TELEVISION Sunday 22 December 2002 RTE 1 - 11.15am A Meditation for Christmas Week The incarnation of Christ in the week that recalls his birth. UTV - 11.00am My Favourite Hymns Julian lloyd Webber chooses his favourite hymnds and talks to John Stapleton. Channel 4 - 7.55pm 12 days in bethlehem Series of short films about the Holy Land at Christmas Monday 23 December 2002 UTV - 1.05pm Film: The Bible (1966) With Richard Harris and George C. Scott, John Huston's account of the Biblical stories of Genesis covering the Creation to the story of Abraham. Channel 4 - 8.55pm 12 days in Bethlehem Series of short documentaries about the Holy Land at Christmas Christmas Eve - Tuesday 24 December 2002 RTE 1 - 10.50am Where Christmas Began Documentary retracing the footsteps of Mary and Joseph. UTV - 1.45pm Film: The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) Biblical epic with an all-star cast chronicling the life of Jesus of Nazareth. RTE 1 - 6.25pm JOY TO THE WORLD A star studded programme of Christmas music and readings with the RTE Concert Orchestra, Chris de Burgh, Niamh Murray, the Celtic Tenors, Bellefire, Secret Garden, Charlie Mc Gettigan, the Maynooth University Chamber Choir, Cór a nÓg, and the 150-strong Maynooth Choral Union. The programme will come from the church of St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, Co Kildare. Channel 4 - 8.05pm 12 Days in Bethlehem Series of short documentaries about Christmas in the Holy Land. RTE 1 - 8.30pm The History of 'Give Up Yer Aul Sins' Children from inner-city Dublin recall Bible tales. RTE 1 - 11.00pm Christmas Midnight Mass from Mountjoy Prison Four years ago, on Christmas Eve 1998, RTE transmitted the first live telecast from Mountjoy with Midnight Mass from the old Women's Prison. It was a memorable occasion and a challenge to the OB personnel on the programme. The Mass was celebrated on a corridor between the cells - just eleven feet wide! We promised to return when the newly built women's prison would be up and running. So this year, we return to 'the Joy'. And what a change! The new prison, now called the 'Dochas Centre' is like a village although within a prison complex. Some of the eighty women who live there are preparing music, props and artwork to decorate the gym where the Midnight Mass will be celebrated at 11pm on the night. The sermon will be given by Fr Peter McVerry SJ, well known as a champion of the marginalised in Irish society. The celebrant will be Fr Michael Shiels, a member of the chaplaincy team in Mountjoy. UTV - 11.15pm Christmas Service from Liverpool, Cathedral Famous singers and celebrities join Bishop of Liverpool, James Jones, to celebrate a Christmas service at the city’s cathedral. The theme of the service is world peace and singers Russell Watson and Izzy are joined by readers William Roache, Tracy Shaw, Richard Whiteley, Simon Weston , Jean Boht and Sister Wendy Beckett. BBC1 - 11.40pm Midnight Mass A live service from Wells Cathedral. RTE 1 – 12.05am A Musical Christmas from the Vatican Recorded earlier in December, some of the world's leading singing stars provided this concert for the Pope - Sarah Brightman, Tom Jones, Dionne Warwick, Charlotte Church with the Symphony Orchestra of Turin. Christmas Day - Wednesday 25 December 2002 RTE 1 - 10.15am Service of Holy communion From the Church of Ireland parish of Rathfarnham, Dublin. RTE 1 - 11.00am URBI et ORBI Pope John Paul's annual Christmas morning greeting to the world from the balcony of St Peter's in Rome. RTE 1 - 11.35am Christmas Day Mass Christmas Day Mass from the Parish of Brackenstown, near Swords, Co Dublin, with celebrant Fr Heber McMahon PP. Brackenstown parish is celebrating its Silver Jubilee this Christmas, so this promises to be a birthday celebration in every sense. RTE 1 - 2.00pm Christmas Greetings from the Primates of Ireland The Archbishops of Armagh, Dr Sean Brady and Dr Robin Eames give their annual greeting and message for Christmas. Saturday 28 December 2002 RTE 1 - 5.00pm The Pope and the Irish in Toronto Viewers get a flavour of the excitement and enthusiasm of over half a million young people from around the world when they gathered at a former aerodrome near Toronto last July for a meeting with the Pope. 'The Pope and the Irish in Canada' follows a thousand young Irish people as they joined others from 169 countries in an evening of music, song, prayer and a strong message from an obviously rejuvenated Pope who reminded the youthful throng that they were ' the salt of the earth' RADIO |