Catholic Renewal Ministries’ annual conference features prayer, speakers, Mass

“All of you are supposed to take what you hear, learn and experience today with you wherever you go next. What happens here is not supposed to stay here,” Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost told the nearly 300 people attending the 43rd annual Catholic Renewal Ministries’ conference.

“Be Renewed in the Power of the Holy Spirit” was the theme of the daylong program at St. Albert the Great Parish Life Center. The conference included praise and worship, speakers, healing teams, reconciliation opportunities, adoration, the rosary and the vigil Mass celebrated by Bishop Woost.

Father Bob Franco, Bishop Edward Malesic’s delegate to CRM and pastor of St. Peter and St. Julie Billiart parishes in North Ridgeville, said the conference theme is based on St. Paul’s letter to Titus. “‘Renewal by the Holy Spirit’ needs to be an ongoing event in the life of each Catholic and in the Church. Without the renewing power of the Holy Spirit, our lives become stale and sterile. With the Holy Spirit, our relationship with the Lord is fresh and we become fruitful,” said Father Franco, who has been involved with the CRM since he was 19. A priest for 30 years, he has been the CRM liaison since 1992 and said his vocation flowed from it.

In his homily, Bishop Woost noted in the first reading that God told Solomon to ask him for something and he would grant it. After reflection, Solomon asked for an understanding heart – something that would have a lasting effect and would benefit others. “God praised him for that,” the bishop said, adding he promised that no one who came after Solomon would have a heart with as much understanding as his.

“The kingdom of heaven is already being manifested here … The kingdom of heaven is already in our lives in the presence of God … If anything spills forth from our lives, it should be that presence of God,” Bishop Woost said. "When we find a treasure – a blessing – it can transform our lives, so we should receive God’s blessings – his presence – with great joy, knowing it will change our lives," he added.

“Hear the word of the Lord and trust in his response,” Bishop Woost said.

In addition to Father Franco, speakers were Father John Gordon, secretary of evangelization for the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, and Monica Richards, director of missionaries at Damascus, a missionary movement in Centerburg, Ohio that partners with the work of the Holy Spirit to bring revival to the Catholic Church in America.

Although Bishop Edward Malesic was unable to attend, he provided a message to the group, saying, “People who pray draw down the blessings of the Lord. May those blessings not only refresh you personally, but also rebound upon our whole diocese … I pray that each of you would ‘Be Renewed in the Power of the Holy Spirit.’ Only with God’s grace can we give a compelling witness to Christ.”

Learn more about the Catholic Renewal Ministries here.