The Charismatics.

I used to attend Sunday masses at the Holy Rosary Parish in Steubenville, Ohio. The parish priest then was Monsignor Marshall, an Irish.

My nephews attended the parochial school adjunct to the church, while an older sister went to the University of Steubenville for her master's in business administration. I used to tag along with my sister and was able to use the university library from time to time.

Years later, the charismatic movement at the University became stronger, and foreign students from the Philippines started enrolling at the University.

On a visit to University of Steubenville

In the Philippines, the El Shaddai is the biggest Catholic Charismatic Renewal group. It was founded in 1982 and today has a membership of some 8 million worldwide.  At Goodwill Industries of Toronto where I used to work, I met a Caucasian guy who was boyfriends with a Filipina, who was a member of El Shaddai.

El Shaddai (Hebrew for God Almighty, which is one of the names of God),  is currently headed by Brother Mike Velarde, its Servant Leader and founder. Manila Auxiliary Bishop Teodoro Bacani of the Roman Catholic Church serves as its Spiritual Director.

On a recent visit to the Philippines, my sister and her husband stayed in a friend's condominium unit at the 10-hectare Amvel City in Paranaque, where the El Shaddai is now headquartered. You'd know the residents are members of El Shaddai because the community's logo is prominently displayed in their apartment doors.

Many years ago, I attended a charismatic renewal activity at the Varsity Stadium of U of T. That was my first, and there, I listened to a sharing by a woman named Lola Falana. Garbed in a dull dress, she said she was a former Las Vegas showgirl who got tired of the glitzy life and wished that she wouldn't dance again. The next day, she couldn't walk.

She got cured and was able to walk again because she devoted much of her time to praying and became a believer of the Lady of Medjugorje. On this event, I also witnessed "slayings" by the Holy Spirit and was even asked to catch the fall of some.

Ms. Lola Falana

For Ms. Falana's complete story, go here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lola_Falana or independently search Lola Falana in your browser.

Then, whenever I'd visit Manila, our family attended the 9 a.m. Sunday mass at the Megamall Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord, a charismatic healing mass regularly officiated by Fr. Mario Sobrejuanite of the Order of St. Paul. 

In our parish, there's a worship group of El Shaddai and another charismatic renewal community in the offing.

The call "Jesus, Jesus," resounds at the Eucharistic Chapel on Sunday mornings, and "Come, Holy Spirit," in our prayer group meetings on Fridays.

What a lovely way to proclaim one's faith. 
 

El Shaddai Prayer Rally