The 2nd International Charismatic Communities Leaders Conference, promoted by CHARIS, the International Service for Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) was held on 10th to 12th October in Rome, at the Pontifical International College Maria Mater Ecclesiae.
The days were filled with communion and discussions on various topics, such as the essential points of communities, Forming of new leaders, Embracing families and young people, The strengths and Challenges of pastoral care, and Communities and Ecumenical Mission, as well as the exchange of experiences.
Programming
The program for the event included moments of testimonies from Ecumenical Communities, and testimonies about being faithful to the Charism that was granted to us. Father Alexandre Awi de Melo secretary of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life talked about the early years of CHARIS and the Pope’s wishes for the organization. There was a sharing from Itaus Fasanella, Luzia Santiago and Eto on the formation of New Leaders in the new Communities. The days were topped with Eucharistic celebrations and moments of sharing.
“I want to overflow”
Gabriella Dias, a consecrated lay woman of the Shalom Catholic Community (CCSh), member of the General Council and Apostolic Assistant, i.e., responsible for the evangelization actions of the CCSH, was present at the International Conference and shares a little about the experience of being a part of the International Service of Communion team of CHARIS.
According to Gabriella, since its foundation, CHARIS has promoted meetings that allow the various charismatic realities to be enriched with each other. “Before the pandemic CHARIS held the first meeting for the New Communities in Recife, it was very good, we were able to hear several testimonies about the evangelization of young people, carried out by the Shalom Community, service to the poor with the Covenant of Mercy, and other topics with other Communities. This year, the meeting was held in Rome, and we had an enriching schedule”, declares the consecrated.
At the Second International Conference for New Communities, the programme enabled participants to abandon themselves in order to be overflowed by the Communities. “CHARIS wishes charismatic expressions to grow in holiness, evangelization, in sharing about the experience of baptism in the Holy Spirit, in service of the poor and in ecumenism. And these points were addressed during those days,” she explains.
“I leave very enriched wishing to overflow the Shalom Community and through the Shalom Work with everything that we have received. The Shalom Community already has a mission with young people, and we were created for it. The poor are our friends, who we serve through the Gospel and with our friendship.”
For Gabriella Dias to take part in the conference was an opportunity to put even more love into everything that the Shalom Community does.
About CHARIS
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal International Service, CHARIS, is the international service body for all expressions of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal – prayer groups, new communities, schools of evangelization, religious institutes, the media and everything that arose from the CCR- whose birth in the Church in 1967 came as a fruit of the Second Vatican Council.
This body was created from a request of Pope Francis in 2018 and is linked to the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. Recognizing the Catholic Charismatic Renewal as part of an ecumenic chain of grace, CHARIS, is an instrument for promoting and working the unity of the body of Christ, as expressed in the prayer of Jesus Christ (John, 17).
Learn more about CHARIS on the official website: www.charis.international