“Prepare the Way of the Lord” was the challenge for participants at the annual Arkansas Catholic Charismatic Conference. Msgr. James Mancini, charismatic liaison for the Diocese of Little Rock since 1972, summed up the gathering, which was held Aug. 3-5 in North Little Rock. He said the estimated 400 in attendance were equipped to spread awareness of the power and workings of the Holy Spirit in today’s world.
“The gifts that Christ left the Church have not disappeared. Healings are still happening. The prophetic word is still among us,” he said after the conference. “This weekend was a powerful boost and a great preparation for the charismatic Catholics of today to know how to share and use with power the gifts that God has given the Church.”
Msgr. Mancini, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Tontitown, said charismatic prayer is “ecstatic prayer, in what we call praying in tongues, to praise of God.” Rarely this may result in a message or prophesy that needs interpretation.
“Primarily it’s just ecstatic praise,” he said. “Just like when we cheer at a football game, we use all kinds of sounds that come from an excited and enthusiastic spirit within a person.”
Msgr. Mancini was master of ceremonies for the conference, which was held at the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel. The Catholic Charismatic Services of Little Rock sponsored the event.
Bishop Sam Jacobs of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, La., was the featured speaker. Other speakers included Bob Canton of Stockton, Calif., and Sister Linda Koontz, SNJN, of El Paso, Texas.
In addition, the conference included programs for youth ages 5 to 18, Mass each day, perpetual eucharistic adoration, praise and worship music, confession and a prayer service for healing, where several people reported receiving emotional and physical healings.
Msgr. J. Gaston Hebert, diocesan administrator, celebrated the closing Mass on Sunday.
Jim Morgan, co-chairman of the conference planning committee, said there are three basic themes of the charismatic movement. They are evangelization; personal holiness and service; and physical and emotional healing.
For the third year, the Founders of Our Faith Award was presented on Saturday, Aug. 4. This year, Dr. Dennis and Janet Holt of St. Paul Church in Pocahontas and Fred and Tammy Woell of Christ the King Church in Little Rock were honored.
The Holts lead the music ministry for the conference. Recently they started a Catholic mission to Belize. The Woells were instrumental in the founding of Little Rock Scripture Study and in bringing Marriage Encounter to the diocese, Msgr. Mancini said.
In his opening address Aug. 3, Bishop Jacobs reflected on the 40th anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. He highlighted the importance of the Holy Spirit in Scripture and in the life of the Church. He also detailed the evolution of the renewal and quoted popes showing the Church’s support for the charismatic movement.
“Yes we have and will continue to make mistakes and go ahead of the Lord rather than follow the lead of the Holy Spirit,” he said. “But the reality is that God has called us to be fully charismatic, to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to continue to live out the grace of Pentecost in the heart of the Church for the sake of the Church because the Church’s true identity is charismatic.”
Followers of Christ are called to publicly proclaim the Gospel, he said.
“Like the Apostles, we need to leave the security of the upper room and proclaim to the world in the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus is both Lord and Messiah and allow his Spirit to confirm this message of truth and light with signs and wonders.”
Conference participant Deacon John Marschewski, the diocese’s minister to deacons, said he was moved by Bishop Jacobs’ insight that “the Church wouldn’t exist without the Holy Spirit.”
“We’re all called to be charismatic,” Marschewski said agreeing with the bishop. “St. Paul says we all have different gifts and we’re all called to use those differently, but it’s all through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Rita Wurtz, a member of the Cathedral of the St. Andrew in Little Rock, attended her first conference with an open mind.
“I have definitely found some deeper understanding and knowledge of the Holy Spirit,” Wurtz said. “By understanding how the Holy Spirit works it makes it easier for me to believe in a healing service.”
Bridgette Brunner, a college student and member of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers, attended the conference with her parents.
“I really liked the healing service,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve seen such miraculous healings right in front of me.”
“It definitely gave me hope like God was saying who he is again,” she said. “Realizing that God can do anything. It just increases my faith.”
