Welcome

Welcome to the Western Oregon Catholic Charismatic Renewal (WOCCR) website. Here you will find information about the Renewal, an invitation to participate as well as events and newsletters to assist you in your growth in the Renewal.

The Renewal in Western Oregon is an integral part of the much larger Charismatic Renewal within the Catholic Church both nationally and internationally.

Catholic Charismatic Renewal — a Personal Invitation to Renewal

Please come and see the Spiritual Works of the Holy Spirit as they play out in our daily lives. They inspire us to learn more about the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. As our focus on the Holy Spirit sharpens, we see His role in our personal lives, the lives of God’s people and in protecting and guiding the Church. One of the major benefits of nurturing and growing this relationship is that He strengthens us and helps us grow closer to Jesus. Another benefit of this growth is becoming aware of and learning to use the Spiritual Gifts the Holy Spirit.

Stained Glass window -- Holy Spirit -- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

Stained Glass window showing the Holy Spirit at Christ the King Church, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

What is the essence of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR)?

Here are three different descriptions.

Saint Pope John Paul II spoke at the 25th anniversary celebration of the CCR in 1992.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

1. … The emergence of the Renewal following the Second Vatican Council was a particular gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church. It was a sign of a desire on the part of many Catholics to live more fully their Baptismal dignity and vocation as adopted sons and daughters of the Father, to know the redeeming power of Christ our Saviour in a more intense experience of individual and group prayer, and to follow the teaching of the Scriptures by reading them in the light of the same Spirit who inspired their writing. Certainly one of the most important results of this spiritual reawakening has been that increased thirst for holiness which is seen in the lives of individuals and in the whole Church.
— Saint Pope John Paul II Address

Article published in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal — UK titled: “What is Catholic Charismatic Renewal?”

Describing God’s activity is a hard thing to do. The grace of God through the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) has impacted the lives of millions of people throughout the world over the past 50 years, and every individual would express that experience in her or his own unique way.

One description of CCR is:

A personal experience of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, who brings alive in new ways the graces of our baptism. The Holy Spirit not only sets on fire all that we have already received, but comes again in power to equip us with his gifts for service and mission.

Unpacking this description, we can see that CCR is:

A personal experience: CCR is something that transforms the relationship between an individual and God.

About the presence and power of the Holy Spirit: although it’s deeply personal, CCR isn’t focused on us – it’s an action of God the Holy Spirit.

Reviving the graces of our baptism: this new action of the Holy Spirit stirs up the graces which have already been given to us as Catholics and Christians

A new opportunity for the Spirit to come again: when we open ourselves to the action of the Holy Spirit, we also invite him to pour new graces into our lives.

Not something to be kept for ourselves, but for service and mission: this renewing experience of the Holy Spirit should change the way we live our lives.

Michelle Moran was president of ICCRS (International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Service.” She wrote an article titled: “CCR: Renewing the Face of the Earth.”

In Acts chapter 2 there are three moves of the Holy Spirit.

Firstly the wind fills the entire room, so the Holy Spirit descends upon all the community.

This indicates that the grace of Charismatic Renewal is a grace for the whole Church. Certainly, in many parts of the world the CCR has made a significant contribution to the life of the Church.

Secondly, at Pentecost there was what seemed like tongues of fire that fell on each of them. Therefore every person in the Upper Room received a personal Pentecost.

Pope Francis has asked us to ‘share with all in the Church the grace of baptism in the Holy Spirit’.

This seems to be gathering a new momentum worldwide and people are looking for new and more effective ways of presenting the transforming message of new life in the Holy Spirit.

Thirdly, they moved out of the Upper Room into the surrounding neighborhood empowered by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit comes to renew the face of the earth.

The Holy Spirit comes to renew the face of the earth.

In essence the Charismatic Renewal is a current of grace renewing and transforming individuals and communities, thus enabling the culture of Pentecost to spread.

This makes a difference in the world in which we live.
— Catholic Charismatic Renewal — UK

The CCR Renewal

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is a “current of grace” within the Church that began with the work of the Second Vatican Council (1962 -1965). The renewal began in 1967, at a retreat for Duquesne University students. They had a very powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit and Jesus. We encourage you to read the personal testimony of Patti Gallagher Mansfield, who was one of the participants during that event. The “current of grace” of the Holy Spirit was so powerful that within five decades more than 120 million Catholics has received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

On the Personal Level

If you are interested in or “new” to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, then you have come to a good place. This website is filled with scripture, the catechism and life experiences from around the world. It also has current information on ways you can grow in the Holy Spirit and the love of Christ. It can seem overwhelming at first, but we are here to help.

If you are an “experienced” hand in the Renewal and use the Spiritual Gifts, then let this site encourage you. Let it inspire you open yourself further to the works of the Holy Spirit including His Gifts, Fruits and Charisms. Now is the time to put them into action for God’s people and for the Church.

Regardless of your experience, the Renewal may seem a daunting task. It may seem difficult to surrender yourself fully to Jesus and to let the Holy Spirit work through you. To assist you, we have developed a number of Questions and Answers (Q & A’s) about theRenewal to help you with your journey to Jesus.

Why is having the Holy Spirit in your life and the work of the Renewal, important to you?

Here are several responses to that question from members of the CCR in Western Oregon.

The goal of including your testimony is to allow the Lord to speak through you. To explain what the Renewal has meant for you.

Please record your response and send it by email to woccrteam@woccr.org

We hope to use these testimonies to explain to show visitors that the Renewal is Real. It is Now. And it is important to real people.

Can we count on you to add your own story?

First and Last Name # 2

I was baptized two weeks after birth and confirmed at age seven. I knew about Jesus and our Father, but they were a long way away in the heavens. The Holy Spirit was just a “dove.” Meanwhile, I tried to be faithful and follow the rules.

Fifty+ years later, I attended a “Life in the Spirit” seminar. It changed my life.

Since then, I depend on the Holy Spirit who lives in me. I have fallen in love with Jesus and listen for his voice. My life was completely transformed by personally experiencing God and His love. I return His love by seeking to follow his will and to serve His people. I put the fruits, gifts and charisms of the Holy Spirit to work in my life for His people and His Church.

Photo -- Jack ArdnerJack Ardner

Your thoughts should be from the heart, clear and concise. It should be about four or five sentences, so the reader can capture the idea without being  overwhelmed by too much detail.

Your personal testimony will replace this text.

First and Last Name # 1

I was raised Catholic and attended Catholic schools for 12 years. I believed everything I was taught. I seemed to naturally have the gift of Faith. Even when I strayed from the path, I knew I was wrong, not the Church, because the Church was founded by Jesus and couldn’t be wrong.

By my late 20’s, life had brought enough hardships that I had “low grade” depression all the time. After the birth of my second child, I realized that I had not smiled in a year.

My mother-in-law invited me to a “Life in the Spirit” seminar. It was a small, all-ladies group in a home. At the end, when I prayed to have Jesus baptize me in the Holy Spirit, I prayed in tongues, embarrassingly simply “Bababababa…”. I felt life in my belly. It rose and came out of my throat in laughter. I laughed so much that everyone in the room began laughing. It hurt my face because the laugh muscles were out of practice!

We all have ups and downs in life. After I was baptized in the Holy Spirit, my new downs were higher than my old ups! I continued to grow and learn in a group to which I was assigned by the nice ladies. I have been in ministry ever since — 44 joyous years!

Barbara Hettwer

I have known many people in the Charismatic Renewal who have been Holy all of their lives. I was not one of them. My path was going decidedly downward when in 1989, St. Henry’s in Gresham, OR advertised a Bible Study that following Friday night. I was interested in that so I showed up.

It turned out to be a “Life in the Spirit” seminar and it changed my life. I wasn’t looking to change my life but the Holy Spirit did it anyway. It was very painful giving up all my sinful behaviors, but the Holy Spirit is a very gentle God and one by one things fell away. It was a Bible study after all and finally I could understand it. I have never looked back but only forward and up.

Jackie Morgan

How would you answer the question?

We would love to hear about your personal experience with a “Life in the Spirit” seminar and the Renewal. Please send it to us by clicking on this email link: WOCCR Team.

Resources for Your Journey

Newsletters

Newsletters help keep us all “in the know” about charismatic events, happenings, experiences, and other activities. Here are the latest editions.

  • By Published On: January 23, 2024Categories: Area Wide Prayer Meeting, Charismatic Renewal, Day of Renewal, Healing Mass, Prophesies, Retreat, WOCCR Website5.4 min readViews: 224

    Dear Friends of the Charismatic Renewal, The WOCCR Service team met January 9 via Zoom.   We discussed plans for 2024. The WOCCR is thinking about a Day of Renewal in June and another Area Wide Prayer Meeting in the Fall.  We are reaching out to potential speakers. We also discussed new memberships as well [...]

  • By Published On: November 17, 2023Categories: Area Wide Prayer Meeting, Charismatic Renewal, Retreat, Spiritual Development5.1 min readViews: 497

    Dear Friends of the Charismatic Renewal This news update covers a number of different topics: Area Wide Prayer Meeting; newly revised and updated WOCCR.org website; Healing the Whole Person event; Advent Day of Retreat; and Planning for future events. The Area Wide Prayer meeting Area Wide Prayer Meeting The Area [...]

  • By Published On: October 18, 2023Categories: WOCCR Website1.2 min readViews: 357

    The Western Oregon Catholic Charismatic Renewal is proud to announce completion of our redesigned and updated website. Here is a list of many enhancements: Refreshed and updated overall design, using the latest available web tools. Added a Tag line below the title on each page. Added links within the text of most pages, so you can cross reference topics. Updated Menu design for easier navigation throughout the website. Added space on the Home page for you to give testimony about the Renewal. Significantly expanded Resources section to provide more information. Added a Newsletters page, so you can access all pervious editions. Added a new Page for Questions and Answers (Q & A’s). Restored the capability for you to make Donations. And much more.

To see previous Newsletters, please go to the Newsletter Archives.

If you have an article, observations, photographs, etc. about things happening in your area, we would like to know. Please submit your materials to the WOCCR Team for their review.

Thank you for visiting

We appreciate the time you spend with us. If you are interested in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, please use these pages to find encouragement and resources for your journey.

We also welcome your questions and comments. Please send your thoughts by email to the WOCCR Team.

In any case, browse a bit now and come back as often as you can. Expect the Holy Spirit to guide you and bless you each day!