BACKGROUND

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) was introduced in Uganda in 1973 by Fr. Roger La Bonte, Missionaries of Africa formally known as the White Missionaries in Mbarara Archdiocese. In 1993, the CCR started in Mbuya by a group of Catholics who were then praying at Christ the King. The members of Mbuya attended life in the spirit seminar at Christ the King in 1992 and felt a great need for regular prayer meetings to experience more love of God, read the bible, and speak about the love of Christ. The limitation by some of the members was that Christ the King prayer meetings were on Tuesdays and became difficult for them to meet regularly. In 1993, a team comprising of Linda Isiagi, Moses Isiagi, Lucy Rubanga, Santa Malendo, and Patrick Okumu started a prayer group at Mbuya. These met every Sunday at 3:00 pm in the church.

CCR GOALS

1. 1. 1. To foster mature and continuous personal relationship with God the Father, with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and the Holy Spirit.
      2. To foster a decisive and personal receptivity to the person, presence, and power of the Holy Spirit.
      3. To foster the reception and use of spiritual gifts in the CCR movement but also in the broader church.
      4. To foster the work of evangelization in the power of the Holy Spirit, including evangelization of those outside the church, re-evangelization of Christians, the evangelization of culture and social structures.
      5. To foster ongoing growth and holiness through the proper integration of these charismatic gifts with full-life of the church.

 JOINING CCR

Questions that many new members of the renewal ask;

 Is it a movement?

Not exactly! “It is a move of the Holy Spirit – a spiritual way of life”, open to all and welcomes everyone to this prayer community to help one another in the Christian Walk with the Lord.

What is the Catholic Charismatic Renewal?

CCR is one of the means in which God is unfolding the action of His Spirit in the Church or in our life.

Is it Catholic?

Yes, it is in the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church with full recognition by the Holy See

Why call it Charismatic?

The word charismatic is from the word “charisma” which means gifts of the Holy Spirit.

 Why renewal?

Renewal is part and parcel of life. St. Paul urges Christians not to conform to the standards of this world, but to be transformed through renewal in the Spirit – Rm. 12:2. The renewal is to bring back those values that may have been or are being lost over time. In short, it is a move of the Holy Spirit in the Catholic Church, for the Catholic Church, with the Catholic Church; emphasizing a personal relationship with and a re-commitment to Jesus Christ.  To achieve this, the CCR stresses private and group prayer life (e.g. Prayer meetings), growth in faith and in the lordship of Jesus, challenging members to live by the gospel.

Specific Goals of the Renewal

• • • Personal conversion to Jesus by making radical decision to live a reformed life
    • Renewal and living of baptismal and other promises/vows (Rom. 8:1-7)
    • Awareness, reception and use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:1-11)
    • Deepen the desire and study of the scriptures (Heb. 4:11-12; Josh. 1:8)
    • To give witness to the love and saving presence of God (Acts 1:8)

What do people get from the Renewal?

• • • A deep conviction of the reality of God’s love and His faithfulness.
    • Appreciation of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist and other sacraments.
    • A new eagerness to learn the word of God through scripture reading and to share it with others.
    • Experience the Holy Spirit and witness Christ in His power.
    • Sense of oneness and fellowship with one another as the body of Christ through prayer meetings.
    • Renewed ability to love and bring others to appreciate and enjoy the blessing of Jesus Christ.

What more?

• • • Developing artistic gifts and talents in music, dance, drama & creativity to the glory of God.
    • Formation of Basic Christian Communities and Prayer Groups in our areas of residence.
    • Increased lay participation in Church activities and the work of evangelization.
    • Reaching out to places and people in response to spiritual and social concerns of society.

WEEKLY ACTIVITY

CONTACTS