Spring 2004   All through 2004 Spiritual Life Magazine will be marking the 50th anniversary of its launch as a quarterly. Br. Edward O’Donnell, Editor of Spiritual Life, promises an interesting line-up of new articles, some contributed by persons who have already appeared in the publication in the past. One issue will also contain a reprinted article by the famous poet and Carmelite nun, Sr. Miriam or Jessica Powers. Br. Edward’s words in the editorial opening the jubilee year situate the event well: "At Spiritual Life, we are very proud of our past and all that we have accomplished to make the Lord known and loved throughout the world. (We are pleased to continue this work that was begun so well and has now extended to fifty-seven countries outside the United States.) But our past challenges us to be faithful to our mission in the years yet to come. Our world sorely needs men and women of prayer, of contemplation, to bring an understanding of God’s love and mercy into every sector of society. It is my fervent wish, in this 50th year, that Spiritual Life will continue to be a source of nourishment for all who labor for the Lord and give witness to God’s love in the world." As a "journal of contemporary spirituality" Spiritual Life (www.spiritual-life.org) has left a mark on Catholic journalism and has brought encouragement to its readers during this past half-century. We congratulate the current staff and are glad that the magazine has been located under the direction of talented editors and assistants at the same site as ICS Publications.     Father John Sullivan, Publisher of ICS Publications, received early in January 2004 a photo I.D. that allows him access to United Nations Headquarters in New York. The Discalced Carmelite Order, as a worldwide body of priests, religious brothers and sisters, and laity are registered as a Non-Governmental Organization with the United Nations and its superiors asked him to obtain the I.D. to serve as their representative. A number of years ago our superiors in Rome petitioned to be admitted as an "N.G.O." and received the green light to enter the ranks of other similar organizations.   Fr. John was asked, in part because of proximity to U.N. headquarters, to act as liaison with the U.N. in matters pertaining to us as a N.G.O. group. The extent and frequency of his contacts with other organisms for the fulfillment of this task is yet to be worked out. Time will tell what ways will emerge and be developed to establish a flow of information. A two-day orientation in February introduced him to the workings of the U.N. and avenues of collaboration. When he asked if he should bring along any fees he was told by a Colombian staff person "No money, just bring blessings." That staffer might well have had in mind the words Pope Paul VI addressed to the General Assembly, representing all U.N. personnel, back on the feast of St. Francis in 1965: "Your vocation is to bring not just some people, but all peoples together, as brothers and sisters." The prayers of our readers will be appreciated so that efforts toward a real contribution may be crowned with some measure of success. Through the efforts of a former publisher of ICS Publications, Fr. Regis Jordan, the Washington Province of Discalced Carmelites now has a website. Both ICS Publications, as the publishing house of the Institute of Carmelite Studies, and Spiritual Life Magazine are initiatives that operate in the service of and derive personnel support from the Washington Province. To find out more about our province, simply click www.ocdwashprov.org.