Transcript

[Mosaic logo composed of people's faces, with Jesus appearing at the centre.]

Day for Life 2006 - IRELAND

[To camera and shots of west coast of Ireland:]

Stephen:

My name is Stephen and I come from Belmullet on the west coast of Ireland. I love where I live because it is so beautiful with landscapes, seascapes - everything you can ask for. We are blessed with our weather here. We get hot, we get cold. We get rainy, we get sunny and that in itself is a great thing.

[Outdoor shots by the sea, Stephen seated]

A few years ago I had an accident at sea. It changed my world - my world was put upside down. It left me in such a way that I ended up in a wheelchair. Depression set in for about the first year, I found it very very hard to cope. People around me had a job to deal with it and without the support from my wife and family I wouldn't be the man I am today.

[At the Irish Wheelchair Association, Belmullet]

Rose:

My name is Rose and I am the service coordinator at the Irish Wheelchair Association centre in Belmullet. We exist here to provide a timely and worthy service for people with disabilities and our aim is to integrate people with disabilities into the community. We transport the people from their homes and we provide a variety of activities when they come into the centre: arts, crafts, light exercise, hair care - and we do an awful lot of social outings.

[Shots of parachute exercise conducted by Stephen]

Stephen has been involved with our centre for the past 5 years. He instructs our service users in light sports.

Stephen:

- Everybody is getting a great stretch on their arms. Brilliant!

Rose:

He's come a long way himself so he's great for motivating people, and he's great to lift the spirit.

[To camera and outdoor shots, followed by still shots of crowds at Lourdes]

Stephen:

I always had a strong faith but the accident did really question that. My faith was challenged. I must say that I was down - really down at the bottom of the barrel - down low. Lourdes was a change for me. It brought peace and calm. I felt wellbeing, felt at home. There were no language barriers, everybody intermingled. There were thousands of people there and it did enlighten me. It gave me new insight to life, that if all these people can come together, that's absolutely brilliant. In Lourdes, I did make a promise to myself that I'd be back - but I'd be back on my two legs.

[Outdoor shots of Stephen walking]

Since that I have moved on. Yes I can say that I have kept my faith alive, but it's that little bit stronger. Now I am able to walk around with the aid of a Zimmer frame. So it is brilliant!

[At the bishop's house and shots of Stephen and the bishop at Irish Wheelchair Association]

Bishop John Fleming:

John Fleming is my name, and I'm bishop of Killala. Belmullet is part of this diocese. I met Stephen for the first time in 2002 on the Killala diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes. On that occasion he was confined to a wheelchair and I honestly believed he would never walk again. Now, four years later, he is back on his feet, quite literally, walking with the help of an aid. He is, to me, unbelievable. His determination to overcome his disability and to live life to the full once again is obvious to everyone. Stephen really is one of those people that is a source of inspiration for all of us.

[Irish Wheelchair Association service users and shots of Stephen to camera]

Stephen:

I am blessed to be in a community that is so gelled together in the faith of God that it has given me a great inspiration. God is there for all of us from the day we're born to the day we die. So, regardless of disability or anything else, take a leap in faith - you will conquer mountains.

Credit:

Lourdes Images
© Sanctuaires Notre-Dame de Lourdes

[www.dayforlife.org]

[End]

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