E-mail: 3rproductions@tinet.ie

  This week we have an interview with Bishop Donal Murray, Rev. Gordon Linney and John Alderdice about some of the issues raised when the Peace Forum was addressed recently by Irish Catholic Bishops.  We also look at the incidence of stress among middle-aged and suicide among young people.

Side One:

1. Crossways:  News in the Church and the World. For our main report this week Liam Greene asked Charles O'Connor SJ, Retreat Director, what did Church Unity Octave achieve.  The news was read by Elaine Comerford and Liam Greene, SJ.

Time:  5.50

2. Forum for Peace and Reconciliation: The Forum for Peace and Reconciliation has been meeting at Dublin Castle every week for over a year now.  It's members are drawn from all political parties, North and South, with the exception of the unionist parties.  Last week the forum was addressed by a delegation from the Irish Catholic Bishop's Conference.  Two big issues on the agenda were integrated education and mixed marraiges.  Martin Browne discussed these and other issues with Bishop Donal Murray, Rev. Gordon Linney, Church of Ireland Archdeacon of Dublin, and Dr John Alderdice, leader of the Alliance Party in Northern Ireland.

In   Murray:  "Well, I think the Forum..............to be pluralist with." (Alderdice) Time:  6.01

3. Retirement:  Claire Wilson is a professional theatre director and currently lectures in communications at All Hallows in Dublin.  Presently, she's engaged in conducting workshops for religious sisters preparing for retirement.  Kathleen Dooris RSM asks her if retirement is a problem for these people.

In  Wilson:  "Well, I think retirement is........................they could just be."  Time: 6.14

4. Festival of St Brigid: Professor Séamus Ó Catháin, Dean of the Faculty of Celtic Studies in University College Dublin, has recently published The Festival of St Brigid: Celtic Goddess and Holy Woman. Ó Catháin draws on the folklore record to elucidate the nature of the festival of St Brigit.  Antoinette Harbourne asked him "Who is St Brigid and what does she represent today?".

In  Ó Catháin:   "Our St Brigit's Day is one.........................would come around." Time: 6.31

5. Feast of the Presentation of St Blaise:  Fr Michael Drumm talked to Marie Stuart RSM about the meaning of the Feast of the Presentation on February 2nd, St Blaise and the tradition of the blessing of throats on February 3rd.  Michael teaches theology in Mater Dei Institute.

In   Drumm:   "Most people.................................but in fact it is very earthy." Time:  4.40

Side Two:

1. Cáirde Rwanda:  In the two years since the genocide in Rwanda came to light, many Irish people have volunteered to work there.  Those volunteers who have returned to Ireland have now formed a group called Cáirde Rwanda.  They aim to keep pressure on government to work towards restoring law and order in Rwanda, and seeing that war criminals are brought to justice.  Martin Browne spoke to Sr Therese Flynn MSHR about Cáirde Rwanda.  Sr Therese is a Holy Rosary Sister who recently returned from working with Trócaire in Rwanda. She is native of Kinnegad and last year apealed on national radio for help to kit out some young soccer teams.  All 22 teams now have football gear!  Cáirde Rwanda can be contacted through David Joyce, Comhlámh, 10 Upper Camden Street, Dublin 2.  Tel. (01) 4783490 Fax (01) 4783738

In Browne: "It's a couple of years...................for your contribution."   Time:  4.57

2.  Suicide:  Suicide by young people in Ireland has increased dramatically in recent years.  Official figures suggest that around 400 people commit suicide each year, or about seven people every week.  In the 15-35 age group suicide is the most common form of death and exceeds the number of deaths caused by road accidents or cancer.  Antoinette Harbourne spoke to Sean Haughey, National Chairman of Ógra Fianna Fáil, who is looking for something to be done about the problem.
 
In  Harbourne: "Sean, just how bad....................................can be put into place." Time:  5.18

3. Prayer:  Br Alberic Turner, Cistercian Monk at Bolton Abbey in Kildare, talks to Marie Stuart RSM about prayer and how to approach it.

In  Turner: "I'd say there are as many ways.........................growth in life."  Time:  4.12

4. Ballintubber Reflections:  Fr Frank Fahy tells the story of Sean a'tSagairt and describes the Nativity Cave in the grounds of Ballintuber Abbey.

Sean a'tSagairt
In:  Fahy:  "We're in a graveyard............................grave of Sean a'tSagairt." Time:  3.17

The Nativity Cave
In:  Fahy:  "Now we're here in the............................for a full half hour."  Time:  2.22

 5. Stress:  A recent survey commissioned by Pharmaton Vitamins found that pressures are mounting for middle-aged Irish people.  Almost half the middle-aged people feel under more pressure from work; 81% claim to have more financial pressures; 63% feel they have less time to get things done; and 47% are under more family pressure.  Prof. Patricia Casey, consultant psychiatrist with the Mater Hospital in Dublin, talks to Antoinette Harbourne about the reasons the 25-35 age group are particularly affected by stress and what they can do about it.

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