DAMIAN STAYNE BRINGS THE CHARISM SCHOOL TO THE USA

Last summer Damian Stayne, the founder of the Cor et Lumen Christi community went with his family to the United States for seven weeks, where he ran a series of Charism schools and Catholic miracle rallies at various locations including the Franciscan University at Steubenville. Over 4200 people attended the different events and more than 500 people proclaimed themselves physically healed. The majority of those who attended the Charism Schools also exercised Gifts of the Spirit for the first time. Many people also gave their lives to Jesus or were baptised in the Holy Spirit or filled anew and several hundred people experienced deliverance at various levels.

Damian commented: “After each event we had follow up sessions with the leaders so they could put into place a strategy to move forward with what they had been taught and experienced.” Among the healings at the Miracle Service, which was part of the Cor et Lumen Christi Word Power conference, hosted by The Mother of God Community in Gaithersburg, a Vietnamese woman got up and walked from her wheelchair. Another woman who had been on crutches was also able to run round the hall. As a result of the visit the Mother of God Community have now started a regular healing service themselves. Eleven hundred people from 36 States attended the Charism School at the Franciscan University in Steubenville.

Damian comments, “In the prophecy workshop, 900 people who had never had a word of knowledge before, received one as they were encouraged to pray for people they didn’t know in the session. They were ‘over the moon’”. For the Miracle Service Damian insisted that people in need be invited from the local area. Thus a Protestant pastor who works with prostitutes and people on the streets brought some of his people. There were more than 250 declared healings, included 12 people with hearing aids, who after prayer no longer needed them. Fr Michael Scanlan TOR, one of the pioneering leaders of the CCR, and the Chancellor of the Franciscan University was so amazed by what he saw that he said that if he hadn’t known many of the people who had been healed he would have suspected that there had been a set up.

One of the participants who co-ordinates the university Christian outreaches, was so struck by what he saw that he asked Damian if he could use the prophecy workshop material in Jamaica where he had been invited to speak. He emailed later to say that he saw exactly the same thing happen there where 200 people received words of knowledge for the first time. He also led a healing service for the first time by himself and was amazed to see the Lord perform many physical healings. Damian also led Charism Schools and Catholic Miracle rallies in Phoenix and San Diego, where there were more remarkable healings, including one lady who had been stone deaf in one ear for 48 years who instantly regained her hearing. Damian remembers, “She wept with gratitude. It was very moving.” May God be praised.

The Charism School 26th - 28th February In Salesian Hall Chertsey. Surrey. For details contact 01932 565747
or email info@ coretlumenchristi.org
Website www.coretlumenchristi.org
(The open Miracle Service will be on Saturday 7.00pm)

PREPARING AN ARMY FOR THE LORD
Report the European meeting of Catholic Charismatic leaders organised by ICCRS in Budapest 5th-8th November 2009

Thirty European countries were represented at the European leaders gathering of CCR in Budapest. For the first time there were representatives from Albania, Denmark and Iceland and a considerable amount of young leaders. England, Scotland and Wales all sent delegates. Speakers included Prof Guzman Carriquiry, the under secretary of the Pontifical Council of the Laity, Michelle Moran (UK), Johannes Ficthtenbauer (Austria), Jude Muscat(Malta) and Lazlo Gorove (Hungary). The participants were told that Catholic Charismatic Renewal, like the other Ecclesial movements, enjoyed high esteem at the Vatican and is seen to have an important role in the promotion of the gospel at this time. There was a sense of urgency among those gathered but also a recognition that many felt overworked and unsupported. One of the prophecies encouraged those present to look behind the mountain of ashes which seemed so high.

One of the priorities that was underlined was the importance of making time for others, particularly young people and the importance of training young people up and not working alone but creating teams to do the Lord’s work. The significance of intercession was also highlighted as a back up every ministry. There was a stress on the preparation of a spiritual army and the individual’s part in this even if it did not seem very spectacular. Also emphasised was making use of the rich tradition of the Church and its different spiritualities. In the small group times the talks and other topics were discussed. In my group we discussed the different ways that Baptism in the Holy Spirit was facilitated in the different countries. In Poland for example they have experimented with an individual Life in the Spirit seminar whereby people pray individually every day and come together only for two sessions, which focus on healing prayer and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This is ideal for people who have no prayer group around or for people from groups who cannot run their own.

Other ways of promoting the Baptism in the Spirit included using Philip courses, Alpha courses, big rallies, inner healing retreats, Cana (marriage courses) for couples, Ignatian retreats in connection with healing prayer and baptism in the Holy Spirit, traditional pilgrimages on foot to well known shrines where the teachings offered on the way can prepare pilgrims for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, youth camps and the ICCRS Pentecost of the nations event.

Dariusz Jeziorny

New Signs and Wonders in Wales
by Spiro Sueref

An increasing, and unprecedented, number of travellers are coming to prayer groups in north and south Wales. The Pantasaph prayer group has seen their prayer group grow from around 15 people to over 100, as Arthur Hunter explains: “In early summer 2009, our charismatic group at Pantasaph moved from the conference room to the larger Pilgrims Hall. This coincided with a steady increase in attendance. We have grown from a neat and tidy, comfy and cosy meeting of around fifteen to one of over a hundred, the majority from the travelling community, people of all ages including children. This has presented a new and different challenge but a rewarding one because we are seeing healings take place on a physical, emotional and spiritual level. Particularly encouraging is the witness we receive from people after each meeting (especially the men) and their eagerness to be involved.” A similar trend has been seen in the St Peter’s Prayer Group, Cardiff, which I lead myself. We have seen our prayer group increase by around 20, mostly travellers.

For us, it started in November 2008, when following my return with my brother Nicholas from Greece, Craig Fury a Charismatic traveller from North Wales turned up to our prayer group with his wife and another two couples, one from Ledbury and another from Swansea, wanting to be prayed with. Following personal prayer ministry they experienced the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit and a new fervour in their faith and mission. A few months later Fr Keith Windsor, Director of the Pantasaph Franciscan Friary invited me to speak at a weekend retreat at the Friary. Leading up to retreat 20th-22nd November), we saw a sudden increase of travellers and their families coming to the St Peter’s Prayer group in Cardiff, and found that most wanted to come to the Pantasaph retreat, so we hired a minibus and 19 travellers came to the reatreat with us. On the Saturday evening, during the weekend retreat we held an open healing service in conjuction with Fr Keith, Arthur Hunter and the Wrexham Diocesan Service Team. When personal ministry began, after Mass, with the help of the local healing teams, the power of God moved mightily with many healings, signs and wonders. Many testimonies are still being collected and reports still coming in as to the fruits of that weekend. It seems there is a revival starting among the Catholic Travellers at this time which it would be good to support.

If you are also experiencing a growth of travellers coming to your prayer group, please let us know at the Good News Office, Allen Hall, 28 Beaufort Street, Lonson SW3 5AA. Or email ccruk@ onetel.com