By the time you read this we will be well into Lent and not only Easter but Pentecost will be coming soon. Pentecost has long been the forgotten feast in the Church, yet it is just as essential as Christmas and Easter, and Michelle Moran encourages us to respond to Pope Benedict’s call to promote the culture of Pentecost in the Church. Last year we produced a special prayer guide for Easter tide called “Road to Pentecost”. This year we are promoting this again in a revised version published by the Catholic Truth Society (see page 9). Do take advantage of our special offer to buy copies for friends, fellow parishioners, RCIA and confirmation candidates. We have also produced a “Pentecost novena” leaflet, for parishes, a copy of which is included in this magazine for you to show to your parish priest in the hope that he might order some from CTS! We are also setting up a Pentecost novena website with meditations to follow, and giving details of coming events which groups might be organising in the Easter to Pentecost period. (see page ...). Jesus Youth, one of the charismatic youth movements in the Church founded in India, but flourishing here in the UK, are in the process of arranging 24 hour a day adoration for 50 days from Easter to Pentecost in England. So we encourage you to think about what you might be able to do this year to promote the culture of Pentecost in your parish, whether it is by running Life in the Spirit seminars, or organising an ecumenical Pentecost prayer event or to just to put a Pentecost poster in your window (free in the next issue of Goodnews) or to buy a few Pentecost prayer guides or novena leaflets to give away.

Whatever people’s experience at parish level, it is good to know that the Charismatic Renewal has always received great encouragement and support at the highest level of the Church. Charles Whitehead in his article reminds us that the charismatic dimension is essential to the life of the Church, and quotes from recent popes and what they have said reinforcing this, in particular Pope John Paul II’s cry at Pentecost in 1998 in St Peter’s Square to “be open to the gifts of the Spirit.”

Matt van Duyvenbode, the newest member of the NSC who is a youth worker in the Northampton diocese, has been involved in some interesting research on the beliefs of Catholic young people. The conclusions are relevant not just to young people but to all Catholics as we seek to live a balanced Christian life. Being baptised in the Holy Spirit is only the beginning of our walk with God, who leads us in many different ways, and Michelle Harrison updates us on the parish cell system which she and her husband James lead in their parish in Guildford, and the importance of small groups in bringing renewal to parish life.

I have long been concerned about the collapse of moral values in our society and the parallels with the fall of the Roman Empire. Just as it was the monasteries that preserved the Christian faith and civilisation then, I believe the monastic values of prayer, stability and hospitality are key for us today. It also is important to engage with the society around us. With a general election coming up in the UK shortly, Dennis Wrigley, the founder of the Maranatha community, gives us some helpful tips on how we might make our voice heard. Monica Farry, a reader from Manchester, shares some of her own experience of trying to make a difference in her local community. The local coffee shop is a setting where we can perhaps discuss our ideas and views about what kind of society we want. Rev. Cid Latty tell us about an exciting new initiative called “Café Church” which uses out of hours Costa Coffee houses as a base for outreach to the local community by running evangelistic evenings with a difference.

Pat Kennedy continues her series on the charisms. She reminds us that we are all called and gifted by God for a particular work to build up the Kingdom of God on earth. Baptism in the Holy Spirit brings alive these baptismal graces and gives us a new expectant faith to step out and serve others. Someone whom the Lord used in an amazing way not only in the UK but all over the world is Fr. Michael Harper (who died in January this year), an Anglican clergyman who in later life converted to the Orthodox Church. Charles Whitehead reminds us of the fruitfulness of Fr. Michael’s life and what he contributed to the wider body of Christ. Sometimes the Spirit will take us to places we don’t want to go and Fr. Chris Thomas reminds us that at the heart of the Gospel is the cross and that God’s ways are not our ways. Instead brokenness, pain and failure can be the way to new life and a different kind of victory. It is Jesus who lies as the heart of all our strivings and the source of power of our faith. Fr Chris O’Donnell O’Carm, an Irish theologian and writer, reflects on the name of Jesus and what it means to pray “in the name of Jesus” in intercession. Part two of his article will appear next issue. Jesus, as the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, is the theme of our front cover, which is from a stained glass window by Moira Forsyth. This is perhaps worth meditating on as we prepare for Easter and remember the price that Jesus has paid to free us from our sins and empower us with his Holy Spirit.

We also have our usual news pages, Sue Whitehead’s ever popular Other Half column and coming events. In the Irish Supplement Dympna Sheehan reflects on the importance of collaborative ministry between laity and priests and shares an open letter she wrote to priests in 1987.