Summer is almost upon us and the season for rest and relaxation. This is an ideal time to get some spiritual refreshment by attending one of the many catholic charismatic conferences. There are ones to suit all tastes, whether it is the big open air New Dawn conference where 3000 people or so attend at the national marian shrine in Walsingham, or the much smaller family camps like Campers’ Renewal in Yorkshire and the Spirit of Truth Family Camp in the Midlands. There is also the Birmingham CCR conference for those who like more comfort held at the Parragon Hotel in the city centre. This year too there is for the first time New Dawn in the Church in Scotland at the beginning of July. Then later on we will have various Celebrate weekends round the country. In this issue Jenny Baker, who is the new Celebrate regional co-ordinator, shares how the Celebrate weekends are reaching out to Catholic parishioners giving them a taster of what they might experience at the Celebrate Ilfracombe week at Easter.

All these conferences are notable for the way they provide teaching and fellowship for all the family, especially teens and children. This is very important as it can be very hard to be a young Catholic today. Ryan Service, who is 22 and attends the Erdington prayer group in Birmingham, shares about what it is like often being the lone catholic of his age, whether it is in church or with his friends and how hard it can be to come out and admit that you are Catholic. James Parker, who is the Catholic co-ordinator for the ecumenical outreach to the 2012 Olympic Games, reflects on the power of sport to shape values among young people and encourages readers to get involved in one way or another.

Helen and Bob Harrold, a married couple with seven children, share the radical steps they have taken to pass on their faith to their children as they have tried to shape their home into a Domestic Monastery. Maria Toth, a young Catholic, who is a member of the Cor et Lumen Christi community and a presenter for Premier Radio, shares her own faith journey, and the role her family played, among other things, in this. Pat Kennedy continues her series on the charisms and looks this week at the charisms of revelation and asks us some questions to help us grow in the use of these. Dominique Ferry, from the Chemin Neuf community, looks at the links between body, soul and spirit in the human person. He shows how growing in our understanding of this helps us to discern in knowing God’s will for our lives and in knowing how to advise others going through difficulties too. Fr Chris Thomas shares from his own experience the importance of prioritising so as not become overwhelmed by all we have to do, and gives some helpful tips.

Fr Pat Collins CM tells us about the life of one of his heroes, St Vincent Ferrer, whose trust in God was phenomenal. St Vincent, who lived in the 14th century during a time of great difficulty for the church and the nations, travelled Europe preaching and was used by the Lord to perform amazing miracles as he evangelised. In our news pages there are reports on all the Life in the Spirit Seminars that have been taking place in the Easter-tide period and news of the Hosana Londres, the big Latin-American event in London, as well as the ICCRS Intercession Conference in Assisi. Among the other wonderful Good News stories is a plan by the Catholic Travellers Renewal to build the first Travellers Church in the world. We also learn how the Lord is bringing many travellers to conversion and healing at this time.

It only remains for us to pray for the papal visit coming this autumn and for the new government, that they will be inspired and equipped to meet the challenges that we face at this difficult time as a nation.

In the Irish edition of Goodnews is a tribute to Fr Martin Tierney, a leading figure in CCR for almost 40 years, by Dympna Sheehan; and a “Prophecy Corner”. Readers of the British edition who want a copy of this month’s prophecy, please send an A5 SAE to Goodnews Office.