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Editorial

There is a season for everything,
At time for every purpose under heaven:
a time for giving birth,
a time for dying,
a time for planting…
a time for building…

(Ecclesiastes 3)


With this issue of SIDIC we remember Sr. Edward Berkeley, the foundress of SIDIC who died in England on March 7, 1998. We pay tribute to her life and work by listening to the voices of youth express the hope of a new generation as they tell of their efforts to bring to fruition a vision of reconciliation, peace and harmony among peoples, cultures and religions. As a young religious woman Sister Edward had a similar hope and vision which she expressed in a deep love for the people and faith of Judaism - even though some of the means of expressing this love were less than perfect, as were the expressions and understandings of the Church at the time. When Vatican II articulated its new understanding of Christianity’s relationship with the Judaism, she embraced this new vision with joy, energy and integrity. The tributes on pages 22-25 bear moving testimony to this woman of steadfast faith, indefatigable in her commitment to the church, the Jewish people and a world of justice, peace and love.

As we look forward to a new century and a new millennium, we take time in this issue to celebrate the new energies and new voices of today - those who will carry on and bring to fruition in a new era the seeds planted at Vatican II. The young voices we are able to present here are merely representative of the many young people throughout our world who are filled with a desire and a hope for a future built on love, solidarity and peace. May their voices of hope and reconciliation not be drowned out by the many sounds of violence, conflict and prejudice heard today. As we open our hearts to them we also extend our hands to empower them to give voice to their desires and to concretize their hopes and dreams.