4 minute read
Charismatic Prayer Group: A Catalyst for Baptism with the Holy Spirit and Service
The Holy Spirit received at our Baptism and Confirmation leads us to a deeper loving knowledge of God the Father and Jesus Christ his son. The Charismatic Renewal movement exists in the Church as a current of grace to renew in us the workings of the Holy Spirit by 'Baptism with the Holy Spirit' as promised by Jesus. This renewed life in the Spirit fosters knowledge, love, and service.
The members of our Charismatic Prayer Group, through their twicemonthly meetings, have found that their participation has opened the door to serving the Lord — and to a way of living in stewardship for our parish.
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Samuel Awuah, one of the group’s leaders, says that he and others in the group have experienced this opportunity. The members have found that those taking part in the group reach out to serve our parish in many ways.
“We have a lot who are active in the group leading RCIA, and Catholics Returning Home, as well as programs for catechism and teaching,” Samuel says. “I see the group more or less as a catalyst for evangelization within our Church. The stirring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit increases an understanding and passion to lay down our lives for the Church through our time, treasure, and resources the Lord has given us. It’s an opening for people to reach further into service of the Lord.”
The Charismatic Prayer Group is holding hybrid meetings under the COVID-19 restrictions. The sessions are 6:30-8:15 p.m. on the first and third Friday of each month. Currently, meetings are held at the Hehman Hall due to COVID-19 restrictions. Several members attend in person, while the others take part via the Zoom videoconference app. There are a total of 150 on the roster.
Beginning in January, the Prayer Gatherings are now being live-streamed on the three Cathedral platforms (website, Facebook, and YouTube) so more of our people can be introduced to and experience the joy and power that comes from the Holy Spirit when we come together in prayer and worship. Livestream options can be found at www.cathedralctk.org/howtostream.
Each meeting follows an agenda that recognizes that charismatic prayer is about the members’ encounter with Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Everyone is welcomed as the meetings begin, followed by an opening prayer.
A period of praise and worship comes next, followed by the prophetic time, when members strive to listen to God’s voice — not only to individuals but also to the group. The teaching segment is next, during which gathered members learn from the Word of God. They also pray for the needs of others.
Members then share their testimonies comprising what God had done for them. A conscious way to give God praise and build faith among the audience.
“We have people we have prayed for who have had breast cancer,” Samuel says. “We learn they are in remission. We have prayed for people who were in different stages of illness, and find they have been treated. “We’ve had a couple of ‘miracles, signs, and wonders’ through our gatherings and importantly a fervency to spread the Gospel.”
Taking part in the prayer group has led to a deepening of faith for the members, with the seeds of this deepening planted in 1975, when Pope Paul VI met with charismatic leaders from around the world. At that time, the pope said that the Church needed to have the miracle of Pentecost continue and that the Church and the world needed that miracle.
“For me, and for others in the group, what happened at Pentecost enlivened the hearts of men and women,” Samuel says. “It drives people to have the desire to study the Word of God. It opens them to the signs and wonders of healing, which is what the Apostles did with Pentecost. Everyone can get involved. Each and every child of God can be a part of it. Pope Paul VI brought the focus on the charismatic revival — and how can it not be good for the Church and world?”
As we look to begin our Lenten journey on Ash Wednesday, the Charismatic Prayer Group seeks to have the guidance of the Holy Spirit during this time.
“We are told in Luke's Gospel: 'Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry,’” (Lk 4:1-2) Samuel says. “This is what the charismatic movement is about — how do we act on our relationship with the Holy Spirit? During Lent, we want to be led by the Spirit. If we want to do this as a choice, when we are led by the Spirit of God, we get into the will of God for our lives. A Lenten journey without a Spirit leading is just an obligation. When you open your hearts to the Holy Spirit, true repentance takes place and you are prepared for the Resurrection.”
