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May 11, 2008

Thousands attend Charismatic event

If Norma Ibarra were to summarize how she would characterize the Hispanic Charismatic Renewal Conference held recently at the University of Illinois-Chicago Pavilion, she would say it in a word: healing.

Many of the nearly 10,000 of the faithful who attended the twoday conference at this university location came charged with faith.

“It was beautiful,” said Ibarra. “There were many healing moments. This conference is always a point of gathering among us as Catholics and is something that transforms us and fills us with hope to carry on,” she said.

The Charismatic Renewal is a lay ecclesial movement within the church that emphasizes gifts of the Holy Spirit and often involves praise and worship.

People of all ages sang to the Lord, held hands in prayer, waived their handkerchiefs, applauded the preachers and shed tears of emotion during the gathering.

Past attendees credit Charismatic conferences with helping them give up drinking, learn to forgive and heal wounds that seemed incurable, as was the case with Alicia Gutierrez, who said she was healed from the emotional trauma suffered from an abusive father. Faithful came in buses from as far away as Texas and Oklahoma to unite with others from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Cardinal George shared with them a message of hope; Elena Segura from the archdiocesan Office for Peace and Justice, spoke on the struggle for immigration reform and Jorge Rivera, coordinator of Hispanic Young Adult Ministry, spoke on the important role of Hispanic young adults.

“The conference was more successful than what we had hoped, especially in the number of attendees and the enthusiastic participation of the clergy, deacons and other leaders during the opening procession,” said Ricardo Acosta, one of several conference coordinators.

This year participants also listened to Columbian Father Jhon Mario Montoya.