ISSUE 58 March 18th, 2002
EUROPEAN CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL INFO-LETTER (Euccril)
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You were
informed on an ecumenical meeting in Bari, Italy, in ISSUE 54. Jose Horta Costa
from Portugal went to Bari and wrote a report. This
article is also an introduction of one of the main speakers in our European
Gathering of Leaders and Intercessors, 24-29 September 2002 in Poland: Matteo Calisi.
Reflections on 2nd International Conference of Praise and
Worship, 16, 17th February 2002, Bari, Italy, organized by the
Community of Jesus
by Jose Horta e Costa , from Portugal
Prof. Matteo Calisi is
founder of the Community of Jesus (in Italian “Comunità di Gesù”). He studied at the Theological and Ecumenical Faculty in Bari and is one of the hardest working labourers of
present days’ ecumenism, and in doing so he is not only recognised by the
Catholic Charismatic Renewal (who made him Vice-Chairman of the ICCRS
–International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Secretariat in the Vatican, and
Vice President of the Catholic Fraternity of Charismatic Covenant Communities),
but he has also gained recognition and collaboration from the Pentecostal,
Protestant and Ortodox Churches all around the World.
Matteo started his
work and his community in Bari, an ecumenical city in itself, filled with the
memories of “Ruta otto (8)” (Route 8)
a pilgrim-way that lead to Moscow, and the Basilic of Saint Nicholas, where the
memory and tradition of this patriarch’saint common to Catholics and Ortodoxes
is venerated.
Together with Giovanni
Traettino, Pentecostal Pastor who dared start with Matteo many years ago the
Italian Charismatic Consultation (CCI), the work on ecumenism has progressed
and a solid platform is bearing fruit.
On 1997 they held the
1st Conference, a gathering of Catholic Charismatics, Pentecostals,
Evangelicals and those moved by the Spirit to pray and praise in unity. But
this year, the 2nd initiative brought about important names from
those other churches from the United States, who contributed to a powerful’
truly enlightened couple of days of praise, adoration and prayer, where the
subject of interventions and teachings always concluded with the felt prayer
for unity from the deepest of the hearts.
According to Massimo
Introvigne, author of a book on the work of Matteo Calisi and Giovanni
Traettino (“Waiting for Pentecost”, ed.
Messagero Padova, 1996), -“after the
ecumenism amongst protestant communities, the missionary’ ecumenism of the
Eight Hundreds and the birth of the great ecumenical forums of the 20th
century, a fourth ecumenism is now being born, a spiritual ecumenism that
gather charismatic Catholics and Pentecostal evangelical Christians.”
We have heard and
prayed with Mike Bickle, from the International House of Prayer of Kansas City
(IHOP-KC), director of this new prayer ministry who lead continuous worship 24
hours a day for two years now. Also with Mike Herron, founding Pastor of the
Willamette Christian Fellowship from Salem, Oregon, who lead us into prophetic
singing, or with Anthony Sanchez and his wife who have a heart for
reconciliation and unity within the Body of Christ expressing their ministry in
intercessory prayer. And of course, last but not least, Fr. Carlo Colonna, the Jesuit
priest from Napoli who marvelled everybody with his well-hearted singing and
teaching, rooted in his work of organising theological dialogue between
Catholics and Evangelicals in Italy.
The music ministry was
provided by “Voices of Sion” a fruit
itself from the meeting of Charismatic Catholics and Evangelicals, under the
constant care of Matteo, a teacher of music and chant himself.
But to understand the
relevance of this meeting, we should listen to the words of Archbishop
Monsignor GIUSEPPE CASALE (Arc. of Foggia-Bovino) :
-“In face of a movement of some five hundred
million people – who, for the greatest majority are experiencing a genuine
Christian’ life experience and a sincere desire to go into mission – it is hard
to deny the presence – also mysterious - of God’s Spirit, who is moving also
out of the visible Church , of Whom speaks the catholic magistery. To recognise
in the Pentecostal and Charismatic reawakening the action of the Holy Spirit(…)
The catholic charismatic Renewal, of wich prof.
Matteo Calisi is a valued asset, finds itself in a unique position to promote a
true dialogue with the Pentecostal world.”
We need more of it!
Jose Horta e Costa
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Also in the
Netherlands the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, together with the Roman Catholic
officials on ecumenical affairs, started the dialogue between Pentecostals and
Catholics. It develops hopefully.
Kees
Information on the European Gathering: http://www.isidordata.se/akks/europe
and www.iccrs.org
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This Info-Letter is free to everybody who wants it. They can sent me an
e-mail with this message: yes, put me on
the mailing-list of the European Catholic Charismatic Renewal
Info-letter. Kees Slijkerman, keesslij@ision.nl
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This European Catholic Charismatic
Renewal Info-letter started in 1999 and is issued by the
European sub-committee of ICCRS
(chairperson Nikol Baldacchino, nikol@global.net.mt).
Editor: Kees Slijkerman, e-mail: keesslij@ision.nl
Our new (June 2001) European web-site, including old ISSUES of Euccril: http://www.isidordata.se/akks/europe