The annual Catholic Charismatic Conference, “The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength,” was celebrated April 6 at St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Media, where approximately 400 joyful Catholic Charismatics converged. The day-long event both began and ended with Mass. Msgr. Ralph Chieffo, pastor of St. Mary Magdalen, celebrated the opening 8:30 a.m. Mass and the closing Mass at 5:30 p.m., the vigil for Divine Mercy Sunday. (Photos by Sarah Webb)
Maria T. Aloia (left) from St. Matthew Parish in Conshohocken and Joan Clifford from Epiphany of Our Lord in Plymouth Meeting raise their voices during Mass at the end of a full day of worship.
Mary Zucchelli from St. Bernadette Parish in Drexel Hill prays with fellow worshipers at the closing Mass for the Charismatic Conference.
Martha’s House provided music for the Masses at the conference.
Valerie Mitchell from Our Lady of Grace Parish in Penndel joyfully plays her tambourine.
Msgr. Ralph Chieffo prepares to proclaim the Gospel.
Jean McCollum traveled from St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Lancaster to attend the Charismatic Catholic conference.
Norman and Irene Kerner from Immaculate Conception Parish in Levittown praise the Lord during Mass at the closing of the Charismatic Conference in Media.
Gloria Coyne (center), an organizer for the Catholic Charismatic Conference and Kathleen McCarthy (right), one of the day’s speakers, pray together during the closing Mass.
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Having grown up in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal since I was 15 (44 now), I can say that, for the most part, the people in the renewal are some of the most devout Catholics I have known. They love our Lord. They love our Lady. They love Holy Mother Church. They serve the poor. They reach out to the alienated. They are true prayer warriors. It is sad that the comments above are so devisive.
What a sad sad spectacle this is, bring back the TLM.
I would like to know what the (chocked full of…) abuses are. Very unfair to make such an open judgment/statement! I have been to many Charismatic Masses … Have not really seen any abuses, the priest does not change the Liturgy in any way. Rather the people in attendance seem to be much more centered on the Mass.
Kristian, you present a very generalized statement mentioning “Charismatic Movements.” I have been involved in Renewal for over 15 years and I can tell you we have very reverent, prayerful people attending our masses. As the Liaison of the Charismatic Renewal here in Philadelphia, I can say that this does not occur in our Archdiocese, whether it is our Annual Conference, or various masses with healing services.
If the “Charismatic Movements were chock full of liturgical abuses”, we would not have the endorsement of all the Popes since the current Movement began, but also all our Archdioese Cardinals and Bishops. If there is anything that is not proper, it would have come to the attention of our Delegate to the Archbishop, Msgr. McLoone, or myself.
The Movement has been a tremendous blessing to all the people involved. Many believe that this renewal is a direct result of Vatican II and Pope John XXIII’s prayer: “O Holy Spirit … pour fourth the fullness of
your gifts … Renew your wonders in this our day as by a new Pentecost.”
The Catholic Charismatic movement is not simply a renewal of the charisms found in the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians [Chapter 12]. It centers on the renewal of individual commitment to the person of Jesus Christ.
This committment doesn’t lead to abuses, but to a deeper, more worshipful experience of prayer. When we have our next Archdiocese event, I would invite you to attend. You can easily contact me through our website: http://www.phillyspirit.com
God Bless You,
Gloria Coyne
“The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength” theme best describes how the 2013 Catholic Charismatic Conference proclaimed the Gospel message. The day was filled with beautiful liturgy and two of the most reverent masses which celebrated the true sacrifice of the Eucharist we as Catholics have celebrated for thousands of years. Celebrating on the Vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday and the Octave of Easter with the future celebration of Pentecost made this Charismatic experience relevant. The “Joy of the Lord” is truly the strength of all who planned and participated in the conference. It was truly an inspiring liturgy and conference.
Charismatic movements are typically chock full of liturgical abuses and reduce the Mass to a “memorial meal” and not the true sacrifice of the Eucharist.
Agree 100%. This is appalling, especially the guitars and tamborines at mass. Worse, it is Protestant.
I believe Kristian and Kevin have given a real negative view to a joy filled day of peace and love that had passion in the praise and worship of Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior.
Begining in 1967, the Charismatic experience has continued to spread, so that, as of today the Catholic Charismatic Renewal exists in 238 countries and has touched over 100 million people. Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II,and Pope Benedict XVI have all endorsed it many times. In fact, Pope Benedict urged those responsible for the ecclesiastial ministry- from parish priests to bishops – not to let the Renewal pass them by but to welcome it fully.
Kristian and Kevin I urge you to earnestly pray about this, allowing the Holy Spirit to come in a new way. Ask, seek and knock. Fr. Raniero Canlatamessa of Italy did, read his story, he has written many books on his life changing experience with the Spirit. By the way, he has been the the Papal Preacher since 1986.
Please join us in a Life in the Spirit.Come, let us learn together. One will begin on May 7th, 7 PM at Holy Trinity Parish in Morrisville Pa. Please call. St. Albert in Montgomery County will be having one April 17th.
By the way, the Bible says that everything that has breathe is to praise the Lord. In Psalm 150: verse 3 it states to “praise him with the sound of a trumpet, Praise him with lyre and stringed instruments”. It’s not appalling, it is scriptural. God Bless You both.
I would personally like to invite anyone who has NEVER attended a Charismatic Prayer meeting to please do so… ALL ARE WELCOME.
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” – Isaiah 5:20
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” -Psalm 100
“Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes!” -Psalm 150:4
“Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp.” – Psalm 149:3
“The LORD will save me,and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the LORD.”-Isaiah 38:20
“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:7
“After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just;
for he has judged the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her immorality,
and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
Once more they cried out,
“Hallelujah!
The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”
And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!”
And from the throne came a voice saying,
“Praise our God,
all you his servants,
you who fear him,
small and great.” -Revelations 19:1-4
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
-John 8:32