Photo Caption: Judith MacNutt, left, co-founder and president of Christian Healing Ministries Inc., and Father Bob Hogan, BBD, of San Antonio, Texas.

Anyone who doubts that the Holy Spirit is full of surprises hasn’t been to one of the annual Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conferences.

“You do see manifestations of the Holy Spirit there. Miracles happen at Four Points by Sheraton,” said Bev Bryan of Knoxville, who is chairing this year’s conference at the downtown Peoria hotel. It will take place Friday, July 26, and Saturday, July 27.

“If you haven’t tried it, just come and give the Lord a chance to speak to you in a new way,” she said.

The theme for this 27th annual gathering is “Healed and Empowered.” The speakers will be Judith MacNutt, co-founder and president of Christian Healing Ministries Inc. in Jacksonville, Fla., and Father Bob Hogan, BBD, of San Antonio, Texas.

A licensed psychotherapist in Florida, MacNutt discovered the need for prayer with her clients as a clinical counselor. After directing a house of prayer in Jerusalem for three years she established Christian Counseling Services to integrate her work with healing prayer. She founded Christian Healing Ministries with her husband, Francis, in 1980.

“They put on schools of how to pray for healing, which are attended by people all over the world,” said Sharon Martin, coordinator for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal board for the Diocese of Peoria. “She’s funny, she’s truthful. She has the gift of knowledge.”

Father Hogan was ordained for the Marianists in 1983, but is currently involved in formation with a new religious community, the Brothers of the Beloved Disciple. Since 2007 he has worked with Bishop Thomas Flanagan as an associate liaison for the Charismatic Renewal in San Antonio.

Before that he was liaison for the Charismatic Renewal in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Father Hogan also chaired the National Service Committee of the Charismatic Renewal for two years.

SENT FORTH
Martin saw Father Hogan at a Lenten retreat in Chicago and was surprised to hear him say that he doesn’t offer healing Masses as part of his ministry.
“He said, ‘You’re not healed for your sake but are also empowered to go forth to further the Kingdom of God,'” she recalled. “We said, ‘We need him for a speaker.’ We loved what he said.”

The music ministry for the weekend is being coordinated by Mary Delgado, a member of St. Edward Parish in Chillicothe. She leads the praise and worship music for the prayer group there and their healing Masses.
Dr. Mark E. Ginter, president of St. Joseph’s Holy Family Inc. of Bristow, Ind., will serve as the master of ceremonies for the conference.

After opening remarks by the keynote speakers, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, will celebrate Mass for conference participants at 8 p.m.

“The Holy Spirit uses him all the time, but his homilies on Friday night are so beautiful and touching,” Bryan told The Catholic Post. “It knocks my socks off every time. . . . He truly depends on the Holy Spirit to guide him.”
She noted that there will be an adoration chapel and prayer room for those who would like extra prayer.

The sacrament of reconciliation will also be available, and there will be a healing service on Saturday afternoon. The conference closes with Mass at 7:30 p.m.

The fee for the conference is $75 for adults and $35 for full-time high school or college students. There is no registration fee for priests, women and men religious, permanent deacons and seminarians, although they are asked to pay $35 for the meal plan.

Only registrations postmarked by July 12 are eligible for meals. Forms may be downloaded from ccr-cdop.org

Rooms at Four Points by Sheraton are $79 per night until July 12. Room reservations must be made by calling the hotel directly at (309) 674-2500 and indicating that you are with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conference.

“I want people to understand how exciting it is to get to know the Lord more,” Bryan said. “When you go to a stadium to watch a football game, all these people are so enthralled with this football game that they stand up and cheer. That’s how people in the Charismatic Renewal are with the Lord. When he comes in we get up and cheer.”

“We bubble over with joy,” Martin added. “We do.”