Christmas in the Congo

Posted on 14. Dec, 2005 in Christmas, Seasons of the Church Year

Egide Dhara speaks to Eileen Good about celebrating Christmas in the Congo. He explains that Christmas mass there is very different to mass in Ireland and it includes lots of singing and dancing and could last up to 3 hours. He describes another large celebration on December 31st where people come together and pray for […]

Explain the 12 Days of Christmas

Posted on 14. Dec, 2005 in Christmas, Mass, Seasons of the Church Year

Barney McGuckian SJ talks about the 16th and 17th centuries when it was an insult to Queen Elizabeth to attend Mass. He runs through the ’12 Days of Christmas’ and explains how they contained coded language in order to inform people about Mass they could attend in secret in order to avoid punishment. In: “Well […]

ICPO-Family Member in Prison

Posted on 14. Dec, 2005 in Christmas, Crime, Family

Christmas is a time when family get together.  However for some families, not everybody is able to come together.  Sadly some families have members serving prison sentences overseas.  Miriam Gormally met with Kay, whose son is in prison abroad.  Miriam also talked with Grainne Prior from the ICPO, the Irish Commission for Prisoners overseas about […]

Family Help at Christmas

Posted on 14. Dec, 2005 in Addiction, Alcohol, Christmas

For many families, the prospect of Chritmas fills them with dread, as someone in the family will use the season to drink excessively – spoiling things for everyone else and leaving the family again trying to figure out what can be done about thie addictions.  Patricia Coyle spoke to a member of Al Anon about […]

TRUST – 30 Years On

Posted on 30. Nov, 2005 in Christmas, Discrimination, Homelessness

Alice Leahy, director of TRUST, writer ad broadcaster speaks to Eileen Good about their work with the homeless. She talks about the wonderful things that happen at Christmas but also reminds us that Christmas can be a time of loneliness for many people. But first Eileen asks if people have forgotten the Christian ethos of […]