Last month, South Jersey’s Hispanic Catholic Charismatics experienced a weekend of praise, worship and formation in Vineland.
Saturday, Nov. 4, and Sunday, Nov. 5, at Divine Mercy Parish were days to celebrate the Golden Jubilee (50 years) of the worldwide Catholic Charismatic Renewal.
An estimated 450 faithful joyfully sat to hear the teachings, testimony and witness of the priest from Colombia, Father Dalton Reyes; got on their feet to the beats of Lindenwold’s Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish music ministry on Saturday; and experienced healing, thanks to a prayer service after the Mass presided by Father John Jairo Franco Cardenas, of Swedesboro’s Saint Clare of Assisi Parish.
The next day, 150 charismatic leaders from the Diocese of Camden took part in a day of formation, also led by Father Reyes, on how to be effective evangelizers in their own communities.
Calling it “a great blessing to see the unity of the charismatics in the diocese celebrating the conference in the light of the golden jubilee of the worldwide Catholic Charismatic Renewal,” Kathia Arango, national coordinator, Hispanic Charismatic Renewal United States and Canada, said “the Hispanic community was empowered to continue serving the Lord in their parishes.”
As well, “the leadership formation day provided leaders of the prayer groups practical strategies to renew and empower the evangelization efforts in their communities,” she remarked.