JULY 2006

THE DUQUESNE # RELIVING EXPERIENCE

 MISSION EUROPE



TO BE HIS HEALING HANDS

! GLOBAL NEWSWATCH

JESUSYOUTH

A MISSIONARY MOVEMENT AT THE SERVICE OF THE CHURCH

International Newsletter

40 Spirit filled years AN OVERVIEW OF THE CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC

RENEWAL AND ITS ENDURING INFLUENCE

In 2007, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) will be celebrating its 40th anniversary. What has its contribution been to the Catholic Church and what is the way forward? Some of these questions were examined at the recent international conference organised by ICCRS (International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services) in Fuiggi, a spa town outside Rome from 5th-9th June 2006, and the international leaders’ meeting that followed. These can be hard questions to answer, as CCR is a little different from the other lay movements in the Church in that it has no founder or formal membership or all encompassing structure. Cardinal Suenens, one of the moderators of the Vatican II Council and an early champion of the CCR called it “a move of the Spirit” and simply normal Christianity. As the 20th century progressed, the hierarchy had become concerned about the phenomenon in the Church of “baptised pagans”, those who had been baptised but showed no evidence of a living relationship with Christ. Suenens saw the CCR as a response of the Holy Spirit to this. CONTD. ON PAGE 3

HEART TALK

Renewal @work 120 MILLION PEOPLE >> AROUND RENEWED, AWAKENED BY A NEWFOUND RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD, ENTHUSED BY THE JOY OF PRAYING, AND INFUSED WITH A NEW LOVE FOR THE CHURCH. PEOPLE IMBUED WITH AN >> LAY INTENSE DESIRE TO KNOW, STUDY, AND LIVE BY THE SCRIPTURES. AWARENESS OF AND >> GREATER DEVOTION TO THE SACRAMENTS. OF SHARING, >> RESURGENCE SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES AND PRAYER GROUPS, AS IN THE EARLY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY. OF CHARISMS, >> RESTORATION HEALING, PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, ETC., INTO THE MAINSTREAM LIFE OF THE CHURCH. OF A JOYFUL SPIRITUALITY >> ADVENT WITH ROOM FOR SPONTANEITY AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION, WITH THE REVIVAL OF PRAYER FORMS AND USE OF CONTEMPORARY FORMS OF MUSIC IN LITURGY. IMPETUS FOR EVANGELISATION >> NEW IN THE CHURCH BY LAY PEOPLE WITH A GREAT ZEAL FOR MISSION. OF YOUTH MOVEMENTS, >> EMERGENCE CREATING A PEOPLE WITH A DESIRE TO BE HOLY AND TO SERVE THE CHURCH. VOCATIONS TO THE >> COUNTLESS PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE. OF NUMEROUS SOCIAL >> RISE CONCERN INITIATIVES. OF ECUMENICAL >> BIRTH INITIATIVES TO RESTORE UNITY TO

It was around 11 pm one night in Fiuggi, a picturesque hill town in Italy. I was with a small group of participants of the Leaders’ Colloquium organised as part of the 40th anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. We were seated in a wayside cafe, chatting over coffee. Suddenly Bishop Christopher Prowse from Australia, wearing just a collar like any ordinary priest, got up from our midst with a smile and walked to the next table. He smiled at the people seated there, said something and smiled again. Soon he was seen talking to everyone in the cafe- and later blessing them with a genuine concern. We continued to watch as the Bishop moved into the next cafe, praying for a pregnant woman, joking with a couple and blessing everyone in there. Soon the cafe was filled with smiles. This simple, loving, unexpected gesture of the Bishop opened my eyes to a different dimension of pastoral care. With the exemplary presence of such Spirit filled pastors and leaders in our midst, how much more should we Jesus Youth be challenged and inspired to reach out to people beyond the borders of our inhibitions and comfort levels ! Personally, the last three months, though hectic, have been extremely blessed for me. I had the privilege of being invited to two meetings organised by the Pontifical Council for the Laity: the World Youth Day Consultation meeting, and also the meeting of members of the Ecclesial Movements and New Communities with the Pope, a highly enriching ceremony attended by around 400,000 young people. As I stood among the throng of youngsters, I was amazed at the influx of young people to the throne of St. Peter - the heart of the Church - from the time of Pope John Paul II and continuing unabated to that of Pope Benedict XVI. Like the Church and other movements, Jesus Youth is also gearing up for World Youth Day. The South East Asia Leaders’ Conference, a preparatory conference for the WYD is scheduled to be held in Singapore from 21st – 24th Oct. During my last visit to Sydney, the venue of WYD 2008, the initial plans for hosting the JY delegates were worked out with the local Australia JY team. The Jesus Youth pilgrims will fly to Brisbane for the Youth Arise International Festival on the 10th of July 2008, and move to Sydney on the 14th for the WYD from the 15th – 20th, and continue to stay there for the Jesus Youth International Conference to be held in the parish of Liverpool from the 21st - 23rd. For our movement, this is indeed a time of tremendous grace. The training of the first international batch of full time volunteers is in full swing in Sri Lanka with 24 participants from 9 countries. Besides this, an in-depth leadership programme covering 350 participants across four continents is also under way. There are four major conventions lined up for Europe and Asia to be held in the UK, Jordan,Singapore/ Bangkok, and India in 2007. All the lively happenings of our times brings to my mind the words of Mark Nimo, a renowned speaker and former ICCRS member from Ghana, as he addressed the Jesus Youth Conference in Bangalore, India. Pointing to the joyful approach of Jesus Youth to life, our faithfulness in prayer and fellowship, our commitment and missionary zeal, our readiness to take risks, and the rise of new initiatives, he said, “You do not know the value of these graces that have been showered on you. Many others are trying hard to gain them, but they are showered naturally on you”. Yes! Grace is flowing in and I believe the time is ripe for us to recieve it freely, live in its fullness and share it with others. This living and sharing will be possible only if we are ready to pay the price in an extraordinary way. It is heartening to see this happening already in the lives of many people I know, like two young couples in the US - Sunil and Sindhu, Georgie and Sunita. The four of them and their five children live together in the less spacious floor upstairs so that they can offer the ground floor and basement for JY gatherings and activities. Recently I met George Devassy, a zealous young man heading the JY activities in Thailand, who has rented a two storeyed building and lives on the first floor with his friends so that the Jesus Youth there can have an office in the floor below. Let us like them take to heart Isaiah 54:2 - “Enlarge the place of your tent; let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back...”

THE BODY OF CHRIST. THE FLOW OF CATHOLICS >> CURBED TO OTHER DENOMINATIONS.

Manoj Sunny Jesus Youth International Co-ordinator

COVER STORY 40 Spirit filled years

Contd. from page 1 Underpinning the CCR is a shared spiritual experience known as “Baptism in the Spirit”. This is a renewal of the experience of Pentecost in the life of the believer, who begins to experience the Holy Spirit empowering him with the same gifts and power as the first apostles had, as well as a great love of Scripture, prayer and praise of God. Spontaneous examples of this began to arise among Roman Catholics in the 1960s. An acknowledged key event for the start of the CCR in the Roman Catholic Church was the Duquesne weekend in 1967, when a group of students from Duquesne University experienced the Baptism of the Holy Spirit while on a retreat. One of the key vehicles to help spread the understanding of the Baptism in the Spirit was the ‘Life in the Spirit’ seminars initially developed by the Word of God community in Ann Arbor in the US. Part of this new move of the Holy Spirit was the re-emergence of the charisms, which St Paul talks about in his letters, including speaking in tongues, healing and prophecy. (cf. Rom 12 & 1Cor. 12) These were considered normal in the Christian life in the early Church but had gradually disappeared from normal Church practice or had become institutionalised. Their restoration into the mainstream life of the Church has been a key contribution of the CCR over the last 40 years. The Catholic Church has always believed in the use of extraordinary charisms, but in the past, they tended to be seen as restricted to special people, ‘saints’. The CCR showed, however that the Holy Spirit was showering these on very ordinary lay people, who had no theological formation, equipping all kinds of people to evangelise and serve the Church. A sign as to how much the CCR has influenced the attitude of the Church in regard to the charisms can be seen in the Pentecost 1998 address of Pope John Paul II. Here he publicly acknowledged the importance of the “charismatic dimension” in the Church, which he said had tended to be forgotten, and which,

Instead of it being simply a matter of head knowledge about doctrine and beliefs, the Charismatic Renewal helped the Christian faith to become a real and living reality in the every day lives of people. he affirmed, was “co-essential” to its “hierarchical dimension”. He went on to urge the whole Church to open itself docilely to the gifts the Holy Spirit was wishing to bestow on it. The CCR initially spread so quickly and so far, precisely because there was no particular structure or controlling authority or entry qualifications. Instead, the personal witness of those touched by the Holy Spirit encouraged their listeners in their turn to commit themselves more fully to Christ and his message. Instead of it being simply a matter of head knowledge about doctrine and beliefs, the Charismatic Renewal helped the Christian faith to become a real and living reality in the every day lives of people. The CCR thus became a huge impetus for evangelisation in the Church both on a one-to-one level and through events and programmes. At a time when Vatican II was in its infancy and Catholic practice tended to be confined to the rosary, benediction, and Mass going, this

was all heady stuff. As there was no precedent for this in Catholic liturgy, these gatherings initially tended to be modelled on those of the Pentecostal Church or charismatics of other persuasions with praise and worship, personal witness, Bible sharing and prayer for healing. Many of the early Charismatic meetings were ecumenical, and being non-Eucharistic gatherings, it was relatively easy for those of different denominations to be united. Fr Peter Hocken, a historian of this 20th century move of the Holy Spirit, believes these ecumenical roots are intrinsically linked to its calling and that the CCR has been sent by the Lord as part of his plan to restore unity to the body of Christ to prepare for the Second Coming. This call to unity seems to be at centre stage once again for Pope Benedict XVI has also signalled unity to be one of the key focuses of his pontificate. The CCR has given rise to countless vocations to the priesthood and religious life. It has prompted many lay people to want to know more about their faith and attend Bible studies or to do more formal theological studies. One of the changes brought about by Vatican II was a new understanding of what it meant to be Church. Instead of the two tier system that had existed before, whereby the professionals - priests and religious - were called to be holy and serve the Church, it was now understood to be the responsibility of all the people of God, and the CCR has helped create a people who were willing to take on this challenge. Charismatics are known for their ability to pray spontaneously and for their beautiful worship songs, many of which have filtered into normal parish life, without people realising where they have come from. This has happened because of the lack of structure within the CCR generally, which has meant that once people have been baptised in the Holy Spirit, they have tended to return to the parish situation and serve there. A survey undertaken by the English NSC in 2005 shows that those who have had their faith awakened through the CCR are among the most committed in the Catholic Church. In the UK many of the diocesan teams evangelising young people, as well as paid lay youth chaplains and lay youth workers in parishes, often come from a Charismatic background. The survey also revealed that many chaplains, spiritual directors, pastoral assistants, and deacons felt they owed their vocations to the CCR. In countries like Brazil, where the hierarchy has really backed the CCR, the effect on the Church has been phenomenal. Today it is reckoned that 12 million people have been baptised in the Holy Spirit and there are 20,000 prayer groups. It is generally recognised that in Latin America the CCR has Contd. on page 4

JULY 2006 PAGE 3

CHARISMATIC RENEWAL

IN, AND FOR, THE CHURCH! “And that we might live, no longer for ourselves but for Him, he sent the Holy Spirit from you, Father, as his first gift to those who believe, to complete his work on earth, and bring us the fullness of grace.” (4th Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass, based on 2 Cor.5:15). There is no better description of the purpose of Pentecost, and of the Charismatic Renewal (which has been personally experienced by millions as a “new Pentecost”), than this text. The coming of the Holy Spirit upon so many members of the Church has one main purpose: to enable them to live, no longer for themselves but for the Lord Jesus Christ and his Body the Church! The Acts of the Apostles showed what Pentecost means in practice , namely, the inner experience of God’s love poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ), and the outward ability to share it in practical and steadfast ways. Today’s members of the CCR, among them cardinals and bishops, priests and religious, laity both married and single, and innumerable youth (like Jesus Youth) likewise, give evidence of the same fruit of the Spirit. In his splendid Apostolic Letter, Novo Millennio Inuente (nos.30-41), Pope John Paul II situated the whole programme of Christian activity for the Third Millennium (and therefore of the CCR too) in the context of the call to holiness. “Since Baptism is a true entry into the holiness of God, it would be a contradiction to settle for a life of mediocrity, marked by a minimalist ethic and a shallow religiosity... The time has come to re-propose wholeheartedly to everyone this high standard of ordinary Christian living: the whole life of the Christian community and of Christian families must lead in this direction.” Notice that, as the Popes often point out, the teaching of Scripture is that Jesus does not want only some individuals to be renewed, but the whole Body of Christ, the whole Church! Pentecost was not just something wonderful

that happened to a few private individuals but to the whole group of apostles and disciples of the time! Pentecost created a new reality (previously non-existent), namely, the Church! And throughout salvation history, the focus of the work of the Spirit has been the building up of this Church. That is why, if the CCR is genuinely of the Holy Spirit, it cannot but be an ecclesial phenomenon, IN the Church, and FOR the Church! Over 120 million Catholics, having experienced in new and deeper ways the love of God, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, have become more faithful members of the local and universal Church, and have helped to build it up in Spirit-filled and Spirit-led creative and courageous ways. The testimony of three Popes, of numerous National Conferences of Bishops, and of hundreds of thousands of the laity, confirm this fact. For example, Pope John Paul II said: “As you celebrate the 25th anniversary of the beginning of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, I willingly join you in giving praise to God for the many fruits which it has borne in the life of the Church. The emergence of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal following the Second Vatican Council was a particular gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church …” ( L’Osservatore Romano, March 14, 1992). At an earlier audience granted to the International Leaders’ Conference (of which I happened to be the Chairman), the Pope used very strong language. “The vigor and fruitfulness of the CCR certainly attest to the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit at work in the Church after the Second Vatican Council… Because of the Spirit, the Church preserves a continual youthful vitality, and the Catholic Charismatic Renewal is an eloquent manifestation of this vitality today, a bold statement of ‘what the Spirit is saying to the Churches’ as we approach the end of the Second Millennium…”(Ibid., May 14, 1987).

THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT UPON SO MANY MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH HAS ONE MAIN PURPOSE: TO ENABLE THEM TO LIVE, NO LONGER FOR THEMSELVES BUT FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND HIS BODY THE CHURCH! So too, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the USA, in its “Pastoral Statement on the CCR” (1984) declared: “Since our last two statements, we have seen the CCR mature in its grasp of the core of the Gospel and those realities which belong constitutively to the inner nature of the Church... many lives have undergone a deep conversion, and have radically re-oriented their lives toward God... Many have rediscovered the meaning of Church, Eucharistic life, Mary’s role, and the ancient discipline of fasting... Many too have rediscovered the centrality of the cross, which remains at the heart of Christian discipleship even after the glory of the resurrection and the outpouring of the Spirit...” In conclusion, I would like to suggest an area in which the Charismatic Renewal must make more efforts to foster a genuine “new Pentecost”, in the Church and for the Church. It concerns teaching our people genuinely sanctifying Catholic ways of praying – for example, lectio divina, the ancient prayer method of using the Scriptures. In just one year since his election, Pope Benedict XVI has been recommending this repeatedly. I am convinced that such scriptural prayer will help us in a very powerful way “to live, no longer for ourselves but for him...” We will then fulfill the prophetic words of Pope John Paul II (Message for the World Youth Day 2002), “Dear young people, let the Gospel be the measure and guide of life’s decisions and plans! May God make you too the saints of the Third Millennium!”

FR.FIO MASCARENHAS SJ Former International Council Chairman (1984–1987) and Director (1981-1984) of ICCRS. He has also served as the Chairman of the Renewal Services in India for several years.

Contd. from page 3 stemmed the haemorrhaging of Catholics to other denominations. In India the CCR saw the birth of several powerful ministries such as the Divine Retreat Centre at Potta, with thousands of people attending retreats, being converted, healed, and prompted to serve the Church and society in new ways. The renewed understanding of the power of prayer has affected the whole Church and led to a huge increase in intercessory prayer towers at many retreat centres and parishes and in Mass attendance among young people in Catholic states such as Kerala. Here CCR has given rise to youth movements such as Jesus Youth, which

evangelise and disciple their contemporaries very effectively, and which have spread all over the world. It is difficult to quantify exactly how many people are involved in the CCR, because it depends how you define what CCR is. Missionologist David Barrett, however, claims that 120 million people have been touched by the CCR worldwide over the past 40 years.

beginning of the Church. The CCR has helped to make contemporary the book of Acts and the Letters of St. Paul in a Church that had become institutionalised and legalistic. And the call remains to each one of us to continually keep open to the Holy Spirit and to what he might be calling us to do in the new situations we find ourselves in so we can best serve him and our fellow men and women.

In conclusion, the CCR is essentially about transformed people rather than a growing and powerful movement. The problems that one can see - divisions, dying of the charisms, diminishing fervour and commitment, groups or individuals going off track, are human failings, which have happened since the

Kristina Cooper is a well known Catholic journalist. She was baptised in the Holy Spirit in Panama in 1983 and has worked full time for the CCR in the UK editing the Good News magazine since 1986.

KRISTINA COOPER

In the Catholic Church, the famous prayer of Pope John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council are viewed as precursors to a new revival. A revival of the ‘charismatic’ experience witnessed in the lives of the early apostles and saints like Teresa of Avila, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Francis Xavier and Antony of Padua. This renewal, which in the course of time would touch the lives of an estimated 190 million Catholics in over 235 countries, had its first manifestation in what is today referred to as the ‘Duquesne weekend’ or the ‘Duquesne experience’. The Duquesne experience was a weekend retreat, where a group of students and professors of Duquesne University, Pennsylvania experienced a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit’s gifts. It was initiated by a small scripture study group in the university that had for over a year been praying for a powerful manifestation of the Holy Spirit within the Catholic Church. Today, this weekend retreat is recognized as the starting point of the Charismatic Renewal within the Catholic Church – a renewal that has been the launchpad for a host of diverse movements including our young movement, the Jesus Youth. IN THIS THREE PART SERIES, MS. PATTI MANSFIELD, A SPIRIT FILLED SPEAKER AND ONE OF THE FIRST STUDENTS WHO WAS PART OF THE HISTORIC ‘DUQUESNE WEEKEND’, SPEAKS TO DR. EDWARD EDEZHATH IN DETAIL ABOUT THIS HISTORIC EXPERIENCE AND ITS COUNTLESS FRUITS.

Reliving the Duquesne Experience Q: THE DUQUESNE EXPERIENCE IS TODAY WELL KNOWN AS THE STARTING POINT OF THE CHARISMATIC RENEWAL. CAN YOU LEAD US THROUGH YOUR EXPERIENCE OF THOSE EVENTFUL DAYS? A: I was part of a Scripture Study group of about 20-25 students from the Duquesne University. In February 1967 this group made their annual retreat based on the theme of the Acts of the Apostles. To prepare for the retreat, we read the first four chapters of the Acts and the book ‘The Cross & the Switchblade’. As I made my preparation for the retreat, I found myself wondering why as a Catholic I did not experience more of the power of the Holy Spirit in my life. And so before leaving for the retreat, I knelt down in my room (I was a third year University student) and I prayed a very simple prayer. I was alone and I said, “Lord as a Catholic I believe I have already received Your Spirit in Baptism and Confirmation. But if it is possible for Your Spirit to do more in my life than He has done until now, I want it.” And I am sure now 40 years later that God did hear my prayer. It was interesting that each time we left for a session we used the ancient hymn of the Catholic Church, ‘Veni Creator Spiritus’ to invoke the Holy Spirit. We began our

retreat in an upper room chapel of a retreat house in the outskirts of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And the first event of the retreat was the meditation on our Lady. The Professor who presented it was someone I had as teacher in class. That night he seemed different. What none of us students knew at that moment was that this professor and three others (professors from Duquesne University and one of their wives) for months had been praying that they could experience the Holy Spirit in a deeper way. They were praying and hoping that something would happen to us during our weekend retreat. Well in fact it did.

AS I MADE MY PREPARATION FOR THE RETREAT, I FOUND MYSELF WONDERING WHY AS A CATHOLIC I DID NOT EXPERIENCE MORE OF THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN MY LIFE.

On Saturday, one of the young men, David Mangion had a wonderful suggestion. He said, “Each year we Catholics renew our Baptismal promises at the Paschal vigil. Why don’t we close this retreat by having a ceremony where we renew our confirmation? Now that we are young adults, we can make real these graces we received when we were young people.” But before even we could get to that point, the Holy Spirit intervened in a very sovereign way. Saturday later in the afternoon I wandered into the Chapel; there were just a few students there. I didn’t have any intention to pray. I was just going to tell any students up there to come down for a birthday party we were having that night. And when I entered the Chapel that

JULY 2006 PAGE 5

particular night, February 18th 1967, for the first time in my life I knew why we Catholics call Jesus in the tabernacle ‘the real presence’. Because I really began to tremble with the sense of the majesty of God and His greatness. I remember thinking “If I stay here in the presence of Jesus, something is going to happen to me”. I felt somewhat afraid and wanting to kind of run and hide myself. Much greater than my fear of a total surrender to Jesus was the need that I had to do just that. I just prayed a prayer like this –” Father I give my life to you and whatever you ask of me – I accept it. And if it means suffering, I accept that too. Teach me to follow Your Son Jesus and to love the way Jesus loved.” The next moment I found myself prostrate before Jesus in the tabernacle. And I was flooded, from my fingertips down to my toes, with the incredible mercy of God’s love. I remember only one word of prayer that came to my mind, “Stay, stay, don’t ever leave me!”. I tasted and I saw for myself the sweetness of the Lord. I didn’t know then that David had been into the Chapel a few hours before me and had an identical experience. Q: AT THAT POINT DID ANY OF YOU REALIZE THAT THE EXPERIENCE WOULD RADICALLY REVIVE THE SPIRITUALITY OF THE CHURCH IN THE COMING YEARS? Neither of us knew that what had happened to us that night February 18th 1967 would begin a movement in the Catholic Church called the Charismatic Renewal. All we knew was that we wanted to renew our Confirmation, we wanted to accept Jesus as our Lord, Master and Saviour. After my experience there was a sovereign outpouring of the Spirit. Not all but half the students wound up in the Chapel before the tabernacle. Some were weeping, some were laughing. Some others said they wanted to pray but they knew it wasn’t going to come out in English. We all prayed in tongues but we did not know it was the gift of tongues. Some, like myself, found their arms tingling and burning. One of the professors walked in, and witnessing this scene he said, “What’s the Bishop going to say when he hears that all of these kids have been baptized in the Holy Spirit?” I heard those words ‘Baptized in the Holy Spirit’ for the first time. I still had no idea that what was happening would be a grace that would transform millions in the coming years. It took some time for us to kind of stumble into the Charismatic gifts like healing, discernment of spirits, prophesy and the like. We did not have any teachers; only these brothers and sisters from different

OF THE SPIRIT GROW? TELL ME, WAS THERE ANYTHING SPECIFIC YOU PLANNED AS A COMMUNITY OR IN A PRAYER MEETING ?

Photo Coutesy L’Osservatore Romano

AND SO THERE WAS THE CHURCH IN ITS DOCUMENTS GIVING ME THE ASSURANCE THAT I SHOULD OPEN MYSELF UP TO THE HOLY SPIRIT ALONG WITH THESE WONDERFUL SURPRISES, WHICH WERE THE CHARISMATIC GIFTS. denominations. They were helping us but of course there were no Pentecost Gatherings in Rome with the Holy Father! It was really just a matter of being led by the Holy Spirit day by day. As I commented in the presence of the Holy Father at the Vigil of Pentecost, my immediate reaction after the experience was to take up the documents of Vatican II and seek references to the Holy Spirit and Charismatic gifts. I said to myself, “What if the Church does not approve of such a thing? “ And I knew that I would sooner deny my personal experience than ever think of leaving the Church. So it was with great joy that I read in Lumen Gentium that “Charismatic gifts are the tools that are exceedingly useful for Catholics of every rank”. And so there was the Church in its documents giving me the assurance that I should open myself up to the Holy Spirit along with these wonderful surprises, which were the Charismatic gifts. Q: I WAS ALSO WONDERING, DID YOU RECEIVE ANY HELP OR HAVE ANY PLAN FOR FORMATION TO HELP THIS RENEWAL

A: There were prayer meetings that existed prior to the outbreak of the Charismatic Renewal and many young people who made it to the weekend were part of it. They had group reunions where they gathered for reviewing how their week went, praying with one another. But once we were baptized in the Holy Spirit, it was natural to want to be with one another - not to discuss but to be with one another to pray. And as I was saying, the gifts of the Spirit were just beginning to blossom, we didn’t even know that they were the gifts of prophecy, praying in tongues, interpretation and the like. So we were just going to begin a mode of discovery of these wonderful things. Some of the marvellous leaders like Ralph Martin and Steve Clark who experienced the Charismatic Renewal put together a short course which came to be known as the ‘Life in the Spirit Seminar’, an experience of 7 weeks where there were very basic presentations on the love of God, salvation in Jesus, the gift of the Spirit, receiving the Charismatic gifts. There was a week when people were prayed with, that they might commit their lives to Jesus as Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to baptize them. The last topic was ongoing transformation, about how the Lord uses trials, difficulties, sufferings of this life to really conform us more and more to His image. So it was a very basic course called the ‘Life in the Spirit Seminar’ which has been adapted in different locales, cultures, gone by different names…but that has been a vehicle for millions and millions of people being baptized in the Holy Spirit. In many places it happens spontaneously, I know in our area we give weekend Holy Spirit retreats – many people have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. There was also this desire from the very earlier days to form ecumenical relationships in community. And these communities have been formed in different ways all over the world. There are some here in my country - sometimes called covenant communities. There have been others like the Emmanuel community in France which alone I think, has given birth to 130 priestly vocations. (To be continued.)

PATTI GALLAGHER MANSFIELD From the early days of the Renewal she has served as a leader through teaching, writing and pastoral ministry. Patti is married to Al Mansfield, Co-ordinator of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of New Orleans, Louisiana, and has four children.

MATURING IN THE SPIRIT As one borne by the waves of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal over the last 15 years, it was with great expectation that I joined Manoj Sunny to attend the International Leaders’ Colloquium organised by the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services (ICCRS) at Fuiggi, Rome from 9 th to 11th June 2006 in connection with the 40th anniversary of the CCR. As nearly 200 key leaders of the CCR from all over the world came together for the event, the excitement in the air was tangible. The Colloquium was an opportunity for leaders, to share, pray, discuss and reflect together. The presence of veteran Charismatic leaders, Archbishops and Bishops from around the world enriched the programme and lent depth to the event. What struck me most while in the presence of luminaries like Bishop Joseph Grech, Jim Murphy, Allan Panozza, Charles Whitehead, Sr. Nancy Keller, Patti Mansfield, Michelle Moran and others, was the way they listened prayerfully and allowed themselves to be directed by the promptings of the Spirit throughout the sessions. In fact, the whole focus of the Colloquium was on tuning oneself to the voice of God through prayer and arriving at a clearer vision for the CCR in the coming years as summed up in the theme of the Colloquium - ‘Maturing in the Spirit’.

Allan Panozza, President of ICCRS addressing the Leaders’ Colloquium at Fuiggi

Bishop Christopher Prowse & Bishop Joseph Grech greeting the delegates of the ‘Open Conference’

It was uplifting to note that in all the sessions special mention was made of the role of youth and how they need to be continually encouraged to participate in Renewal activities. Great importance was given to ecumenism. Another constant reference made (one close to my heart) was concerning the evangelisation of Asia. The Colloquium gave me a greater awareness and a deeper conviction that India, and in particular the Jesus Youth movement, has much to contribute towards this cause. It came as a pleasant surprise that the majority of people I met at the Colloquium already knew something about Jesus Youth, mostly through the Rexband. As I listened to the ways the Lord has led different movements and communities around the world, my heart leaped with joy, for I realized that God has been leading Jesus Youth along the very same path. Participating in the Colloquium has given me greater clarity regarding the special God-given call of Jesus Youth to work for evangelisation and of the long road that lies ahead. RAIJU VARGHESE, Co-ordinator, JY India

POPES AND THE RENEWAL “… you are striving in union with the whole Church for renewal spiritual renewal, authentic renewal, Catholic renewal, renewal in the Holy Spirit. […] Yes, dear sons and daughters, this is the will of Jesus that the world should see your good works, the goodness of your acts, the proof of your Christian lives and glorify the Father who is in heaven (Cf. Matt. 5, l6). This indeed is spiritual renewal and only through the Holy Spirit can it be accomplished. And this is why we exhort you earnestly to “desire the higher gifts” (1Cor: 12, 31).”

“The Church and the world need saints! And all the baptized without exception are called to be saints! (...) Let your communities, therefore, be more and more “genuine schools of prayer, where the meeting with Christ is expressed not just in imploring help but also in thanksgiving, praise, adoration, contemplation, listening and ardent devotion, until the heart truly “falls in love”. For this is what the saints are: people who have fallen in love with Christ. And this is why the Charismatic Renewal has been such a gift to the Church: it has led a host of men and women, young and old, into this experience of the love which is stronger than death.”

“The vigour and fruitfulness of the Renewal certainly attest to the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit at work in the Church in these years after the Second Vatican Council. Of course, the Spirit has guided the Church in every age, producing a great variety of gifts among the faithful. Because of the Spirit, the church preserves a continual youthful vitality, and the Charismatic Renewal is an eloquent manifestation of this vitality today, a bold statement of what “the Spirit is saying to the churches” (Rev. 2:7).”

“The Catholic Charismatic Renewal has helped many Christians to rediscover the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in their lives, in the life of the Church and in the world, and this rediscovery has awakened in them a faith in Christ filled with joy, a great love of the Church and a generous dedication to her evangelising mission. In this year of the Holy Spirit, I join you in praise of God for the precious fruits which he has wished to bring to maturity in your communities and, through them, in the particular Churches.”

“I therefore say to you, dear friends of the Movements: act so as to ensure that they are always schools of communion, groups journeying on in which one learns to live in the truth and love that Christ revealed and communicated to us through the witness of the Apostles, in the heart of the great family of his disciples. May Jesus’ exhortation ceaselessly reecho in your hearts: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Mt 5: 16). Bring Christ’s light to all the social and cultural milieus in which you live.”

POPE PAUL VI at the 3rd International Congress of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (May 19, 1975)

POPE JOHN PAUL II at the 7th International Meeting of the CFCCCF, Rome (22 June 2001)

POPE JOHN PAUL II at the 6th International Leaders’ Conference, Rome (15 May 1987)

POPE JOHN PAUL II at the 9 th Leaders’ Conference, Fiuggi, (30 October 1998)

POPE BENEDICT XVI at the 2nd World Congress on Ecclesial Movements and New Communities (22 May 2006)

JULY 2006 PAGE 7

CROSS QUESTIONS 5 Questions on Visual Media and Christian Values When did you realize that your talent lay in the area of visual media? Right from childhood, I used to have a group of friends who were very interested in theatre and drama. In school, we spent a great deal of time in writing and staging plays. In College too we were very passionate about acting, theatre and the arts, often winning prizes in University level competitions. How did your personal experience of Jesus influence your talents? I come from a non-Christian background and my experience of Jesus was life changing. I was not sure as to where my talents would fit into this experience until I found Jesus Youth. Here with a group of like-minded friends I discovered that theatre, plays and dances can all be effective vehicles to express the beauty of God’s presence in our lives. I also discovered the power of the visual media to attract young people. Thus together with many other talented people, we were able to develop a unique style that became characteristic of the Jesus Youth Audio Visual ministry. All the films and plays that you have directed have very strong messages – both social and spiritual. Is it part of a conscious decision? Whether we like it or not, visual media, unlike other professions, influences, inspires and communicates to the audience. So whenever I have had a choice, therefore I have always insisted that the message be an expression of some angle of my faith – often not directly, but indirectly. Personally, I get deeply involved in every independent project of mine – from conceptualizing to filming and editing. The themes have also been controversial topics like abortion, evangelization, divorce, and the like. And for me, the highest reward is when viewers call me up to say that a film or documentary has in some way changed their negative attitude to life. That’s not an easy stand to take. How has that affected your career? Well, if I look at it financially, it’s been very hard. Of course it helps that my family understands my vision and supports me. And God has been faithful in more ways than I ever imagined. Recognitions from the State Government and even International awards have come in – most often when I needed an affirmation about my decisions. Anyway, over the years, people in the industry have also come to respect my attitudes and have understood that there are certain things I will do and some that I will not. How does your faith make a difference as an associate director in the secular film industry? The secular film industry in India is built on hierarchies, and those in the lower rungs are treated with contempt. Here I often try to treat everyone on the set with respect and spend time with the ones who are mostly ignored. I’ve noticed that even actors and directors sometimes feel open enough to share their problems and seek prayer. Today there are many people of faith entering this field that was neglected so far. Lets pray that their faith and values permeate their projects and creations.

PENTECOST VIGIL 2006 A JY-READING OF THE PAPAL HOMILY “The wind blows where it wills… No one knows whence it comes and whither it goes!” The organizers of the Pentecost Vigil of 2006 in St Peter’s Square probably did not foresee such a great multitude of people being drawn by the enigmatic blow of the Spirit. Two days prior to the event the Italian newspapers had reported that the Vigil would bring together about 30,000 people. But on the following day the same journals reported of about 400,000 participants! It was a mega event fully falling in line with a similar meeting that took place in the same Square with beloved Pope John Paul II in 1998. About 45 Jesus Youth, representing Europe, were among the joyous crowd that thronged the square experiencing a fresh outpouring of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit we have received is a Spirit of Life, Freedom, Unity and Mission – this is the essence of the Holy Father’s message to the members of the Ecclesial Movements and New Communities. “Where the true source of life no longer flows, where people only appropriate life instead of giving it, wherever people are ready to dispose of unborn life because it seems to take up room in their own lives, it is there that the life of others is most at risk.” A life indulged in corporal and material well being alone renders life “empty” and “useless” as in the case of the prodigal son. This Petrine message reminds us of our basic commitment to transmit the real beauty and worth of life to the young people around us. Perhaps a Jesus Youth should put this question to himself/herself: Is mine an empowering presence?

The Pontiff closely links the terms ‘life’ and ‘freedom’ and goes on to say, “The ecclesial movements want to and must be schools of freedom.” The Holy Spirit “teaches us to look at the world, others and ourselves with God’s eyes”. He is the liberating Spirit and only through Him can Jesus Youth go beyond racial, ritual, cultural, linguistic and national barricades. Our commitments need to be evaluated in the light of the words of the Holy Father. Let us not forget that Vatican was the hill on which Peter was crucified head upside down. In the face of this formidable memory every Jesus Youth must sincerely reflect on his/her sense of complacency regarding personal faith and ecclesial commitment. Let one thought haunt us: I am still not a martyr! “The Spirit blows where he wills. But his will is unity”, we are reminded by the Pope who is known as the theologian of Communion. True exercise and experience of freedom fosters unity. The Holy Spirit never scatters, rather, unites as was witnessed on the day of Pentecost. His “breath is not wasted but brings us together because the truth unites and love unites”. Perhaps we need to seriously examine our efforts in the field of Ecumenism. Even after many years of presence and experience of Jesus Youth in places like Taizé, we still seem to be wary of ecumenical moves in the Church. Pope Benedict XVI lays great emphasis on mission: “Anyone who has come across something true, beautiful and good in his life-the one true treasure, the precious pearlhastens to share it everywhere, in the family and at work, in all the contexts of his life”. He says too that the presence of the Holy Spirit “is finally shown above all in missionary zeal”. This reads to me as an appreciation of the missionary zeal of all Christians, especially of the Jesus Youth. Missionary spirit has proved to be the mark of our identity all through the past years. Let all of us in the Jesus Youth respond wholeheartedly to the call of our Holy Father: “Dear friends, I ask you to collaborate even more, very much more, in the Pope’s universal apostolic ministry, opening doors to Christ.”

LEO THADDEUS A senior JY leader, Leo completed his visual media studies from the Gregorian University of Rome and from ICPE Poland. His recent project for JY, a short film, ‘ Tree of Life’, recently won the Niepokalanow 2006 Grand Prix Award. He lives with his wife Shaly and son Jasrel in Kochi, India.

FR. JOSHY MAYYATTIL From the Diocese of Cochin, currently pursuing a doctorate in Biblical Theology at the Gregorian University, Rome. Former Pastor, JY Campus Ministry, India.

FROM COLOGNE TO SYDNEY SYDNEY AUSTRALIA 15 - 20 JULY 2008

Presentation of the WYD Sydney logo and other logistics by the Australian WYD Organising Team headed by Most. Rev. Anthony Fisher (Auxilliary Bishop of Sydney) along with Msgr. Francis Kohn (Secretary, Youth Section, Pontifical Council of Laity)

“YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS COME UPON YOU; AND YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES”. (ACTS 1:8)

‘Da Colonia A Sydney ’ was nothing less than a perfect occasion to convene, observe, share and bond with numerous eminent individuals representing diverse countries and varied walks of life. Hundreds of youth delegates from around the world gathered in Rome, Italy for the International Gathering of World Youth Day Organisers - from the 7th to the 9th of April 2006, organised by the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Manoj Sunny and I represented Jesus Youth. The three-day programme began with an evaluation of WYD 2005 in Germany, which received an outstanding response and was hailed as a great success on many fronts. Germany had succeeded in delivering the WYD mission to reach out to the next generation of Catholics, demonstrate confidence in them, rejuvenate the Church, and carry forth its teachings.

The Sydney management team presented the logo for WYD 2008 to start the countdown to hosting the world’s largest youth event in 2008. With a youth styled tag line - WYD SYD 08 - the inspiring, energetic and highly spiritual image unveiled for the Sydney event encapsulates five separate stories within the one logo, representing Christ our Saviour, the Catholic faith, the Pilgrimage that is World Youth Day, the youth participants (Pilgrims) and the host city Sydney. PROMINENT IMAGES: The Flame in red and yellow represents the fire in the heart of God and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The white Cross represents Jesus Christ the light of the world, and the life of witness, which the Holy Spirit enables. The shadow of the Opera House, an internationally renowned symbol of Sydney, the host city for World Youth Day 2008. The blue colour of the text reflects the oceans that surround Australia, the pilgrimage across the oceans, the waters of Baptism and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The unveiling of the WYD08 logo also heralds the launch of the new website for World Youth Day 2008www.wyd2008.org Papal Mass on Palm Sunday in St. Peter’s Square

More than 500,000 young people, including 135,000 international pilgrims, are expected to attend the forthcoming World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia from 15 to 20 July 2008 that will focus on the theme, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses”. (Acts 1:8) The Archbishop of Sydney, His Eminence George Cardinal Pell, led an Australian delegation of World Youth Day organisers to Rome. It included Federal MP Malcolm Turnbull representing the Prime Minister of Australia and the New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma. 70 young people representing all the Australian Dioceses received the World Youth Day Cross and Icon of Our Lady at the close of the Papal Mass on Palm Sunday in St. Peter’s Square. BIJU THOMAS, Former Co-ordinator, JY UK

JULY 2006 PAGE 9

JY E U R O P E A N G A T H E R I N G

REPORT

Mission Europe J E S US Y O U T H L E A D E R S ’ G AT H E R I N G

It was a joyful occasion for us the Jesus Youth leaders of Europe as we gathered in Rome for prayer, fellowship, and pilgrimage from 30th May to 5th June. We stayed in the beautiful campus of Roma Camping, which is reasonably close to the centre of the city. The JY from Ireland were the first to reach the camping village. Though the ministry there is still in its infancy, eleven leaders represented Ireland. Then arrived the delegates from Germany. As the university exams were going on, many of the active JY from there could not make it to Rome this time. The UK delegation was the last to arrive. There were nineteen of them, and baby Daniel aged 9 months was the youngest pilgrim from UK!

Delegates of the European Gathering at the Pontificio Collegio Urbano

The programme was divided into three parts - a 3-day pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi, the Pentecost Vigil in St Peter’s Square with the Holy Father, and the Jesus Youth Leaders’ gathering at Pontificio Collegio Urbano. The days spent in Rome, visiting great sites and praying in places where the champions of our faith gave up everything including their lives for the sake of the ‘treasure they found’, were enriching, and spiritually challenging. One of the most memorable events for me was when we gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica and went in procession to celebrate Holy Mass in a chapel very close to Pope John Paul II’s tomb. The pilgrimage to Assisi was a great experience. Though nearly eight hundred years have passed since the birth of “the second Christ”, the spirit of Francis and Clare is still powerfully felt in the narrow alleys and serene valleys of Assisi. The pilgrimage to Assisi saw all of us taking time for confession, prayer and reflection. Around noon on Saturday, 3rd June, with great enthusiasm and expectation, we joined the hundreds of thousands of Catholics from across the world for the Pentecost Vigil with the Holy Father in St. Peter’s Square. The place was so filled with crowds of young

JY E U R O P E A N G A T H E R I N G

and cheering Catholics singing and praying that for many of us, it was a sort of ‘unexpected World Youth Day ’! On the last day, we had the Jesus Youth Leaders’ gathering. We were blessed that our programme was organised at Pontificio Collegio Urbano, that shares its boundary with St. Peter’s Square! Though many Jesus Youth from Rome made themselves available through out the pilgrimage days, it was on the last day that every one was present. It was a beautiful time of fellowship, prayer and of course, fun and many photo sessions!

>> >>

“I felt it was my responsibility to work for the renewal of Europe through a deeper commitment and personal holiness. We need to make a more creative and united effort as we strive to revive the Church.” GRINSON GEORGE, Co-ordinator, JY Rome

The long day ended with a planning session at Camping Roma, where the ministry representatives from four

“Our visit to the holy places, specially the place where St. Paul was beheaded, and the climb up the Holy Steps on our knees, was a touching experience. We were enriched by the many facts we learnt about our faith, which has led to a deeper awakening of our call in life. We feel privileged to be part of God’s wonderful plan.” ANIL ISRAEL, Co-ordinator, JY Germany

“It was the fulfillment of a long cherished dream. The Rome pilgrimage enabled us to touch the very heart of Christianity. At the night vigil with Pope Benedict XVI and 400,000 pilgrims from all parts of the globe we felt a close bond with Catholics of other nations. The Jesus Youth gathering was a wake up call filling everyone with enthusiasm and implanting in all a dream for Europe. We left convinced that we belong to one family.” FR. SEBASTIAN ARIKAT, UK Animator, Jesus Youth International Team Rejoicing in the Lord with action songs in the typical JY style.

“I was very happy to be part of the Jesus Youth Europe gathering held in Rome. It was a golden opportunity to be with a group of youngsters who have a passion for the person of Jesus and want to be “different” for the Lord in the highly secularized society of today. It was encouraging to see that they long to communicate the love of the Lord to as many as possible, even when they are all busy with their own commitments. I am sure that the Lord has wonderful plans for the Jesus Youth in Europe. I hope we will be able to open our hearts to the inspiration of the Spirit and respond to the call the Lord is placing before us. Let us remember the tremendous graces we have received from the Lord and always keep in mind that the more graces we receive, the greater our responsibility before the Lord.” FR. GEORGE KUMBLUMOOTIL OP, ROME Renowned speaker and JY Animator, currently pursuing a doctorate in Theology at the Pontifical Institute, Angelicum, Rome.

At St. Peter’s Bascilica after celebrating Holy Mass with Fr. Varghese Kelamparambil CMI, Fr. Sony Palathara CMI and Fr. Sebastian Arikat.

countries – UK, Ireland, Germany, and Italy - discussed the future of the ministry in Europe. We all felt the pressing need to have more combined programmes for the ministry in Europe, to reach out to those countries on the continent where Jesus Youth is either not organised or has not reached out yet. In order to strengthen the communication between the Jesus youth leaders from various countries, it has been decided to form a mailing group. There was also a suggestion that we have a Jesus Youth Europe conference next year. We left with the hope of meeting again in UK for the forthcoming Leaders’ Training Programme in July.

JOSE MATHEW, UK Co-ordinator, JY Europe

>> >>

“ I could feel the blood of the martyrs speaking to me, challenging me to greater commitments and leading me to stronger decisions. Since then my only prayer and desire is to be led by the Spirit, not according to my plans but according to His will in my life.” PRADEEP MATHEW, Co-ordinator, JY UK “The pilgrimage to Rome helped me understand that the faith that we have today is the result of the toil and martyrdom of many early Christians. I have come to realize how much we need, in our own humble way, to contribute in taking the faith forward. From a Jesus Youth perspective, the European gathering was a tremendous experience of the JY fellowship.” RAJESH JOSEPH, Co-ordinator, JY Ireland

JULY 2006 PAGE 11

The National Nurses’ Conference, the first of its kind, saw 1200 nurses from across India come together for a life-changing encounter with Jesus at Christ College, Bangalore from 12th to 14th May 2006. The objective of the conference was to enlighten the participants about the potential of their profession as a vocation to extend God’s healing ministry. The presence and blessings of Archbishops Ignatius Pinto and Alphonsus Matthias (both Emeritus Archbishops of Bangalore) added significance to the programme. The programme based on the theme ‘To be His Healing Hands’ was a kaleidoscope of activities with

TO BE HIS HEALING HANDS

panels, skits, testimonies, music, and powerful input sessions by eminent speakers like Fr. Fio Mascarenhas, Colin Calmiano, Mario Joseph, Dr. Br. Mathew Abraham, Dr. Edward Edezhath, Alex Njavally, M.A.Joshy and C.C. Joseph. Throughout the programme, issues like abortion, the increasing apathy of health professionals for the suffering, and the need to encourage the culture of life, were strongly emphasised. The young participants left deeply convinced about their role and mission, and with a joyful zeal to use nursing as a channel for evangelisation in India.

JESUS YOUTH NATIONAL NURSES’ CONFERENCE 12 - 14TH MAY 2006, CHRIST COLLEGE, BANGALORE TH

“We give you our facilities and you pray for us. I have noted the enthusiasm with which you pray. This hall is filled with the fragrance of your prayers and the education we impart is blessed by your prayers.” FR.THOMAS CHATHANPARAMBIL Principal, Christ College, Bangalore

“Every nursing school is a formation centre - a ‘seminary’ for nurses’. With the correct formation and training, nurses cannot but go across the world and give Jesus to those who need Him. Since you find nurses in every corner of the world, it is important to give them faith formation and a vision for evangelisation.” ADV. RAIJU VARGHESE Co-ordinator, JY India

“For the first time in my life I saw prayerful youth taking initiatives for the Lord. It was a new awareness for me because usually I see religious people organizing programmes like this. The world can change through people like this who are very committed and prayerful. The way they prayed touched me. I am very much interested in their working style.” SR.SANCTA, Hyderabad

“220 nurses from Tumkur attended the Nurses’ Meet and now we have five prayer groups in our place. Through the programme, we all got a deeper conviction about our call to this profession. We realized that we are the Healing Hands of Jesus Christ in this world! Praise the Lord!” ARUNA, Tumkur, Karnataka

GLOBAL NEWSWATCH

JY Retreat, Florida, USA

USA n JY Retreat Fifty-one young participants from Gainesville, Tampa, Miami and Fort Lauderdale gathered for a retreat at the Morning Star Renewal Centre, Miami from 14th – 18th June 2006. It was conducted by the Florida Regional Service Team supported by the National Team, based on the theme “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations – Mt. 28:19”. There was 24 hours adoration before the Blessed Sacrament throughout the retreat. Fr. John, Vicar of the Syro Malabar Church, Florida extended his full support for the retreat. Prayer groups have been initiated in all four places. n JY Connect JY Connect - an initiative to build strong fellowship between the youth and the elders, was launched on 29th April 2006 at the St. Thomas Syro Malabar Church, Bronx. During this informal gathering, small groups of youth of the same gender and age were formed and then linked with one elder from the region. n Night Vigil On the first Friday of every month three JY groups comprising of adults, youth and teens, come together to spend twelve hours in prayer, intercession, and reflection in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. This night vigil begins and concludes with the celebration of the Holy Mass. ‘Ephatha 2006’, Ireland

‘Youth Fest’, Baltimore, USA

n Youth Fest The Mid-Atlantic region hosted this summer’s Youth Fest in Baltimore, Maryland on 17th June 2006. The main speaker for the programme was Pete Ascosi, who spoke on the day’s theme -‘The Holy Body and Blood of Christ‘. During the afternoon session, small group discussions were held, based on a passage from ‘Deus Caritas Est’. - Jyothini Malaickal IRELAND n Ephatha 2006 The first JY programme in Ireland ‘Ephatha 2006’ was conducted on 25th March 2006 with 125 participants at St. Joseph’s School for the Visually Impaired, Drumcondra, Dublin, based on the theme ‘Listening to God’s voice and answering His call’. Mr. Gerard Gallagher (Co-ordinator, Catholic Youth Care - Archdiocese of Dublin), Fr. James George, Jose Mathew (Coordinator, JY Europe) and Fr. Sony Palathra CMI were the main resource persons. - Rajesh Joseph UK n South Zone Gathering After the formation of zones in JYUK, the first ever zonal programme was held on 13th May 2006 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Dagenham for UK South Zone based on the theme ‘Living in Him’.

n Day of Re-renewal The Jesus Youth in London celebrated 17th June 2006 as a ‘Day of Re-renewal’. With an attendance of 60 participants, the programme witnessed the coming together of JY prayer groups from different parts of London for Mass, Praise & Worship, input sessions, planning, reflection and a time of powerful intercession. n Discipleship Formation Programme The second gathering of the Discipleship Formation Programme took place in Birmingham on 6th - 7th May 2006. The sessions focused on growing in relationship with Jesus, tackling problem areas in Christian growth, Biblical basis of Catholic faith etc. n JY Teens Gathering JY Liverpool had its first teens gathering on 23rd June 2006 at the Holy Name Church. The programme included interactive sessions, group discussions, and a time of prayer and reflection. n JY Family Gathering Around 30 JY couples gathered at Holy Name Church, Liverpool on 25th June 2006 to participate in the Family Gathering organised by JY Liverpool. There was a session on Christ-centred family life by Dr. Julio and his wife Dr. Anju. - Pradeep Mathew

JY Family Gathering, UK

JULY 2006 PAGE 13

GLOBAL NEWSWATCH

‘Chalo Kashmir’, India

CANADA n Input sessions & Night vigil JY Canada organised several input sessions by Fr. Alex Tharamangalam and Ms. Philo when they visited Canada in April 2006. A night vigil was also organised on 28th April 2006 during their visit. Philo inspired many by her testimony while Fr. Alex conducted discussions on the life of Christ in the context of present day Christian challenges. n Guests from Divine Retreat Centre The regular Friday prayer meeting on 26th May 2006 was blessed with the presence of Fr. Augustine Vallooran, Glen La’rive and Tresa La’rive from the Divine Retreat Centre, Kerala. The uplifting session of prayer and music included a testimony by Glen and an inspiring message by Fr. Augustine. n National Team Re-constitution The National Team of JY Canada was reconstituted on 13th May 2006. The new team with Leny Veliyathuparambil as Co-ordinator, Sindhu Michael as Asst. Co-ordinator and Fr. Jose Thaiparampil as Pastor include Biju Davies, Bosco Jerome, Joy Kittan, Tony Chiryinkalam, Manju Francis, Bobby Jose, Roy David, Johnson Irimban, Binu (representing Hamilton) and Mathew (representing Ottawa). JY Canada expresses its heart-felt gratitude to Bosco (former Coordinator) for his inspiring leadership during

‘Koinonia’, Kerala, India

the past 2 years and solicits prayers for the new team. - Leny Veliyathuparambil INDIA n Full time Volunteers’ Training The 15th batch of the JY Full time Volunteers comprising of 21 participants from different parts of India, completed their 40-day training period and were commissioned on 25th June 2006. n Teens 2006 ‘Teens 2006’- an initiative of the JY Teens Ministry, was conducted at Nagpur from 8th to 9th June 2006 based on the theme ‘A New Way, A New Generation’, There were 520 participants (including 80 volunteers) from different parts of India like Bhopal, Nagpur, Amravati, Chandrapur, etc. n Koinonia ‘Koinonia’, the joyful celebration of South Indian Campus Leaders was held in Ashirbhavan, Cochin from the 30th June to 2nd July. 200 Campus Leaders from more than 25 zones across 4 South Indian states and Pondicherry participated. n Chalo Kashmir ‘Chalo Kashmir’ - a unique project initiated by the JY Teens Ministry, saw 17 teenagers from Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu outreach to Jammu & Kashmir in April 2006. After a 3-day training in Bangalore, they were divided and sent to 5 different parishes in Jammu to conduct programmes. They also

JY Full time Volunteers’ Training, Kerala, India

‘Penuel’ - JY Gathering, UAE

visited the Jammu prison. A culmination of this mission was the ‘Teens Meet’ held at St. Peter’s School on 30th April with over 210 teenage participants. - Soji K. Joseph UAE n Penuel – JY Gathering A one-day gathering ‘Penuel’ held on 21st April 2006 with 120 young participants marked the beginning of Jesus Youth in the Emirate of Ras-Al-Khaimah. The gathering was blessed to have Fr. Joy - Spiritual Director, JY Dubai for the Eucharistic Celebration. A weekly prayer group has also been initiated in the Emirate. n Devotion to Mother Mary & the Sacred Heart of Jesus The months of May and June saw the JY of Abudhabi gathering in almost 60 homes, and the JY of Fujairah in around 15 houses, for praying the Church’s traditional devotions to Mother Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Many miracles and healings were experienced during the days. n New Ministries A Liturgical Ministry was formed in Abudhabi to support the parish in the Eucharistic Celebrations. JY Dubai has a new Pro-Life ministry. JY Fujairah’s involvement in parish activities has led them to initiate a music ministry during the Holy Week and lead the adoration in English for the parish. ‘Seeloha’, UAE

GLOBAL NEWSWATCH

Post Marital Course, UAE

n Post Marital Course Jesus Youth together with the Malayalam Community in Abudhabi, conducted the first ever Post Marital Course in Malayalam for the parish on 23rd June 2006. The course drew around 500 couples, some of whom have been married for the last 15 years, to renew their relationships with the Lord. n Seeloha - JY Seminar A one-day seminar ‘Seeloha’ was conducted in St. Michael’s Church, Sharjah on 23rd June 2006 for about 700 youth. Fr. Angelo (Vicar, St. Michael’s Church) inaugurated the programme while Fr. Joy Menachery and Dr. Joseph Lukose gave the main input sessions. n Adieu A farewell function was arranged for Mr. Joseph Lonth, the Animator of the Jesus Youth National Team for the last two years, who is returning to Kerala after a long involvement with Jesus Youth from its beginning in Dubai. He is actively involved in Joynet - the JY e-mail fellowship. n Thoolika The Newsletter of Dubai - ‘Thoolika’ has seen an increase in content and pages over the months, evolving into a highly anticipated weekly inspiration. The 100th issue was released on Easter Sunday. - Prejomy Jose The new JY National team, Australia

JY Gathering, Kuwait

KUWAIT n Weekly Gathering Jesus Youth in Kuwait began its weekly gathering at Holy Family Cathedral on 1st April 2006. Fr. Joseph Edappullavan OCD inaugurated the gathering and Fr. Mathew Kunnelpurayidam OCD delivered a talk on the vision and mission of the JY movement. The gathering continues to be held regularly each Saturday with prayer, group discussions, workshops, Bible study, music, etc. n Prayer on the day of Pentecost Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and anointing prayer was held on 3rd June 2006 to celebrate the feast of Pentecost. The prayer service was led by Fr. Thomas Vadakedam. n Jesus Youth Gathering A J Y Gathering was initiated at Our Lady of Arabia Church, Ahmadi on 19th June 2006. Fr. Antony Pulluvila OCD inaugurated the gathering. This gathering will be held on the third Monday of every month. - Biju Antony MALAYSIA n One-day programme ‘Shine Jesus Shine’ , a groundbreaking programme in Malaysia organised with the support of JY Singapore, was held for 150 participants at St. Joseph’s Church, Kuala Lumpur on 2nd April 2006 under the guidance of Fr. Abraham Pallivathukkal - one of the ‘Shine Jesus Shine’, Malaysia

National Leaders’ Gathering, Australia

founder members of Jesus Youth and an animator of the JY International Team. Fr. Abraham and Mr. Pius conducted the input sessions. - Biju Joseph NEW ZEALAND n Youth Alive A retreat for youth and teens was held on 13th-14th May 2006 at Our Lady of Sacred Heart Church (OLSH), Epsom, Auckland led by Manoj Sunny along with Mayrose Pius and Karen Hopkins on the theme “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly”. Fr James Mulligan, Asst. Parish Priest of OLSH and Spiritual Director of JY New Zealand was a constant support during the retreat. - Liza Johnson AUSTRALIA n Leadership Training Programme A Leadership Training Programme was held on 6th May 2006 at the All Saints Church, Sydney. Following the programme the JY Sydney team met with Manoj Sunny to form a service team for Sydney. Stephen Ratnakaran was chosen as the Co-ordinator with Noby Joseph and Jaison Thomas as the Asst. Co-ordinators. n National Meeting Representatives from five states of Australia - South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian ‘Youth Alive’, New Zealand

JULY 2006 PAGE 15

GLOBAL NEWSWATCH

The new JY National Team, Singapore

Capital Territory (ACT) - came together in Sydney for the first National Meeting on 5th May 2006. Manoj Sunny animated the meeting while Fr. Mathew Thekkedath, Chaplain to the Syro-Malabar community and JY Sydney, concelebrated Mass along with Fr. John Aravankara, Pastor, JY Australia. A national team was formed with Rajesh Thalappillil as Co-ordinator, Mayrose Pius as Asst. Co-ordinator, Fr. John Aravankara as Pastor, and Dr. Preshy and Gene Thallappillil as Animators. Other members include Suzette Morris, Milan Chacko, Cicily Ponnor, Stephen Ratnakaran, Ajith Lobo, Maria Paul, Cinnil Thomas, Tito Jose and Bony Abraham. Following this there was a meeting with elders and families of the Kerala Catholic Community (Sydney) to discuss WYD 2008 and present the role of Jesus Youth in WYD 2008. n Couples’ Meet A Couples’ Meet based on the theme of ‘Becoming a true Christian in our family lives’ was held at Liverpool on 3rd May 2006. n Leadership Workshop A one-day workshop on leadership was held on 7th May 2006 at McKillop Conference Hall, St. Francis Church, Melbourne, with 20 participants who had earlier attended the ‘Yes Lord’ retreat in December. n Children & Teens’ Workshop A three-day workshop ‘Jesus for Me’ for 25 children and 20 teens was carried out along with the church community retreat at Box Hill, Melbourne from 10th to 12th June 2006. -Mayrose Pius SINGAPORE n National Team Re-constitution The new Jesus Youth National Team was reconstituted during a 3-day programme held from 18th to 20th May 2006 at Choice Retreat Centre, Boon Lay. 50 key leaders representing the different JY ministries attended the programme. Two delegates from JY Thailand were also present. The key speakers for the programme included

JY Retreat, Italy

Fr. William Goh (SACCRE Spiritual Director), Oka (Asst. Co-odinator - SACCRE Youth), Edwin D‘Souza (Singapore Diocesan Youth In-charge), Mathew Jacob and Manoj Sunny. The new National Team members are Biju Joseph (Co-ordinator), Lejen James (Asst. Co-ordinator), Roy Peter (Ex-offcio), Thomson (Animator), Andrew (Animator), Joy Thomas, Rosmy, Joshy, Jays John, Michael Koshy, Ajith Jacob, Davis, Dexon J Netto, Seema, Minto and Jeril Joseph. n Growth Retreat for Leaders A Growth Retreat for 60 leaders was held from 7th to 9th April 2006 at the Choice Retreat Centre, Boon Lay led by Rev. Fr. Abraham Pallivathukal SJ. n Jesus Net Jesus Net - JY Singapore’s central prayer gathering which was started in April 2006 is conducted on the first Saturday of each month in the Novena Church. It includes an input session based on the JY Bible calendar and concludes with the general Novena held in the Church. - Biju Joseph

JY leaders at Bangna Campus, Thailand

Bouquets of blessings! Jesus Youth congratulates Cardinal Ivan Dias, Archbishop of Bombay, on his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI as the Prefect of the Congregation for Evangelization of Peoples. His Eminence has always been an inspiration to Jesus Youth. We gratefully acknowledge his encouragement and support, and specially cherish the catecheses he led for us at the WYD 2005, held in Cologne, on the theme ‘Searching for truth, the deepest meaning of human existence’. We pledge our prayers as His Eminence takes charge of his new office at the Vatican.

THAILAND n Training Programme The Jesus Youth in Bangkok organized and conducted a training programme for potential leaders and the music ministry on 9th and 10th July 2006. Students of different nationalities studying in Assumption University participated in the trainings. Manoj Sunny was the main resource person for both the days. The participants left with a deep conviction of the love and mercy of the Lord. -George Devassy ITALY n Youth Retreat Jesus Youth in Rome organised a half-day retreat for 65 participants on 18th June 2006. The retreat was led by Fr. George Kumblumootil and Fr. Joshy Mayattil. There was also a farewell ceremony for Fr. Mathew and Fr. Macqwin. - Siju Chacko

O Mary our Mother, teach us to wait upon the Spirit and to go wherever he leads us. Help us on our journey to discern the signs of God’s powerful hand. Lead us in joyful proclamation of faith in Christ our Saviour. Pray for us, your children, now and always!

Printed and Published by Mr. Manoj Sunny on behalf of Jesus Youth International Office, 6F Thadikaran Centre, Palarivattom P.O., Cochin-682 025, Kerala, INDIA, Ph: +91 484- 3295859 / 4054870, Fax: +91-484-2346084, Email : [email protected] Website : www.jesusyouth.org n Editor-in-charge: Shelton Pinheiro n Editorial Team: Beena Manoj, Anu Pinheiro & Deepa Sabu n Layout: Sanil C.A.n Printed by SR Graphics, Kottayam, Ph :+91 481-2301142