PRESS-RELEASE TO PUBLISH IN EVERY MAGAZINE AND ON WEBSITES

NEW CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC NETWORK 
OVER EUROPE

- What does the Holy Spirit ask European Renewal for? -
GATHERING of LEADERS and INTERCESSORS in CZESTOCHOWA (Poland) 24-29th September 2002

News things are happening on the European level of Catholic Charismatic Renewal. For the first time a continental gathering for leaders and intercessors will be organized. The meeting-place will be near the geographical heart of Europe: at the famous Marian pilgrim center Jasna Gora in Czestochowa in Poland. The European Sub-Committee of ICCRS invites all leaders and intercessors to be there 24-29th September 2002.

In the difficult situation of the Catholic Church in Europe today the Committee sees first a great need for intercession. "If we go into the deep of prayer, the Lord can do new things in our continent", the Committee says. To go into the deep of prayer not only leaders are invited to this conference but also intercessors.

The central questions during this gathering will be: What is the Holy Spirit saying to the Church of Europe in years of the continental unification process and what is God's vision and calling for the European Renewal?

Facing the incredible painful history of Europe, the Gathering will include a pilgrimage to the nazis concentration camp in Auschwitz. The next step - to ask forgiveness, reconciliation and mercy - will be the prayer in the Sanctuary of Mercy of God in Krakow-Lagiewniki where is located the picture of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of saint sister Faustyna Kowalska.

Between the speakers during the Gathering are: bishop Joseph Grech from Australia, bishop Rylko from the Vatican, Kim Kollins (Germany), Charles Whitehead (England), Nikol Baldacchino (Malta), Sr. Hudo Dufour (France) and Matteo Calisi (Italy).

The first fruit of the Gathering will surely be a new network of cross-continental contacts. The exchange of experiences with prayer and mission will give new energy to the European church. This will not be easy, because of the many different languages and cultures in Europe.

All leaders of Charismatic Renewal prayer groups, communities and ministries are invited to foster the prayer for Europe and to support those who can go to Czestochowa. Those who pray at home and those who come to the Gathering will be one network for Europe. Finely the power of the Holy Spirit will - so well known in the Charismatic Renewal - will bring new initiatives and new life into the Church of Europe.

All the information on the Gathering, including registration form and prices, is on the web: http://www.isidordata.se/akks/europe and www.iccrs.org (different languages) and in a leaflet that can be ordered from the Registration Office, ul. Sienkiewicza 60, 90-058 Lodz, Poland, tel./fax 0048 42 637 04 25, email: kzk@odnowa.opoka.org.pl