Spiritual Journeys, edited by Stanislaus Kennedy RSC (Veritas, no price given)

Even those who live and work with people on the margins of society occasionally make a mark on its hard-bitten centre, as is obvious from the universal affection and respect accorded to the editor of this anthology, better known, of course, as "Sister Stan". This collection of essays on the nature of spirituality in contemporary society - or, rather, at society's darker edges is in aid of charity and features contributions from Christians, of every hue, from Edwina Gateley ("God comes when you want to be alone. God lifts a chair and places it next to mine ) to Jean Vanier ("Normal people are a strange group ) to Dara Molloy, ("I describe myself as being deinstitutionalised and deprofessionalised"). It's not a cheery hook, exactly, but if you've ever been given to the morose conclusion that there are no good people left in the world, it will cheer you enormously.