With Easter behind us, we look forward to Pentecost in June. This year it will be a special one, as Pope Benedict XVI, like his predecessor John Paul II, has called representatives from all the movements to come to Rome to celebrate the vigil of Pentecost with him in St Peter’s Square. Over 400,000 people came to Rome for this meeting in 1998, which proved an historic and important one on many levels. After the Pentecost meeting, there will be a special ICCRS conference, looking at the Catholic Charismatic Renewal over the last 40 years and thinking about the future. ICCRS is asking us to cover this time in a special way with prayer (see “International News” page 31 for more details).

For those who haven’t already heard, at our last NSC meeting Charles Whitehead stepped down and Michelle Moran was elected to take his place. New people bring new directions and it will be interesting to see how the Holy Spirit will lead us in the months and years to come.
As someone who has worked very closely with Charles Whitehead for over 20 years, I know he will be a very hard act to follow. He has been from my point of view a pretty near perfect boss. He has given me amazing freedom and trust. Yet at the same time he has always been there if I needed advice about some particularly difficult situation. I’m sure David Payne from Catholic Evangelisation Services would say exactly the same. This respect for other people and the ability to listen to their views and opinions has meant that everybody is always happy to work with him. This has been particularly significant on the ecumenical scene. Because people immediately trust him he has been able to act as a bridge in many potentially difficult situations. The word servant leader can become something of a clich? but it really is the case with Charles. I remember the shock waves he caused as president of ICCRS when at the following international conference he turned up in the vestibule to help the newly arrived delegates with their suitcases! All this has made me very proud to be associated with him. It will be strange not having him at the helm anymore, but I know in Michelle, God has given us a very gifted and able leader, and I look forward to working with her.

In this issue we continue our series on single Christians in the Church and the world. We look at romance and dating and how the Christian attitude might differ from contemporary ones. Several Catholics in their 30s share their experiences of courtship, as practiced in several Christian covenant communities. There is also a testimony of internet dating and speed dating.
Fr Raniero Cantalamessa OFM Cap, the papal preacher, continues his teaching from the Newman Consultation on “Renewing the Renewal”, while Marcellino d’Ambrosio from the USA, finishes part two of his assessment on Vatican II and how he feels its objectives have been met.

For those who work with children and who are looking for practical ideas, Mary Taylor continues her series of liturgy ideas for children. This month, she suggests preparing a Pentecost stole for your priest and shows how to make one. Meanwhile Sr Nancy Kellar, a sister of Charity from New York and one of the best known teachers of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, begins a series of prayer group teachings on being empowered by the Holy Spirit.

At the original Pentecost there was a great grace of unity and charismatic renewal in many countries began in an ecumenical context. One of the conclusions of last year’s Newman Consultation was the importance once again of making Christian unity a priority. It is thus significant that this year the Irish NSC has invited two Protestants as main speakers for their annual charismatic conference in June. One of these speakers is Rev David Matthews, the House Church leader from Northern Ireland, who is well known in the UK. In this issue we hear his story and how the Lord helped him to overcome the suspicions and fears, created by his background, to work with Catholics. Irish readers in their own Irish section which replaces the UK coming events section, will also have the added bonus of learning a bit more about popular writer and speaker, Fr Jack McArdle, another of the speakers. Fr Pat Collins CM, in the main magazine, continues this unity theme, by reminding us of two great Pentecostals who have made a significant contribution to the renewal of the Catholic Church, David Du Plessis from South Africa and Smith Wigglesworth from Yorkshire.

We also have a special report from Spiro Sueref of the Catholic Miracle Rally organised by the Cor et Lumen Christi community, which took place in London in March this year and some of the incredible healings that happened. Other significant news in London is the start of a new Catholic intercessory ministry, based at Our Lady’s and St Gregory’s Church, in Warwick Street, which seeks to bring people from the many nations who live in London to intercede for the capital. This call to intercession is one that seems to be everywhere, so it may be one we should heed.

Kristina Cooper