Pour Out Your Spirit Anew
40th Anniversary Conference of the Charismatic Renewal
June 22 to 24, 2007
by Mary Anne Schaenzer, SSND

NOTE: Photos of the event are available here.

With the blowing of the shofar and a procession of flags from throughout the US and some other countries, the national celebration of 40 years of charismatic renewal in the Catholic Church began on Friday evening, June 22, at The Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey.

Pour Out your Spirit Anew, REPANDS TON ESPRIT A NOUVEAU, DERRAMA DE NUEVO TU ESPIRITU, IPAGKALOOB MULI NINYO ANG INYOUNG SPIRITU.

With the sound of music provided by an ensemble made up of members of each language group we began a joyful and faith-filled weekend of celebration. Members of these language groups plus other charismatic organizations spent many months planning for this special 40th year celebration.

Many of the speakers have been with this renewal for nearly 40 years. They shared some memories but also called us forward to the challenge of the future. It is not time to rest.

We viewed a video of Pope Benedict at the time of the 2006 Pentecost meeting of Renewal Movements in Rome. We heard him say, “Upon all of you I invoke an outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.”

Patti Mansfield reminded us of the Scripture quote from Lumen Gentium, “The love of God has been poured out into our heart by the Holy Spirit who has been poured out on us.”

Bishop Sam Jacobs read the prayer of Pope John XXIII at the opening of Vatican Council II: “Renew your gifts in this our time…” He remarked that without the Holy Spirit there is no renewal of the Spirit. He went on to say that, “The Church’s mission is to share Christ with the world. The Church is charismatic by its very nature. God’s plan is that we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Do not interrupt the journey you have begun.”

On Saturday morning, Vincent Synan, who has been a friend of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal almost from the beginning, reviewed with us the history of Pentecostalism beginning with the Methodists of New Jersey in 1867, and then the beginning of the Pentecostal Charismatic Movement in 1901, Azuza Street in 1906, Neo-Pentecostalism with Dennis Bennett in 1960 and the surprise of the Spirit, the beginnings of Catholic Charismatic Renewal in 1967. At the time he asked, “How could you do this, Lord? It upsets our theology.” He was reminded of Isaiah 55: “My ways are not your ways and my thoughts are not your thoughts.”

Sr. Nancy Keller prayed, “Do it again, Lord. We want a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit…and more!” She proposed that the question is not, “Who is involved in the Charismatic Renewal?” but rather, “Who has been baptized in the Holy Spirit?”

Patti Mansfield urged us do everything we can to get youth involved in charismatic renewal—to get them baptized in the Holy Spirit.

We experienced a burst of Holy Spirit Power as we listened to Pablo Bayona from the Diocese of Brooklyn preach and watched him walk and run across the stage. He exhorted us, telling us that God, “wants to give you an anointing of the Spirit. Open your hearts! Don’t wait to see it. Do it! Let the power flow.” He reminded us that we can’t live next month with today’s glass of water. He urged us to apply that concept to the Holy Spirit. “Be filled again. Go on being filled! Don’t dwell in the past. Live today!”

Caroline Gambale, active in youth ministry and evangelization for fourteen years, spoke of the importance of elders mentoring the young.

Darling Previl spoke of the importance of unity and prayed, “Father, make us one!”

Walter Matthews pleaded with us to make the Holy Spirit known. We must continue to pray, “Come, Holy Spirit, Come, Come.” Pentecost is meant to transform our society. Take the culture of Pentecost and replace the culture of death. He asked, “How can we build a culture of Pentecost?” We must keep the fire alive in our lives. Go deeper in our prayer and contemplation. Deal with the sin in our lives. We must intercede. Nothing will happen apart from prayer and grace. We are in a spiritual battle. We intercede in the name of Jesus. We are called to live holy lives. He quoted the preface of the Mass that reminds us that in every age God raises up men and women who are holy. Holiness is both a gift, because the Holy Spirit lives in us, and a task. We must witness. We must move beyond our fear. “The Holy Spirit is upon me because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. We want other people to get what we have—Jesus! We must also experience a renewal of our mind. We must think with the Church.

Walter left us with three challenges. We are challenged to build the culture of Pentecost, of the Church. This will cost us. We must have concrete pastoral initiatives, e.g. Bishop Sam Jacobs urged us to prepare for the Jubilee celebration of 2017. What is the Lord asking of me? Those with resources must ask, “How are we raising up the next generation? How are we mentoring them? Are we willing to support people? He closed with the words of Joshua: “Be bold, be strong, for the Lord, our God is with you.”

There was much rejoicing over the journey of 40 years as well as great challenges presented, as we have not yet arrived at the end of our journey. We must press on in the power and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. At the end of the conference we were asked, through the gift of prophecy, “Are you ready for the explosion that I have prepared for you? Are you ready for the great explosion?”