September 25th, 2002

PRESS-RELEASE

 

CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC NETWORK OVER EUROPE

GATHERING of LEADERS and INTERCESSORS in CZESTOCHOWA (Poland)

24-29th September 2002

Czestochowa. Yesterday in Czestochowa, Poland, began a Gathering of 600 representatives from the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in 23 European countries. This stream of renewal in the Catholic Church springs from the experience of the Spirit and the charisms, including healing, speaking in tongues, prophecy and many others. Millions of Catholics, including bishops, are involved in it.

This renewal is worldwide present and has the support of the pope and bishops. Two bishops will participate in this gathering: bishop Dembowski from Poland and bishop Jo Grech from Australia. Bishop Grech will speak on healing ministry. He did his thesis on healing. Also bishop Rylko, vice-president of the Pontifical Council of Laity, should come, but he is ill.

In West and South Europe the Catholic Charismatic Renewal is going on since the end of the sixties, in Central and Eastern Europe it started to grow in the eighties. Nowadays the biggest meetings are in Poland with 200.000 participants last June.

The Gathering Czestochowa will be the first European meeting of leaders and intercessors ever. The organizing committee expects that with this Gathering will start a new phase of more co-operation across the continent.

The theme is Europe, put into the deep.

More details:

A number of participants: 585 persons (from 23 European countries and some participants from 6 countries from outside Europe: Australia, Argentina, Ghana, Guyana Fr., Antilles of Nederland);

The biggest language groups:

1. Polish (about 200 persons)

2. English (104 persons)

3. French (94 persons)

There will be 43 presbyters and 2 bishops: bp B. Dembowski, bp J. Grech;

Information about a general theme "Europe, put out into the deep" and the themes of each day of conference:

1. day: put out into the deep of prayer (individual and communion spiritual aspect);

2. day: put out into the deep of the Church (ecclesiastic aspect);

3. day: put out into the deep of mercy (forgiveness and reconciliation between people and nations) + pilgrimagege to Auschwitz;

4. day: put out into the deep of mission (evangelisation, engagement in social issues, etc.) .

More information after September 29th: keesslij@ision.nl or info@iccrs.org