Report on the European Charismatic Youth Consultation
Held in Hohenthann, Germany 30.1.04 – 1.2.04

The initial idea for this gathering goes back to the European Leaders Conference held in Czestochowa, Poland September 2002. At the conference we gathered together an ‘ad hoc’ group to look at ways in which Charismatic young people can be encouraged to participate in and contribute to the mainstream renewal. From this it was decided to invite the NSC’s or head contacts to bring a young person with them to the gathering of NSC’s in March 2003 in Budapest. From our discussions in Budapest it was decided to hold a youth consultation. The main aims were:

• To bring together a consultation group of young people who are experienced and involved in Catholic Charismatic Renewal in their countries

• To meet for fellowship and sharing and to explore further the needs of young Charismatic Leaders

• To share about and review what already exists for charismatic youth in Europe

• To explore ways in which we can build up Youth involvement in CCR in our own countries

• To elect a Youth representative onto the European sub-committee

We were 44 people from 19 countries/22 realities. Thanks to our German hosts from the Community ‘Familien mit Christus’ and the German Youth renewal all the advance preparation for the meeting and the organisation was done very well. Everything ran very smoothly and we received a very warm welcome in Germany despite the snow!

Our worship times were very rich and the Lord spoke some very powerful prophetic words – these included:

Many assurances that the Lord was with us e.g. a picture of binoculars, if we don’t see the Lord, they are the wrong way round.

Isaiah 42:5-8 The image of the Lord as the Good Shepherd. Also a sense that the Lord was sending us out. Isaiah 40:1 A picture of young people who are lonely and lacking. They can see the Lord, but they don’t know what to do, there is something wrong. We need to take their hand and lead them step by step to the Lord. We have a personal responsibility.

On Saturday morning we looked together at the document “Ecclesia in Europa” exploring the reality of the European situation and what our response should be to it. In the afternoon we had an information exchange and were able to hear about any new or developing projects that are happening amongst young people in the different countries. Then, in groups, the participants were asked to explore the question of what contribution, youth can make to mainstream C.C.R. in Europe. There was lively and enthusiastic discussion and some very helpful and practical ideas. At our next European sub-committee we will give time to looking at these suggestions more fully.

As part of the process of widening the structural net, we held an election and Christof Hemberger from Germany was elected to the European sub-committee to represent young people. We also co-opted Eva Sido from Romania as an adviser and she will work with Oksana from the Ukraine. We always want to ensure that we have Eastern Europe and some of the countries where renewal is still emerging, well represented.

It is hard to convey the important things that were happening in the Worship and Ministry. We received a lot of prophesy and all of us felt encouraged and blessed. Perhaps the most obvious thing was the deep sense of unity in the Lord, which we all shared. Right from the beginning of the meeting there was a strong sense that the Lord was with us. I look forward to seeing what will develop as we incorporate the important contribution and participation of young people more fully into mainstream Catholic Charismatic Renewal. I am certain that there are many young leaders who have the ability and anointing to continue to lead the renewal forward for the next few decades.

Michelle Moran
5.02.04