It's hard to be thinking about Halloween when it's the middle of July, but that's the down side of preparing a magazine a long time in advance. Thus I almost forgot to remind you about Cor et Lumen Christi's wonderful Night of Light initiative. This I'm sure you remember is to provide a Christian alternative to the usual witches and gouls and to celebrate the true feast of All Hallows Eve. For ideas log on to www.nightoflight.org

It is perhaps appropriate that with the ongoing conflict in the Middle East one of the main themes to have emerged in this issue is unity. This was one of the priorities mentioned as key at the Newman Consultation. It has also been underlined by Michelle Moran, the new chairperson of the English NSC, in her article on the way forward for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. She also reflects on the 40th anniversary celebrations organised by ICCRS in Fiuggi and what the Holy Spirit seems to be saying through these. Charles Whitehead, meanwhile, who recently handed on the chairmanship to Michelle, draws on his vast experience in ecumenism, and shares some practical wisdom on how to be truly ecumenical without losing your own religious identity. This year's Irish National Catholic Charismatic Conference reflected this new concern for unity in choosing two Protestant speakers to address the event. This caused a certain amount of controversy but proved a great blessing, as Marie Beime reports on the Irish news page. Readers of the Irish edition of Goodnews, which has its own Irish pages, get a double blessing as Dymphna Sheehan, also reports on the event. Those wishing to get copies of the talks can do so from Eist Tape Services.

Key to maintaining unity is trust. Fr Pat Collins CM, who is off for a two year sabbatical to the United States, shares the remarkable story of a prayer community he once belonged to which covenanted never to criticise or be negative about each other. Not only did love grow among them in this climate of love and trust, but praise grew and growth in spiritual gifts and effectiveness in evangelisation. Challenging stuff when we sometimes wonder why we are not so effective as we once were in these things. As well as fasting from criticism as Fr Pat recommends, Gabriele Sedda, another Goodnews team member reminds us about the power of fasting. He leamt about this in a new way, through seeing the diminishment in his spiritual life that happened when he stopped fasting. Roy Hendy from the House of the Open Door Community in Worcester, encourages us to be open to being more specific in our prayer when we receive a prompting from God. He shares some encouraging examples from his community life including the amazing conversions they saw last Pentecost Sunday in Worcester prison. Fr Chris Thomas on the Agape pages remembers his own conversion to Christ and the difference it made to his life, but reminds us that conversion is a choice that must be made every day. Sue Whitehead in an extended Other Half column, reflects on the difference conversion made in her own life, in her attitude to friends and family and how she came to appreciate them more and see them as gifts from God, not just fortunate coincidences.

In the wake of the Pentecost meeting with the Pope, we continue our series on some of the new movements in the Church. This month Mgr Keith Barltrop, the director of the Catholic Agency for Evangelisation, writes about the Community of St Jean. Neil Hughes, one of the young leaders in the CCR also tells us about a new leadership programme to deepen understanding about the role and purpose of the CCR.

With the breakdown of marriage becoming more and more commonplace among Catholics, Bridget Slattery shares her story and how The Beginning Experience, a ministry to the separated, divorced and bereaved helped her. Shaun Growney, a member of the Goodnews team, who divorced over 30 years ago, returned to the practice of the Catholic faith a few years ago. He reflects on how his new found faith affected his attitude to relationships with the other sex, and how doing things God's way, has led to happiness, and (after adissolution of his former marriage) a surprising new marriage that he didn't expect.

Mary Taylor continues her useful tips for those involved with children's liturgy, showing us how to make a picture summer box, to remind us of our holidays. David Palmer, one of the long serving CREW Trustees, who is also a member of the Goodnews editorial team, explains why we will unfortunately have to raise the cover price of Goodnews due to increased postage and printing costs which have risen over the years. Sorry! I do hope you still keep reading Goodnews and enjoying it. We're always interested to have your feedback, even if I'm not always very good at answering all my letters. We'll have to pray that God will send me a secretary!

Fianlly, congratulations to Myles Dempsey and the Prince of Peace Community who organize the New Dawn Conference which this year celebrates its 20th Anniversary!

Kristina Cooper