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Ignite July 2019 Publication of the NSC

NSC Family in Rome
Pope Francis!
DLJC representing at CHARIS!

Reflections on CHARIS 1st International Conference

What a blessing it was to attend the historic moment for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal worldwide – the 1st International Conference at the Paul VI Audience Hall for the inauguration of CHARIS by Pope Francis at Pentecost!

Profound excitement filled the air as 600 leaders from 59 countries anticipated the extraordinary commission for the Renewal through CHARIS envisioned by Pope Francis himself. Recalling that Pentecost reversed the confusion and division resulting from Babel, those present began to experience the single current of grace as the Holy Spirit was restoring unity.

For some it was a poignant moment – as years of faithful work by ICCRS and the Catholic Fraternity came to an end … but their service enabled the one single service for the worldwide Renewal to become a reality.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM, Preacher to the Papal Household and Ecclesiastical Assistant to CHARIS, Jean-Luc Moens, CHARIS Moderator, and others from the International Service of Communion, provided clarity on the one single service and leaders’ roles in support of CHARIS. Recognizing the uniqueness of the Renewal in each country, it became apparent that through establishing their respective National Service of Communions (“NSoC”), leaders of the various realities must prayerfully discern how to fulfill the CHARIS objectives as no one model suits every country.

Pope Francis paraphrased Saint Paul VI that the Renewal was “a great opportunity for the Church.” He challenged us to embrace the spirit of newness from God and not cling to old ways of doing things, to seek communion with others, and engage young people who are the future of the Church. The Holy Father set forth three expectations for the Renewal – to share baptism in the Holy Spirit with everyone in the Church, to serve the unity of the body of Christ (within the Church and ecumenically), and to serve the poor, including the physically and spiritually poor – emphasizing that each is a form of witness of love through evangelizing the Gospel. [Note: The National Service Committee, or “NSC,” has already been prayerfully discerning with others its role in the U.S. as “boots on the ground” to fulfill CHARIS.]

There was much time for communion between the worldwide leaders, to share visions, develop new friendships and commit to serving together to bring this current of grace to the whole Church.

The NSC looks forward to embracing the newness, other realities, young people and the poor!

Baptism in the Holy Spirit,

By Fr. Roch Greiner C.F.R.

Fr. Roch Greiner C.F.R.

Testimony of Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Surprisingly, the first time I ever heard of the term “Baptism in the Holy Spirit” was actually after I had already experienced this profound grace in my life. By the grace of God, I was baptized as an infant, but did not get confirmed until the age of 23. My encounter with the Holy Spirit first began in a jail cell when I was 17. This is when I “met the Lord” and began the journey of ongoing conversion. This encounter with the Love of God lead me to earnestly seek to follow Him and discover the fullness of my Catholic faith. Moreover, this led me down the path of living a Sacramental life, which made me realize I was still missing the Sacrament of Confirmation in my life! After significant reflection, I would have to say my encounter of Baptism in the Holy Spirit was two-fold in nature. I believe my life in the Spirit first unfolded upon reception of Confirmation, and was again augmented by what I call a “Personal Pentecost.”

Before being Confirmed, I always struggled reading the Word of God. I could not understand what I was reading, and to be honest, I had a distaste for Sacred Scripture. Immediately, again I say immediately after being Confirmed I received the gift not only to understand what I was reading, but there was instilled in me a profound hunger to read the Word of God. It was not uncommon for me to delve into the Scriptures for 2-4 hours a night for the next three months following my Confirmation. It was almost as if the words were jumping off the page. It seemingly reminded me of the movie Jumanji. Who would have guessed, now I am currently a Franciscan Priest with five College degrees, and have the ability to read Sacred Scripture in their original languages; Hebrew and Greek. Not bad for a High School dropout! My boast is in the Lord. May He be glorified in all we do!

So as far as my “Personal Pentecost” goes, well it happened about two weeks after my Confirmation. From time to time as I was able, I frequently visited our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Fortunately, I often found myself alone with Him in the Chapel at my local Parish. One night I found myself as usual praying before the Blessed Sacrament on my knees. I was praying a rosary of thanksgiving and praise on the beads, offering Him Glory by vocalizing a Biblical name of His on each bead, e.g. you are the Most High, the King of Kings, my strong tower, my refuge, etc. Unexpectedly, in an instant I began to glorify the Lord in the Spirit with praise from on High! (I would now refer to this experience as tongues of jubilation). I began to speak in a tongue that was foreign to me, but at the same time it was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard leave my mouth. This experience of praying, speaking, and singing in tongues lasted about 3 minutes. This encounter was also accompanied by a profound interior joy and a release of graces I could not even began to try to explain. Up to this point, I had never even heard of the Charismatic Renewal or the Pentecostal Movement. As you could imagine, the next few years included a deep theological and spiritual search to understand and seek more of what I had previously experienced. Knowing what I know now, I believe my experience of being Baptized in the Holy Spirit (with no one praying over me) was due in part to the Sacramental grace released by my Confirmation and an “actual grace” that was given to me in the

encounter, which was also accompanied by a release of Charismatic gifts. It was not soon after I began to experience the operation of the Spirit in words of knowledge and wisdom, prophecy, healing, and a newfound gift of faith. The Lord also began to use me in new ways which I had never even new was possible.

After this Pentecostal encounter I could not stop thinking about what happened. At this point in my life I was already discerning the Priesthood, but could not find the courage to move forward pursuing the call on my life in which I knew the Lord was asking of me. Without a doubt, it was my experience of this infusion of graces from the Holy Spirit that gave me the strength, courage, and confidence to trust more fully in the Lord and answer my call to enter religious life and the Seminary. Without the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, I would not be a consecrated religious, nor a Priest. Although my religious community is not a “Charismatic Community”, the Charismatic Renewal and the graces to be had in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit are of supreme importance in my daily journey, ministry, and personal spirituality. In particular, the charism of celibacy I received “for the sake of the Kingdom of God” by the Holy Spirit, would definitely have to be the greatest gift I received through the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit! “Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would bestow his spirit upon them all.” (Num. 11:29).

Fr. Roch Mary Greiner CFR

Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would bestow his spirit upon them all.” (Num. 11:29).

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NSC's First Family Retreat

Casey Sprehe

After attending a retreat in high school my heart and life was changed for good! I struggled sharing with my parents the experience though. It was hard to fully explain to them what happened. I have found myself having the same experience again 20 years later. Only, on the other side of the equation. I'm blessed to attend NSC conferences and be fed in my role as a Catholic wife and mother. However, it's hard to share with my family the fullness of a conference without them being there. I'm excited that the NSC is offering a family retreat. A chance for both parent and child to be filled with the Holy Spirit simultaneously! We share so many family moments and life experiences with our children. Why not let a Spirit and fun filled weekend be one of them? Come join us down in the country in Louisiana for a weekend of praise, play and pray!

November 8-10 2019 NSC LEADERS CONFERENCE IN ST. LOUIS

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Rocky River, OH

HCCRS 41ST REGIONAL CHARISMATIC CONFERENCE

Hawaii July 12-14 2019

2019 MID-SOUTH CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC CONFERENCE

Join us on July 19 & 20, 2019 for a fantastic day in Nashville, Tennessee

SOUTHWEST CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC CONFERENCE

July 26 - 28, 2019 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Albuquerque, NM

ARKANSAS 2019 CHARISMATIC CONFERENCE

LAFAYETTE RENEW CONFERENCE

SCRC 2019

August 30- September 1, 2019

Philadelphia Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conference 2019

Music Spotlight

“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭96:1-3‬

Filmed during the 2015 March for Life.

www.toriharris.com . booking@toriharris.com

Filmed by: Gary Gasse of Coronation Media

http://www.coronationmedia.com/

Words and Music by Tori Harris and Leah Buchanan (C) 2014

Holy Tech

I dare to summon the whole Church bravely to cross this new threshold, to put out into the deep of the Net, so that now as in the past the great engagement of the Gospel and culture may show to the world "the glory of God on the face of Christ” (2 Cor 4:6). May the Lord bless all those who work for this aim. -JPII

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