|
From the Chair
Michelle Moran, who is the Northern European representative for ICCRS, the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services, which links the CCR with the Vatican, and is the chairperson of the National Service Committee for England, shares her thoughts
|
|
|
I can hardly believe that it is now a year since I became Chair of the NSC in England. Reflecting on how all that happened leaves me noting two spiritual principles. We have to be discerning, proactive instruments of change and we must always remain open to the surprises of the Spirit. For me the year has been one of getting to grips with how things operate. Then, trying to seek the Lord for the plans that He has in mind for us. Many people may wonder what is the role of the NSC and what exactly do we do. The short answer is that our mission is to serve, co-ordinate and promote CCR in England as the other NSC’s do in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, and to encourage and train leaders. In a spirit of unity, we build fellowship across the denominations as well as relating to other ecclesial movements and new communities in the Church. The model is one of service rather than one of authority or governance. In the mid 1990’s the Lord led the English NSC to look seriously at how in the Renewal we were serving the Church. This led to the emergence of Catholic Evangelisation Services and to the Goodnews not just being an in-house Renewal magazine but having the emphasis on serving the whole Church. Perhaps one of the consequences of Charismatic Renewal serving the Church is that in England it is often not such a distinctive, visible reality but more of an infrastructure of people renewed in the Spirit who are working in their localities, parishes and dioceses. Over the last 10 years we have definitely seen the number of prayer groups decline but there have been enormous fruits of the Charismatic Renewal in the Church as a whole. On my travels around the country I see so many parishes that have been touched by the CaFE experience. I see small sharing/prayer groups that have come from the Men’s weekends or Mothers’ Prayers. There are monthly meetings such as the Oasis groups that developed from Celebrate and other local/regional initiatives that have sprung from inspirations of the Spirit received at the charismatic conferences. As we celebrate our 40th anniversary I feel it would be a mistake to become nostalgic. This is not a time to look back on the ‘good old days in Renewal’. It is a time for celebrating. The Lord has indeed done marvellous things among us and for this we give Him thanks. There is however an urgent need to listen to what the Spirit is saying to us for the future. There are many things that haven’t as yet happened. There are many people in our Church and nation who still need to hear the proclamation of the Good News and about the life changing power of the Holy Spirit. Younger people need to be envisioned, equipped, empowered and released into leadership and roles of influence. Structures need to be in place so that people can be nurtured and discipled in the ways of the Spirit. In fact, the list is extensive so it looks like we are going to be busy in the next 40 years! As I look forward I am excited. I have some personal vision of what I sense the Lord doing. As an NSC it is our responsibility to pray for and where needed, support all the Charismatic initiatives that are already happening. We also seek to listen to the Lord for the way forward. He seems to be leading us step by step. So we don’t have a manifesto or grand master plan but our desire is to remain faithful to the Master as He reveals his plans to us.
|
|
|
 |