Plans are well underway for the 51st annual New Jersey Catholic Charismatic Conference, “Jesus Is Lord!” to be held 7:30-9:30 p.m. Sept. 21 and 8 a.m. -9:30 p.m. Sept. 22 in St. Mary Mother of God Church, Middletown.
Described as the longest teaching conference in the United States, dating back to the early days of the Charismatic Renewal in the 1970s, the NJCCC is open to all ages who are “looking to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit,” said Father Jeffrey Kegley, St. Mary pastor.
Father Kegley, who has long promoted the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in New Jersey, will be main celebrant and liaison for Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., for the Charismatic Mass Sept. 22. Father John Gordon will serve as master of ceremonies. Additionally the NJCCC will offer dynamic speakers, anointed praise and worship, workshops, healing service, personal testimonies, Eucharistic Adoration and a children’s ministry track for ages 3-11.
“For over 50 years now, ‘Jesus Is Lord’ has been the message that the Charismatic Renewal has been proclaiming,” Father Kegley noted. “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor 12:3).”
Keynote speakers include Neal Lozano, executive director of Heart of the Father Ministries and Unbound, and Debbie Gaudino, who is executive director of the Diocese of Trenton Catholic Charismatic Renewal.
Lozano has more than 30 years pastoral experience helping people find freedom in Jesus Christ. Holding a master’s degree in religious education from Villanova University, Pa., he has led evangelistic outreach to students there. Lozano is author of the best-selling book, “Unbound: A Practical Guide to Deliverance,” and has spoken at various global conferences. He will speak on the power of the Gospel and living in the freedom of Christ.
Gaudino and her husband, Anthony, experienced a life-changing encounter with the Holy Spirit while in Rome in 2000. In addition to her diocesan role, she is a graduate theology student at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, and homeschools the couple’s two children. Gaudino will speak on the importance of forgiveness.
Father Gordon currently serves as coordinator of the Archdiocese of Newark Office for Evangelization and coordinator of the archdiocese’s Catholic Charismatic Renewal. Father Gordon has been involved with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in local, regional, national and international ways since 1975. He is a member of the Fraternity of Priests in New Jersey, praying and sharing with them for more than 25 years.
Last year’s conference was the celebration of the golden jubilee of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. During the jubilee celebration in Rome, Pope Francis encouraged the CCR to return to its ecumenical roots, and to join with other brothers and sisters in other Christian churches to pray for unity.
“With that vision in mind,” said Father Kegley, “this year we have invited Paul Martini, an associate evangelist with Global Awakening, to speak at the conference and lead a healing prayer service.” Martini, he continued, has traveled the world extensively, ministering in 30 countries and preaching on five continents about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, witnessing the Spirit’s healing power.
“Today we need the Holy Spirit to be poured out on us again,” Father Kegley expressed. “A little over 50 years ago, the Holy Spirit ‘surprised’ the Church with a new current of grace that sparked the Catholic Charismatic Renewal … at the NJCCC there will be intense time for praying for a new Pentecost for the Church.”
Cost for the conference is $25 for adults and $10 for teens; children 12 and younger attend free. Breakfast and lunch are included. To register, visit DOTCCR.org, or call St. Mary’s Parish office, 732-671-0071 ext. 221.