Charismatic Leaders Retreat

On January 13, 2007 Boston area Charismatic Renewal leaders gathered at the Espousal Center in Waltham to reflect on our mission and challenges. We started the day with prayer, praise, and song.

We received word gifts urging us to stay in God’s Word, Eucharist, and unity; missioning us to be salt and lead people to God; and assuring us that God never fails to come and offer us new revelation.

Vin Cerasuolo, Director of CRS Boston, introduced the Service Team who help, plan, and prepare growth resources and events. Vin urged us to make our needs and understandings known to the service team members.

Father John Randall and Steve Lonardo gave the morning and afternoon presentations.

Father Randall reminded us: it is only through God’s Holy Spirit that we are able to bring about revival in the Church. We must be baptized in the Holy Spirit and continue to grow in our openness to the spirit through prayer. “Pray until the joy comes!” he urged. Then we must test the direction of the wind of the Spirit. Because God wants to offer us fresh bread as we pray for our daily bread, not day-old bread. He cited many new ways the Spirit was moving in the Boston area. But he also challenged us about the multitude who have not received these blessings.

Steve explained how the scripture about little children being chosen to enter into God’s Kingdom had guided his ability to minister. He has found that children’s openness to the Holy Spirit’s gifts easily surpasses that of adults. As a result, little children’s prayers frequently bring about healings and miracles.

At the closing Mass Father Randall urged us to remember that God’s Kingdom is a place of power and belongs to the children of God.

Vin Cerasuolo introduced the next fresh way the Spirit was moving in Boston: A Holy Spirit conference for both the Brazilian and English speaking communities to be held February 18 and 17 in the Lynn, Massachusetts Auditorium. Prayer group leaders took home tickets for their communities to grow though this new experience of unity in the Spirit.