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International News
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FIRST INTERNATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE AT POTTA IN INDIA THIS SUMMER
The theme of their first international youth conference is “POWER 2006” and comes from the text in Luke 24:49 “Receive Power from above”. Co-ordinators around the world are already receiving a lot of interest in the event. In the same week there will also be a conference for married couples. More details of the programme are available on the website www.power2006.org The name Potta in India has become famous round the world for the extraordinary healings and powerful conversions that take place there during their week long retreats at the Divine Retreat Centre in Kerala. Here about 10,000 people come every week for a charismatic retreat and hear the gospel preached (in 7 languages). People don’t pre-book but simply turn up. This usually doesn’t cause a problem, as the centre can cater for up to 25,000 people at any one time. On one occasion, however, which was a holiday week, 45,000 people arrived. The team, not wanting to turn anyone away, after prayer, came up with a novel solution. The women did the retreat during the day and slept at night, and the men did the retreat at night and slept during the day. “For a week we were cooking and preaching for 24 hours a day!” remembers Fr Augustine Vallooran, “But we did it!” The Divine Centre, which is run by Vincentian Fathers, has become a whole complex, where not only is the gospel preached, but those suffering from AIDS are cared for, as well as the elderly and orphans. There is also a prayer tower where intercession for the world takes place 24 hours a day, and people email their requests from round the globe. A special group of blind men, who are gifted in prophetic words, are also on hand to give prayer and counselling to those that come. Those who would be interested in visiting Potta and doing one of their week long retreats or going to the youth conference this summer and would like advice about travel or linking this in with other holiday options should contact 020 8286 0203 AUSTRIAN “CELEBRATE” IN THE MOUNTAINS Those who want to go to a Catholic Charismatic family conference and who can speak German might be tempted to attend Celebrate conference in Austria this summer at the ski resort in the mountains at Schladming 20th-26th August 2006. Like the English “Celebrate”, which it drew its inspiration from, the conference is Catholic but with an ecumenical openness. Two of the daily bible studies will be led by a Baptist and a Lutheran. One of the highlights of the event, however, remains the open air mountain-top Mass. Now in its third year, numbers are going up each year, and this year, for the first time, the conference is being co-sponsored by the Austrian National Service Committee and seven ecumenical covenant communities. The key to its popularity is the programme for children and particularly the ministry of the Kisi Kids, who create a mini musical for the children to learn while they are there. Families also only have to pay for two of their children, and the rest go free. (See coming events for details and speakers). VISIT LOS ANGELES FOR THE AZUSA STREET CENTENNIAL A week of special celebrations have been planned in Los Angeles from 25th-29th April 2006, to celebrate the centennial of Azusa Street, which is acknowledged as the beginning of the Pentecostal movement. English NSC chairman, Charles Whitehead has been part of the organising committee, representing not just the Roman Catholic Church but also the world wide charismatic renewal, which came out of the Pentecostal movement. Activities will take place all over the city during the week. This is a wonderful opportunity to show our solidarity and thanks for all the CCR has received from the Pentecostals. For further details contact Centennial Office, PO Box 26157, Los Angeles, CA90026, tel 213 989 4520 fax 213 989 4519 web site azusastreet100.net GO TO INDIA AND STUDY THE NEW TESTAMENT
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The
Divine Retreat Centre in Potta, Asia’s largest Catholic Retreat
Centre, is organising its first International Youth Conference from
30th July – 4th August 2006. Since October 1995 the Centre has
been holding national youth retreats twice a year in the last week of
December and May. This has helped contribute to a huge renewal movement
among young people in India, where daily Mass is common and massive
commitment to the Church normal. Fr Augustine Vallooran VC, part of
the Potta team of priests, comments, “On the tenth year of ministry
the Lord has been leading us to give ourselves further in His service
and reach out to the ever growing numbers of young seekers.” Hence
the decision to invite youth from the world to take part in the Potta
experience and see for themselves the wonders the Lord is doing there.
Many
people want to grow in their knowledge of the Bible but don’t know
where to go. Now they have an opportunity to go somewhere warm and cheap.
The Catholic Bible Institute, based in Mumbai, India, which was founded
by Fr Fio Mascarenhas SJ, are running a four week summer school from
8th May- 3rd June 2006. Because living is so cheap in India, even with
the airfare, the course will work out cheaper than many this side of
the water. Participants can do the whole school or just opt for a one
week module. (See coming events under “Scripture.”)