Reflecting on our dreams and aspirations is a fitting way to start a new year. In the January Messenger, editor Donal Neary SJ uses the story of the journey of the Magi, celebrated on the Feast of the Epiphany, as an example of pursuing our dream, using it as our guiding star to work towards our hopes and desires in the coming months. As we celebrate the week of Christian Unity (18-25 January), Tom Layden SJ  reminds us that the command to love God and our neighbour are two sides of the same coin, whilst acknowledging that this can be a challenging call, aware as we are of divisions among the followers of Christ. However, as John Cullen observes in his beautiful reflection, every single one of us is ‘a human being with a heart, to be recognised, to be respected, to be allowed space to grow…and to love’.  Peter McVerry SJ echos the words of Pope Francis when he asks ‘who am I to judge’ the actions and circumstances of others? “Integrity’ is the word that Fr Terence Harrington OFM Cap uses to describe one who treats everyone with kindness and respect, even those who are rude to us.

Respect also features in several articles on our natural world. Respect for the laws of nature and the delicate equilibrium existing between the creatures of this world. We have an extract of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Ladaute Deum, Ciara Murphy considers the importance of biodiversity and Seán McDonagh discusses the dramatic impact that El Nino, by warming our oceans, can have on our weather patterns and events.

With our regular prayers, scripture, cookery and children’s pages plus our RE:LINK supplement following the RE school curriculum, the January Messenger gets 2024 off to an engaging start.

View past issues of Messenger her