GLEANINGS September 2015
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GLEANINGS Renewing the face of the earth Empowered by the Holy Spirit SEPTEMBER 2015 - VOLUME XLI NUMBER 8 A Quickness of the Spirit “Oh, if only... by Michelle Moran unanimous and Among leaders in CCR around the world, there is a shared sense fervent prayers that we are now entering into a new season of the Spirit. However, it is perhaps more accurate to say there is a new unfolding of the season of the could be raised to Spirit that began at the turn of the 20th Century. Heaven in At the end of the 19th Century Blessed Elena Guerra, an Italian Sister of the Oblates of the Holy Spirit, began correspondence with Pope Leo XIII. every part of This led to him, among other things, introducing the Novena of the Holy Christendom, Spirit to be prayed from Ascension to Pentecost in perpetuity. He stated that the intention of the novena should be for the “reunion of Christendom.” as they were one Then on January 1, 1901, Pope Leo XIII prayed the Veni Creator Spiritus in the Cenacle and consecrated the 20th Century to the Holy Spirit. Around the same time in Topeka Kansas, a holiness teacher, Charles Fox [upper room] of Parham, laid hands on one of his students, Agnes Ozman, and prayed for her Jerusalem, for a to receive baptism in the Holy Spirit. This was the precursor of the Azusa Street revival in1906, which is rekindling of the usually cited as being the birth of what we now know as Divine Spirit.” the Pentecostal movement. CCR was birthed in a current of ecumenical grace, and what began as a small stream ~Blessed Elena Guerra has gradually been gathering momentum. The years following Vatican II proved to be fertile ground for new moves of the Spirit to emerge. So many of us can testify to the wonders that we have seen and experienced since the birth of CCR in 1967. However, as we approach our Golden Jubilee in 2017, there seems to be a “quickening of the Spirit.” The Lord is reminding Contact Us: us to strengthen some of our basic foundations such as being attentive to the Western Washington Catholic Word of God, being nourished by the Sacraments and growing in the charisms; Charismatic Renewal and He is sending us forth in mission with a new urgency. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 33609 I was privileged to be in St Peter’s Square in 2013 for Pope Francis’ first Seattle, WA 98133 celebration of Pentecost. Through the simplicity of his now-familiar engaging preaching style, Bookstore and Office: even with intermittent translation, we were all able to go away with three 936 N 143rd Street points to ponder linked with the working of the Holy Spirit: newness, harmony Seattle, WA 98133 and mission. phone: (206) 364-2272 Be ready for the new things of the Holy Spirit fax: (206) 364-5984 Many of us have been living the “life in the Spirit” for several years and E-mail: [email protected] perhaps we have become accustomed to seeing the Lord at work in our midst. Website: www.wwccr.org Unfortunately, this may lead us to become complacent or to expect the Lord See Quickness on page 3 She is President of the International will be speaking and there will be live From Sue’s Desk Catholic Charismatic Renewal music. You won’t want to miss this Dear Brothers and Sisters, Services (ICCRS). She is a dynamic “All Hallow’s Eve” celebration (see When I said yes to God, and speaker, able to fire-up anyone for below and page 7 for details). accepted this position, I wanted to evangelization. She is funny and her Each one of these gatherings is shout it from the mountain top, “the stories speak to the heart of what we part of the current of grace that the Lord of Love has come to me, I want are all passionate about, that each Spirit is stirring up, to flow to pass it on.” To paraphrase a quote person would receive this gift of throughout the Church, through you! by St Catherine of Siena, “if you are baptism in the Holy Spirit and live it. We need your gifts in the Renewal, what you should be, you would set On October 30 and 31, Michelle we need your fire, and the Holy Spirit the Northwest on fire.” Do you feel will be challenging us to catch the desires your presence at these events. the tide rising as the Holy Spirit is vision that the Spirit of God has for As you read the theme article this stirring up the hearts of His faithful His bride, the Church. There will be month, you will sense how inspiring ones? We, in the Charismatic three opportunities to experience Michelle is. Go to your calendar now Renewal, understand that in order to Michelle’s gifted preaching. Choose and mark Friday night and Saturday, follow Christ and live out the mission one, or attend all three. Friday evening October 30 and 31 in red, for a of evangelization, each person needs there will be a New Pentecost Rally fun time! a personal Pentecost. This message at St. Pius X Church in Montlake May the warmth of the Son needs to permeate the Church so that Terrace. Invite your friends. follow you into the Fall. we can fulfill the desire of Christ’s Saturday there will be a Leaders’ Sue+ heart, “I have come to set the earth and Helpers’ Day at St. Matthew on fire and how I wish it were already Church in Seattle. This will be a SAVE THE DATE: blazing” Luke 12:49. teaching event for seasoned October 31, 2015 To live out our vision and leaders, those new to leadership, mission, and move in this power we and those who help in any way have received, we need to stay fired in their prayer groups and up, individually and as a group. The communities. power is in us, around us, in the Saturday evening, also at St. Sacraments, and in our prayer time, Matthew’s, we will pull out all the Amen? What does this fire look like stops with an “All Halo’s Eve” Benefit Dinner. We would like to in our daily lives? Sometimes it takes BENEFIT DINNER & CELEBRATION a gifted speaker/evangelist to rally the fill the gym and encourage people Supporting the Ministry of WWCCR troops. I am excited to tell you that to reserve a whole table and invite next month we will be welcoming all of your friends or prayer group Michelle Moran to the Northwest. members to join you. Michelle More information coming soon! WWCCR VISION AND MISSION SEPTEMBER 2015 - VOLUME XLI NUMBER 8 Vision: WWCCR BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Mitch Roberts: [email protected], Mike Solon: [email protected], That all Catholics mature in a personal Kerry McMahon: [email protected], relationship with Jesus, empowered by the Kelley Masterson: [email protected], Holy Spirit, to the glory of God the Father. Sharon Fox: [email protected], Deanna Meyer, Dean Tougas Executive Director: Sue Gallwas Liaison to the Archbishop: Bishop Eusebio Elizondo Mission: Spiritual Director: Fr. Jim Northrop Our mission is to renew the face of the earth WWCCR Staff: Joan Celix, Debora Johnston, Carolyn McNerney, Tammie Stevens by nurturing and inspiring Catholics: GLEANINGS is the monthly newsletter published by Western Washington Catholic Charismatic Renewal To experience a personal relationship with (WWCCR). The purpose of this newsletter is to provide teaching, news, and a calendar of events Jesus Christ through baptism in the Holy Spirit which help to foster Catholic charismatic renewal throughout the Church in western Washington. To fan into flame the gifts we receive through © 2015 Western Washington Catholic Charismatic Renewal. Not to be reproduced without permission. the Sacraments DEADLINE: In order for any news or calendar items to be considered for publication in To develop a deeper life of prayer and worship GLEANINGS, it must be submitted by the 1st of the month before the month of publication. Items for the October 2015 issue are due September 1. 2 September 2015 Quickness continued from page 1 to do more of the same things that Convocation in Whether we are continental mission in and we have seen Him do in the past. Rome, June 2014, pioneers in the from Latin America. A key However, God is on the move and saying, “When I Renewal, long- theme was “missionary He needs us to respond in new ways think of you discipleship.” This is the to the new invitations of His Spirit. charismatics, the haulers or more perspective underlining At Pentecost 2013, Pope Francis image of the Church recent pilgrims, the Evangelii Gaudium and reminded us that: herself comes to me, invitation is always Pope Francis’ reflections “Newness always makes us a bit but in a particular one of surrender on mission. fearful, because we feel more way: I think of a and abandonment. Noting that it is the secure if we have everything under great orchestra, Paraclete and Comforter control. Often we follow the Lord, where every instrument is different Spirit who gives us the courage to we accept Him but only up to a from another and the voices are also go out into the streets of the world, certain point. It is hard to abandon different, but all are necessary for the Pope Francis asked the crowds ourselves to Him with complete harmony of the music.” gathered at Pentecost 2013 a now- trust, allowing the Holy Spirit to In the CCR there are many familiar question: “Do we tend to be the soul and guide of our lives diverse expressions - communities, stay closed in on ourselves and on in our every decision.