Summer 2006 The Catholic Press Association gave ICS Publications a 3rd place award for its Study Edition of St. Thérèse’s Story of a Soul complied by Fr. Marc Foley, O.C.D.   The category was “Soft Covered Spirituality Books.” We do not enter our books very often in competition, so receiving an award gives special joy to our staff and collaborators.  Previously we garnered two other CPA awards, both for works by or about St. Edith Stein: her Life in a Jewish Family  in 1987 and Edith Stein: Her Life in Photos and Documents in 2000. The award citation praised this volume in the following terms: “This spiritual classic, which has provided inspiration for so many diverse readers, can nevertheless present difficulties for contemporary readers.  In this well-organized Study Edition, Background and Context sections place the saint’s autobiography in its time and place while providing reflection questions that connect St. Thérèse’s words to other literary works and encourage deep reflection in the reader."   To both the north and south of ICS headquarters here in the District of Columbia, live neighboring communities of Carmelite nuns. One is located in the Baltimore suburb of Towson, MD and is the direct descendant of the very first contemplative community in the United States (1790); the other is a newer foundation that stands on the site where its sister community began in the colonial settlement of Port Tobacco (nowadays La Plata, MD). The latter community recently saw its Ordinary, Cardinal McCarrick of Washington, dedicate a new wing that will serve as a “pilgrimage center” where visitors can be received for visits to the site and where they can purchase religious articles, including baptismal dresses for babies done by the nuns. The picture shows the News Notes editor (third from the left) with Br. Bryan, our Business Manager (standing on the right), attending that same dedication service in early May 2006.  Readers might recall that our Web site is maintained by Sr. Bernardina of this community.   The other community in Towson has shared often in the publications apostolate of the Washington house of friars. In this spring’s award season one of the nuns received a prize from the Catholic Press Association for an article she published in Spiritual Life Magazine. Sr. Barbara Jean LaRochester took 2nd place in the category of “Best Feature Article [in] Prayer and Spirituality Magazine” for her thoughtful reflection “Spiritual Direction in the Middle and Elder Years.”   We take this opportunity to congratulate her and other entrants from Spiritual Life Magazine who received awards, among them a member of the Institute of Carmelite Studies, Fr. Kevin Culligan, for his essay “The Darkest Night.” The staff of Spiritual Life Magazine deserves the recognition they received from the C.P.A.