Cardinal Roger Mahony has named a commission that will serve as a bridge between local charismatic prayer groups and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Solis, Vicar of Ethnic Ministries for the archdiocese, is serving as spiritual leader to the archdiocesan commission, made up by three persons who will liaison between the archdiocese and the Catholic charismatic renewal.

Jesuit Father William Delaney, president of the commission, will work jointly with Father Alex Aclan, pastor of St. Madeleine Church in Pomona, and Louis Velasquez, of the archdiocesan Office of Vicar for Clergy.

The emphasis of Father Aclan's work on the commission will be to serve as the liaison for the Filipino charismatic renewal and Velasquez for the Hispanics. But the renewal movement is multi-ethnic and also includes Anglo, Chinese, Indonesian, Korean and Vietnamese groups whom the commission will serve. Most of the charismatic prayer groups are parish based.

Bishop Solis said that the purpose of the commission will be to organize and unify the efforts of all the groups and to offer to each prayer group formation in the direction, policies and the structures of the renewal movement, along with Bible study and the norms of the Archdiocese.

Charismatic renewal also exists within Protestant denominations, and the commission will guide the Catholic prayer groups in sustaining "an authentic Catholic charismatic spirituality," said Father Aclan.

The commission also will assist prayer groups to get answers to their questions, especially as they involve other archdiocesan resources, he said.

Father Delaney added that he would like for the various charismatic groups to get to know one and support one another.

"Each group probably has something to bring that they can share with the other groups," he added. "We want to see how we can work together to further the renewal."

Velasquez added that the commission will seek to balance the desire for unity with an appreciation for the diversity among the various groups

"The cardinal desires that we work in solidarity with him, as one spirit, giving to each culture the permission to express their particular spirituality," said Velasquez. "That is to say in no way are we going to impose ourselves on the local groups. Instead, we are going to listen and put ourselves at the service of the signs of the Holy Spirit."

On July 24, the commission held its first meeting with the leaders of the charismatic groups from the five pastoral regions of the archdiocese. Some 30 leaders of the charismatic community gathered in the San Fernando regional office where they discussed the objectives of the commission and the activities of each charismatic community in the parishes.

"You could feel a great enthusiasm," affirmed Bishop Solis. "We talked about beginning to prepare the communities spiritually as one Body of Christ, in order to celebrate in 2007 the 40 years of the renewal movement."

Charismatic renewal

Charismatic renewal refers to the sacrament of confirmation and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, said Father Delaney, who also serves as pastoral coordinator of the Southern California Renewal Communities. "We receive the Holy Spirit in a way that strengthens us to share our faith with others," he elaborated. "One of the characteristics of charismatic renewal is the expectation that we will experience that strengthening in various ways."

Charismatic Catholics seek the Holy Spirit in prayer, imitating the example set by the early Christian apostles, who powerfully experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and relied on the Spirit to guide their apostolic mission, said Father Delaney.

The modern renewal movement burst forth in 1967 (see sidebar), after which charismatics emphasized their belief and experience "that God will be active," he said. "God is not just a God we think about, but we encounter him in our day to day life."

Because healing was an important part of Jesus' ministry and that of his apostles, the charismatic renewal movement also seeks God's healing grace.

Parish-based healing services are common among charismatic groups, and those involved say they have witnessed profound healing in people that can be spiritual, emotional or physical. But petitions to God for healing may be answered in unexpected ways, said Father Delaney.

"Usually we have our own ideas of what we need, but that doesn't mean God agrees that's the most important thing for us, he added. "I've heard people say 'I prayed for something in particular, but what I got was more important.'"

The renewal movement hopes to encourage all Catholics to enter into a deep relationship with God.

Said Father Delaney: "God provides, care for and leads his people. He's not a distant God."