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 a much larger Charismatic Renewal within the Catholic Church on the National and International level.

Catholic Charismatic Renewal — a Personal Invitation to Renewal

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

Please come and see the 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 benefits of nurturing and growing this relationship is that He strengthens us and helps us grow closer to Jesus. Another benefit of this growth becoming aware of and using the Spiritual Gifts the Holy Spirit.

The Catholic Charismatic 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.

The Renewal Today

Today, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal is alive and well in the hearts and minds of many Catholics today. The main thrust of the Renewal within the Church are threefold:

  1. Recognize the significant role the Holy Spirit plays in every moment of our lives.
  2. To grow closer to and surrender our lives to Jesus Christ.
  3. To identify and use the Spiritual Gifts to strengthen ourselves, and use those gifts for His people and Church.

Our surrender to Jesus opens us to receive the Spiritual Gifts of the Holy Spirit, as Jesus desires.

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. It can  provide you with encouragement and inspiration to continue to open yourself to the work of the Holy Spirit.  It can also encourage you to rely on 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 can still seem a daunting task. It is 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 within the Church.

The heart of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR)

Saint Pope John Paul II spoke at the 25th anniversary of the CCR in 1992. His opening statement speaks in very personal terms about the Renewal. He stresses the need for each of us to activate the graces we received from the Holy Spirit.

Address of His Holiness John Paul II

To the Council of the “International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Office”
(now known as CHARIS)

Saturday, 14 March 1992

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

1. In the joy and peace of the Holy Spirit I welcome the Council of the “International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Office”. As you celebrate the twenty–fifth anniversary of the beginning of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, I willingly join you in giving praise to God for the many fruits which it has borne in the life of the Church. 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

Why are the graces of the Holy Spirit and the work of the Renewal important to you?

How would you answer this question? If you have a personal experience in mind, please write it down and send it by email to the WOCCR Team.

First and Last Name, Personal Testimony # 1.

It should be from the heart, clear and concise.  It should be about three five sentences, so the reader can capture the idea without being  overwhelmed by too much detail.  The personal testimony will replace this text.

First and Last Name # 1

The goal is to allow the Lord to speak through you to explain what the Renewal has meant for you.

Please record your response in an email to Jackie@woccr.org

We hope to use these testimonies to explain to website visitors that the Renewal is Real. It is Now. It is Important to real people.

Can you help?

First and Last Name # 2

We would include your name, but no other identifying information.  You can add your photo to make it more personal, but it is not required.

We hope to have at least twenty testimonies.  This will give the Lord a variety of responses. One at least will speak to the needs of specific visitors to this website.  That is why we need a number of testimonies.

First and Last Name # 3

Each testimony will appear in random order when inserted into this web page.

We can’t wait to see how you respond to this important request.

First and Last Name # 4

We are ready for your testimony.

First Name, Last Name

Here is your opportunity to tell your story.

First Name, Last Name

Your testimony goes here!

First Name, Last Name

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: November 17, 2023Categories: Area Wide Prayer Meeting, Charismatic Renewal, Retreat, Spiritual Development5.1 min readViews: 37

    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 The Area Wide Prayer meeting was held at [...]

  • By Published On: October 18, 2023Categories: WOCCR Website1.2 min readViews: 122

    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.

  • By Published On: July 7, 2023Categories: Area Wide Prayer Meeting, Healing1.1 min readViews: 98

    Newsletter: There will be a Healing Mass at Holy Trinity Parish (13715 SW Walker Rd, Beaverton, OR) with Bishop Peter Smith celebrating. It will be on Saturday, July 29, from 10 am – 1 pm. So, there will be plenty of time for personal prayer. In addition, there will be an Area Wide Prayer Meetingwith lots of Praise and Worship music, some testimonies, prophecies (God Willing), and Ministry. Christ the King Parish (7414 SE Michael Dr, Milwaukie, OR) will be hosting us on Saturday, September 30, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

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!