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By Vidyajyoti College of Theology, August 19, 2010

Dorethy Rodrigues

THE SPIRIT BLOWS WHERE IT WILLS

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal as the New Pentecost

A Theological Reflection on the CCR was held at Vidyajyoti Hall on August 19, 2010 with Cyril John, President of CCR, Delhi and Director in the Lok Sabha Secretariat as speaker and resource person. For many years now he has been a leading figure in the Charismatic movement at regional, national and international levels.

Quoting John Paul II, Cyril John pointed out that the Institutional and the Charismatic are co-essential to the divine constitution of the Church and they both make the mystery of Christ and his saving work present in the world. The CCR belongs to the charismatic dimension of the Church.

Cyril John summed up the main goals of CCR as Conversion, Empowerment, Edification, Sanctification and Evangelization. The CCR finds expression in a variety of ministries and services, all inspired by the Holy Spirit. They include retreat centres, retreat teams, schools of evangelization, centres of social concern, youth ministry, children’s ministry, Eucharistic adoration and intercession centres, books and periodicals, electronic media initiatives, counseling centres, etc.

The life of the charismatics is marked by profound love for the Church, renewed interest in the sacraments, commitment to prayer life, hunger for the Word of God, appreciation and exercise of charismatic gifts, desire to grow in fellowship, experiences of healing and deliverance, and zeal for evangelization and emergence. The Renewal has produced great many committed lay leaders in the Church.

The speaker concluded his talk expressing a genuine desire to see a course on the New Ecclesial Movements – CCR is one among them – introduced in the curriculum of every seminary. All were impressed by the immense good the CCR is doing in the Church and in society as well as by the personal testimony of the speaker.

The programme was emceed by Sanil Mayilkunnel SJ and chaired by Fr. Medard Xalxo SJ.

Jyotsna Paul introduced the speaker and Balaraj P. proposed the vote of thanks.