CRS Boston

Seeking Christ in unity by the inspiration and gifts of the Holy Spirit

Charismatic Renewal Services - Boston

Vision & Mission for 2009(Update - June 2009)

Outline

• Who are we?

• Our vision for 2009

• Our mission for 2009

• Summary - June 2009

Who are we?

• Charismatics have a unique spirituality (like Franciscans or Dominicans)

• Our founder is not a human but the Holy Spirit.

• Holy Spirit “planted” Charismatic prayer groups to serve the local Church and community.

Who are we?

• Unique characteristics of the renewal:– Participate in constant evangelism (LISS)

custodians of the Pentecost experience

– Invite both experiential and rational experiences of God

– Openly surrender to the gifts and guidance of the Holy Spirit

• Need to be formed by the Holy Spirit in our spirituality, trained and sent to do our work

Our Vision 2009

CRSB prayer groups are united and led by the Holy Spirit to build and defend the Church“The Holy Spirit has united and equipped us to use our spiritual gifts to help revitalize parishes through evangelization and teaching. Many pastors in the Archdiocese of Boston welcome us to help their parishes grow in knowledge and love of God and openness to living lives led by the Holy Spirit.”

Our Vision 2009

CRSB prayer groups are united and led by the Holy Spirit to build and defend the church

–We are united by the Spirit(love one another)

–We are led by the Spirit(obedient in one faith, one baptism, one Lord)

–We build the Church.(we are missionary)

–We defend the church(we are soldiers)

Who are we? Builders of the Church

Missionary – we put ourselves in harm’s way to deliver the gospel message

–Mark 16:15-18(go make disciples of all nations…)

–Matt 10:27 (what you hear in the dark… )

– John 15:18-21 (hatred of the world)

– John 16:1-3 (everyone who kills you…)

Who are we? Defenders of the Church

Soldiers – we put ourselves in harm’s way to defend the weak against evil

–Matt 9:10-13 (I desire mercy, not sacrifice)

– Luke 21:12-19 (I will give you wisdom your adversaries will be powerless to refute)

– John 8:4-11 (woman caught in adultery)

– Romans 15:30-31 (I beg of you, brothers and sisters, by Christ Jesus our Lord and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in the fight, praying to God for me)

Realizing our vision

• For this vision to become reality some things are necessary:– To Unite we need Decision to

commit– To be Led we need Formation– To Build we need Mission– To Defend we need Training

realizing our vision: Decision

• Unity in the church comes from the decision to commit. Without commitment there is no unity.

• Mark’s Gospel Jesus says “follow me” and those hearing must decide to go deeper to answer the call (Mark1:14-20)

• Discernment: is this right for me? Is this what the Spirit is calling me to do – commitment

realizing our vision: Formation

• Grow in the Spirit (experiential)– prayer life,– the use of the gifts– learning to trust God and step out into deeper waters– growing in love for God and one another

• Grow in Knowledge (rational)– of the scriptures & Church Teachings– of the Charismatic gifts and how to operate in them– of living life in the spirit & knowing who you are in Christ

• Grow in Faith (maturity)– Perseverance in prayer– Unity of spirit and mind– The power to share with others and answer questions– Power to lead and develop leadership

realizing our vision: Mission

• Missionary work (we build)–We work in the Church–Work in the local community– Help each other– Follow the dictates of the Spirit &

Church (actively pro-life)

realizing our vision: Training

• Training (we defend)– Living the daily life with conviction– Loving the unlovable– Becoming a disciple– Discipline to do what is needed and

respond to authority

Our mission for 2009

• CRSB initiatives to realize our vision– Decision (Unify the Renewal)

– Formation

–Missionary work

– Training (no mission for 2009)

CRSB Initiatives: Decision

• Unify the renewalContinue to invite and support prayer groups to make a decision to participate.

–Meet with different groups and discuss their issues

– Include all who will come–Welcome all in fellowship– Offer LISS– Others?

CRSB Initiatives: Formation

• Begin renewal leadership formation– January retreat is focused on the practice of

reconciliation

– Develop formation courses to teach leadership(work with other groups who already have some materials Kekako, other ethnic communities, e.g. Haitian)

– Use archdiocesan resources (MAM, AIM, etc.)

– Other

CRSB Initiatives: Missionary

• Missionary work– Prayer groups offer their services to parishes

(versions of LISS, music, Arise, etc.)

– Help other prayer groups• Meet with prayer groups to find out their needs• Begin some simple work to help them grow

– Follow the dictates of the Spirit - actively pro-life• Start pro-life connections• Make plan for CRSB involvement• Begin participation as a community

Where are we Now? – June 2009

• CRSB initiatives to realize our vision–Decision (Unify the Renewal)

– Formation

–Missionary work

June 2009 Where Are We?

Decision (Unify the renewal)Continue to invite and support prayer groups to make a decision to participate.

• Invitations to all groups to attend CRSB events via newsletters, other mailings and phone calls

• Met with 9 Hispanic prayer groups individually. 5 groups now attend CRSB. More to come…

• Continued outreach to ‘outside’ Haitian groups • New groups formed ‘inside’ the renewal• Meetings scheduled with Anglo groups as well

It is working! We need to continue the outreach & help build the renewal and the Church!

June 2009 Where Are We?

Formation• Has priority among all ethnic leaders• Panel discussion at leaders training day to

discuss various approaches• Anglos have arranged to adopt Brazilian

formation training. Other groups are welcome• We will begin first team training by September• Other ethnic groups will choose their approach.• Investigation of other approaches is on-going

(MAM, KEKAKO, AIM, other communities, etc.)Visits to Brazil, Italy and many discussions have supported the importance of this work

June 2009 Where Are We?

Missionary Work• Parish involvement is on-going (parish LISSs

planned, Arise, Confirmation retreats, RCIA) Priests responding favorably

• New prayer groups forming• Cooperation among groups attending CRSB mtgs.• Pro-life office started… needs more work.• Luncheon for priests in the renewal. More to

come…Let others know and provide help and support

to do what we know how to do.

Summary -June 2009

• The Spirit is uniting and leading us to build and defend the Church!– Outreach to ‘outside’ groups– Growing participation in CRSB– More unity among CRSB groups– New prayer groups forming ‘inside’ CRSB– Ministry being done in parishes– Outreach to priests– Pro-life ministry– New focus on formationTake a bow, soldiers of the Lord and saddle up!

We’ve a world to conquer for our King!