sm – NZ Catholic Newspaper

50 charismatic years celebrated

Rowena Orejana — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 00:52:52 +0000

by JENNY McPHEE

Pope Francis says “The greatest gift the [Catholic Charismatic] Renewal has to offer is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.” Before he was Pope, Cardinal Bergoglio’s initial impression of charismatic Catholics was that he thought they had confused the Holy Scriptures with a school of samba. As he worked with these people in Argentina, he found a new appreciation for their gifts, worship and faith.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. In 1967, at Duquesne University in Pennsylvania (founded by members of the Congregation
of the Holy Spirit), gifts of prophecy and speaking in tongues were poured out on a group of students who had prayed faithfully for a year for each other, and for the spiritual gifts.

A new wave of blessings and gifts is being poured out on young Christians today, with prophecy and tongues being the new norm.

Diana Ingle, the national chairperson of the CCR in New Zealand and also the head of the CCR regional sub-committee of Asia and Oceania said many Christian youth in New
Zealand are operating in, and are naturally incorporating into ministry, the charismatic gifts.

Dunedin Bishop Colin Campbell, Fr Rick Loughnan, VG, Fr John Rea, SM, and Fr Jack O’Connor joined the Golden Jubilee Catholic Charismatic Renewal retreat in Christchurch on February 25.

Fr Rea gave an account of his journey, leading to the Marist order and an international healing ministry. In the early part of his journey, people prayed over him several
times that he receive the gifts of the Spirit. Firstly, he received extraordinary
peace but no gifts, next a confirming of his calling to the priesthood, and finally the gift of tongues – which is usually the first gift received.

Fr Rea prayed with people for a deepening of expectant faith. Expectant faith is a gift from the Holy Spirit, and strengthens other gifts.

He said “The road to miracles is expectant faith”. Jesus had expectant faith. He believed in his heart that what he asked the Father would give. “Whatever you ask for, believe
you will get it. Jesus said and did only what the Father was saying and being.” John 5:19.

International CCR leader Michelle Moran and leaders of the Catholic fraternities have been asked to start preparing for the establishment of a new Roman dicastery,
potentially called “Current of Faith”, in the Vatican for the work of the Holy Spirit through Catholic Charismatic Renewal groups, ministries and communities. Pope
Francis is expected to make a public announcement at the CCR 50th Jubilee in Rome, from May 31 to June 4, clarifying the name, intentions and his possible oversight of
this new dicastery. He has asked all charismatics and all who would like to, to come and join him. A number of tours have been organised from Australia.

A National Catholic Charismatic Conference is to be held in Palmerston North, on September 22-24.

This will feature international speaker Bob Canton, who has a healing gift. A healing rally will be held. All are welcome. See www.ccrnz.org for more information.

Belgian Cardinal Suenens, the key person to maintain the Charismatic
renewal in the Church, described it as a” Flow of Grace”.

In a homily he said “May the charismatic renewal disappear as such and be transformed into a pentecostal grace for the whole Church. To be faithful to its origins
the river must lose itself in the ocean. If the river comes to a halt the water becomes stagnant, should the renewal, this ‘current of grace’ not end in the ocean of God, in the
love of God, it would work for itself, and this is not of Jesus Christ. This is your identity, to be a current of grace.”

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Bishop’s headstone unveiled

Rowena Orejana — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 00:16:30 +0000

Christchurch diocesan administrator Fr Rick Loughnan blessed the headstone on the late Bishop Barry Jones’s grave on February 12, one day before the late bishop’s one year anniversary. Bishop Jones died after months of ill health having suffered several strokes. After Fr Loughnan welcomed members of the diocese to the unveiling service at Bromley Cemetery,

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Marist priest and teacher Fr Delaney,SM dies

NZ Catholic Staff — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 00:04:05 +0000

by NZ CATHOLIC staff
Fr Noel Delaney, SM, died in Wellington on February 13. He was 93. Fr Delaney was ordained in 1942 and worked in a number of the Society of Mary’s schools before being appointed the second rector of Hato Paora College in 1965. echo $variable;

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Motuhoa Island pilgrimage recalls rich heritage

Michael Otto — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 00:19:00 +0000

by PATRICIA BROOKS
One hundred and seventy five years ago on the feast day of St Thomas Aquinas, Bishop Jean Baptist Francois Pompallier, Fr Philippe Viard, SM, Br Michel Columban and Maori catechist Romano sailed into Tauranga Harbour. echo $variable;

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520 years of service honoured

Rowena Orejana — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 20:55:51 +0000

by ROWENA OREJANA
The oldest priest in New Zealand and oldest Mill Hill father in the world celebrated 70 years as a priest as Auckland diocese honoured him and 10 others for their years of service to the Church.echo $variable;

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535 years of ministry celebrated

Rowena Orejana — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 00:00:39 +0000

by ROWENA OREJANA AUCKLAND — A total of 535 years of priestly ministry was celebrated in Auckland as 13 priests were acknowledged and appreciated for their years of service to the faithful. Msgr Paul Farmer, chairman of the Council of Priests, said the celebration of their brother priests’ jubilees is a significant day that no

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18 pilgrims enjoy South Island Road Retreat

Michael Otto — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 04:05:54 +0000

by JOY COWLEY Put together 18 pilgrims, a bus brimming with laughter, sun-blessed scenery, prayer, Catholic history and the newness of God, and you have the fourth of annual Road Retreats. This one started with Mass at St Mary’s, Blenheim, ambled past scenery and seals along the Kaikoura coast to the Christchurch St Mary’s currently

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New Catholic Enquiry Centre premises blessed

Michael Otto — Sat, 17 May 2008 12:00:00 +0000

WELLINGTON Blessing the new Wellington premises of the Catholic Enquiry Centre on April 22, Dunedin Bishop Colin Campbell said the work of promoting the faith was now a much harder task that were all engaged in. He noted the largest growing religious group in the last census was that of non-believers echo $variable;

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