Prayer, people and our sense of place – all topics that are covered in a variety of ways in the August Messenger. Among our prayer pieces are a lovely reflection on the Assumption of Mary and a summary of the Ignatian form of prayer, the Examen. The people we are introduced to are diverse and fascinating – and legends to their devotees: Fr Alec Reid, peacemaker in Northern Ireland, Teilhard de Chardin, Jesuit palaeontologist, scientist and theologian, another Jesuit, Matteo Ricci, who strove to bring dialogue, understanding and respect between different cultures in his mission work in China – even Bruce Springsteen makes an appearance, with a reflection from Vincent Sherlock on his recent concert in Dublin.

Place – our sense of who and where we are in the world is addressed in a moving story of a Congolese refugee. We read about Mount St Anne’s, a busy, vibrant conference and retreat centre in Co Laois, Ireland; a wonderful reflection on hospitality urges us to appreciate the beauty of our surroundings and welcome others to enjoy it also. And we consider the disastrous consequences which can occur when a community is forcibly removed from their place of origin.

And of course we have our popular regulars – crosswords, cookery, children’s pages and others – to make for an absorbing read this month.