When I was a seminarian, I heard about the Charismatic Renewal Movement. I also attended one congress of the movement, but I was not touched in a particular or profound way.
My first ministry was a parish outside of Melbourne, Australia. I was truly immersed in the life of the parish. The parish priest is a very active person in the Charismatic Renewal Movement. After spending a few months with him, the pastor prayed for me to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Really, I don't understand why he prayed. However, I did get a good impression of a parish priest who wanted to pray for me. Never before had I lived this experience. It really didn't hurt me when the parish priest wished to pray for me. So I accept.
I also remember very accurately the prayers of my vicar: "Jesus, my brother Joe has just begun his priestly life. Lord, send the Holy Spirit upon Joe, please touch Joe's heart to heal it and make Joe a mighty witness of the Lord's resurrection." It was just a simple and direct prayer. However, as I prayed, I felt a heat in the depths of my heart. This heat is still within me today, and every time I hear the name of Jesus, I feel ready to powerfully proclaim Jesus as Lord, Shepherd and only Savior on this earth.
Honestly, prayer changed the meaning of all of my ministry. My pastor continued to guide me to form prayer groups and to guide parishioners, especially in the area of healing prayer. He taught me to seize every opportunity to pray with people, not only to give them advice, but to let God come into their lives and accompany them in the healing God wants. for them.
In all the parishes I help, I have established prayer groups in many different languages. I am also an immigrant, I understand quickly the needs of the laity to express their deep desire and longing for an intimate relationship with God in their language. Today, in Australia, there are many prayer groups in Italian, Yugoslavia, Spanish, Filipino, Chinese, Indonesian and many other languages.
The prayer of baptism in the Holy Spirit helped me to experience an intimate and personal life with Jesus. It has given me a special respect for the Word and the Sacraments, as sources of healings, and also a great love for the Catholic Church, a desire of all. we as well as of the Church to live the experience of Joy, Zeal and Hope accompanying each other in a truly personal union with Jesus Christ.
Working in prayer groups has given me the opportunity and created programs to train others to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. This has led to the establishment of a Preaching school and has allowed its spread to many parishes and states in Australia.
There have been many difficulties, problems, and anxiety-filled periods throughout these years, but the desire to persevere has always been alive in me, as I have seen each individual experience the personal touch of God. we are the giver of life.
It was a direct result of the prayer for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which the pastor did for me, shortly after I was ordained to the priesthood. Pope John Paul II said: "The Charismatic Renewal is truly a gift to the Church".