Hispanic Catholic Charismatic Renewal plans conference
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Armando Machado | Correspondent
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the birth of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, the Diocese of Trenton’s Hispanic Charismatic community is planning a daylong, Spanish-language conference for June 10 in Trenton Catholic Academy, 175 Leonard Ave., Hamilton.
The day, according to Sandra Lopez, coordinator of Hispanic Initiatives in the Diocesan Office of Pastoral Life and Missions, “is highly focused on prayer, praise and Scripture readings. It is about encountering Jesus and about the power of the Holy Spirit.”
The conference, organized by Deacon Benito Torres, diocesan liaison for the Hispanic Catholic Charismatic Renewal and the diocesan CCR Steering Committee, will run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will include the celebration of Mass at 9 a.m. by Father Cesar Rubiano, pastor of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton. Presentations will follow at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. by keynote speaker Neil Velez, who is internationally known for delivering messages of faith, prayers for the sick and powerful testimonies of healing. Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Topics that Velez, who is a musician, composer and founder of the Misioneros de Jesus (Missionaries of Jesus), based in Union City, will speak on include “If you only knew the gift of God” and “The healing power of the Holy Spirit,” according to Deacon Torres.
Echoing Lopez’ sentiments on the golden jubilee of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Deacon Torres added how the Catholic Charismatic Renewal had a special and very positive impact on his own life decades ago and he remembers when the renewal began in the Diocese of Trenton in 1976.
“It is about spiritual and physical healing, emotional healing – everything,” he said, commenting on the number of people he has witnessed overcoming serious illnesses, crippling addictions and grave personal struggles after having participated in CCR gatherings.
Lopez and Deacon Torres emphasized the affirmation that the CCR has garnered from the Vatican and the tremendous growth the movement has experienced over the decades on national and international levels.
The Charismatic Catholic Renewal movement began in the summer of 1967 in Pittsburgh, Pa., during a spiritual retreat for college students who sought to emulate the worshiping practices of the Cursillo apostolic movement, which started in Spain in the 1940s.
Another diocesan observance of the CCR’s golden jubilee for the general Charismatic community is being planned for July.
Cost to attend the conference is $10 for persons 13 years of age and older and $5 for children ages 5 to 12. Food will be available for purchase and attendees are welcome to bring their own meals. For more information contact Sandra Lopez: (609) 403-7138; [email protected].
[[In-content Ad]]Related Stories
Friday, December 26, 2025
E-Editions
Events
By Armando Machado | Correspondent
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the birth of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, the Diocese of Trenton’s Hispanic Charismatic community is planning a daylong, Spanish-language conference for June 10 in Trenton Catholic Academy, 175 Leonard Ave., Hamilton.
The day, according to Sandra Lopez, coordinator of Hispanic Initiatives in the Diocesan Office of Pastoral Life and Missions, “is highly focused on prayer, praise and Scripture readings. It is about encountering Jesus and about the power of the Holy Spirit.”
The conference, organized by Deacon Benito Torres, diocesan liaison for the Hispanic Catholic Charismatic Renewal and the diocesan CCR Steering Committee, will run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will include the celebration of Mass at 9 a.m. by Father Cesar Rubiano, pastor of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton. Presentations will follow at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. by keynote speaker Neil Velez, who is internationally known for delivering messages of faith, prayers for the sick and powerful testimonies of healing. Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Topics that Velez, who is a musician, composer and founder of the Misioneros de Jesus (Missionaries of Jesus), based in Union City, will speak on include “If you only knew the gift of God” and “The healing power of the Holy Spirit,” according to Deacon Torres.
Echoing Lopez’ sentiments on the golden jubilee of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Deacon Torres added how the Catholic Charismatic Renewal had a special and very positive impact on his own life decades ago and he remembers when the renewal began in the Diocese of Trenton in 1976.
“It is about spiritual and physical healing, emotional healing – everything,” he said, commenting on the number of people he has witnessed overcoming serious illnesses, crippling addictions and grave personal struggles after having participated in CCR gatherings.
Lopez and Deacon Torres emphasized the affirmation that the CCR has garnered from the Vatican and the tremendous growth the movement has experienced over the decades on national and international levels.
The Charismatic Catholic Renewal movement began in the summer of 1967 in Pittsburgh, Pa., during a spiritual retreat for college students who sought to emulate the worshiping practices of the Cursillo apostolic movement, which started in Spain in the 1940s.
Another diocesan observance of the CCR’s golden jubilee for the general Charismatic community is being planned for July.
Cost to attend the conference is $10 for persons 13 years of age and older and $5 for children ages 5 to 12. Food will be available for purchase and attendees are welcome to bring their own meals. For more information contact Sandra Lopez: (609) 403-7138; [email protected].
[[In-content Ad]]