)

Time: 5.13

3. Lourdes Pilgrimage: Mary O'Brien lives in Dublin and works for the Irish Landmark Trust. But since 1975 she has worked as a helper on the annual Oblate Pilgrimage to Lourdes. We have all heard of Lourdes and the millions of people who visit it. But what are the expectations of those who go, is it a deeply religious place? Elaine Comerford spoke to Mary about these issues. She began by asking Mary how she became involved all those years ago.

In: (O'Brien) "I have a very good..............they get in Lourdes." Out: (O'Brien)

Time: 7.26

4. Family: When we hear the word family most of us automatically assume that family should be a happy supportive place. For many people the reality is very different. We can also assume that people in unhappy families are to blame for their own difficulties. This is not true either according to Jim Sheehan, Director of the Mater Hospital Child and Family Centre. Jim ran a workshop on Family in UCG recently for the Mercy Sisters of the West of Ireland. Marie Stuart, RSM, talked to him about the difficulties facing families today. First she asked him if family is really the great thing we imagine it to be?

In: (Sheehan) "Family can be......................the other side of joy." Out: (Sheehan)

Time: 5.23

5. Pilgrimage to Taizé: The village of Taizé in south-eastern France doesn't appear on many tourist maps. Yet its ecumenical monastic community welcomes tens of thousands of predominantly young pilgrims each year. Taizé's combination of communal living, prayer, work and socialising attracts young people from all over the world. Martin Browne spoke to two people who have just returned from a pilgrimage to Taizé: Jerry Carey, who was on his fourth visit and Silla Horan, who was visiting Taizé for the first time.

In: (Browne) "Where and what is............find themselves going back." Out: (Carey) Time: 5.35

Side 2

1. Peru: Catherine McInerney is a Mercy Sister with a very understandable interest in the GAA, her brother is well known Galway hurler Gerry McInerney. She worked with the Irish Chaplaincy in London for ten years and then worked in Mexico for three years. Two years ago she moved to Peru. When she arrived home on holidays recently Marie Stuart, RSM, asked her about her experience of Peru.

In: (Stuart) "What's the day to day........know that we care." Out: (McInerney)

Time: 6.07

2. Keeping Sunday Holy: There has been a lot of talk recently about keeping Sunday holy. In a new apostolic letter, Pope John Paul reminded Christians that Sunday should be dedicated to the Lord. Canon Neil McEndoo works in a Dublin Church of Ireland Parish, his is also Chaplain to the Teacher Training College. Elaine Comerford spoke to him about the difficulties of keeping Sunday holy. She began by asking Canon McEndoo how it has become unholy.

In: (McEndoo) "Well I think...................reality of this life." Out: (McEndoo)

Time: 6.27

3. Northern Ireland Now: The Good Friday Agreement, the referenda held North and South of the border and the assembly elections lead to great hope for peace at last in Northern Ireland. More recent events however have underlined the difficulties of achieving a lasting peace built on mutual respect, trust and understanding. Marie Stuart, RSM, talked to Jim Cavanagh about the situation now. Jim is an ex-primary schoolteacher who has been an SDLP Councillor in Dungannon since 1985 and was chairperson of the Council in 1991 and 1995.

In: (Stuart) "In the context of ..............and totally condemned." Out: (Cavanagh)

Time: 6.52

4. Nigeria: The last few months have seen much change in Nigeria. The country's long-time dictator, General Abacha, died and has been replaced by an as yet untried regime. But what of the people of Nigeria and their lives now? What hope is there for the future? Martin Browne spoke to a priest working in the Nigerian diocese of Abeokuta, Fr. Olufemi Michael Akintolu.

In: (Browne) "What is life like................come and develop Nigeria." Out: (Akintolu)

Time: 3.32

5. People on the Margins: Everyone knows the Celtic Tiger exists, but for many people it means nothing. More and more people are just about hanging on to the margins of our society. Fr. Peter McVerry, SJ, ran a workshop in Galway recently. He spoke to Marie Stuart, RSM, about the reasons for the increase in the marginalised of our society.

In: (McVerry) "I think there might...........from Irish society." Out: (McVerry)

Time: 6.39