Life in the Spirit (LIS) Seminars
Life in the Spirit seminars are an effective way to introduce Catholics to a new and deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit and Jesus. In addition, it lays the foundation to learn about and live out the mission each of us has to care for God’s people and build up His Church.
About LIS Seminars
Encouragement from Pope Francis
Here is an excerpt from the speech given by Pope Francis to the participants at the International Conference of leaders of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Service (CHARIS) — November 4, 2023.
One goal that you are proposing, and which I myself have encouraged, is to expand the “Life in the Spirit Seminars” in all places and for everyone. These are truly kerygmatic moments, opportunities for the “initial proclamation” of the Gospel. They make it possible for people to encounter the living Jesus, in his word and his Spirit, and at the same time to experience his Church as a welcoming environment, a place of grace, reconciliation and rebirth. That is why I have encouraged you to make these Seminars more widely available. Today I would ask you: are the Life in the Spirit Seminars being offered in a variety of ecclesial contexts, in small and more remote places, and among the poor and on the peripheries? Each of you can answer this in your hearts. One obstacle to this might be the idea that these Seminars can only be held in large venues and with well-known leaders, whereas in reality even small parish groups and local leaders can organize them and present them to people in their area.
The Life in the Spirit Seminars are often an engaging and transformative experience that becomes a turning point in people’s lives. A turning point: after a Seminar, people change course! Nonetheless, they are only a beginning, like a fire that burns very intensely but risks dying out unless it is continually fed. Precisely for this reason, the Seminars need to be followed up by suitable methods of continuing formation that can fan into flame the graces received and encourage ongoing growth in faith and prayer, the moral and sacramental life, the practice of charity and cooperation in the Church’s mission.
— Address by Pope Francis to CHARIS
Life the Spirit Seminars
From the beginning of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal at the Duquesne Weekend Retreat in 1967, over 160 million Catholics have participated in the Renewal. Many have been introduced to the Renewal through some form of a Life in the Spirit seminar. Many of these seminars were provided by local Charismatic prayer groups. These seminars usually consisted of seven sessions and was frequently scheduled with one session each week for a total of seven weeks. Other models had the all the sessions on a weekend. There were other differences in how the seminars were conducted.
Pope Francis has spoken many times about the need to generously share with everyone the experience of baptism in the Holy Spirit, and about the importance of the New Life in the Spirit Seminar, reiterating this in particular during the audience on November 4, 2023.
— CHARIS International
CHARIS has taken this task to heart and has performed a systematic evaluation of the previous Life in the Spirit materials and has updated the the overall experience.
CHARIS has updated the New Life in the Spirit Seminar with the desire to reach hearts in today’s fast-paced world. This renewed format invites all who are open to experience God’s love and the grace of spiritual rebirth. Through this initiative, CHARIS seeks to help renew the hearts of the faithful.
“This project aims to help many discover Jesus Christ’s love through a personal encounter with Him.”
This effort expands the LIS seminar format from the traditional seven session to nine sessions, The titles for the new sessions are:
✤ The Love of God.
✤ Sin and Salvation.
✤ Healing and Forgiveness.
✤ Faith, Conversion, and New Life.
✤ Jesus is Lord.
✤ The Promise of the Holy Spirit: The Sanctifying Action.
✤ The Promise of the Holy Spirit: The Charismatic Action.
✤ Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
✤ Personal and Community Growth
— CHARIS International
Objectives:
To make the life in Christ known to all those who thirst for God, especially to reach those who have not yet heard of him.
— CHARIS International
Who is this course for?
This course is open to everyone, without exception, and is especially intended for those who feel a desire to deepen or discover their personal relationship with God in the three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
— CHARIS International
About the LIS Seminars
CHARIS International has redesigned the LIS seminars to make them: More comprehensive in content; More consistent in quality; Available to a much broader audience, worldwide; and Added testimonies to provide examples of the presentation in action. They have expanded the number topics in an LIS seminar and developed specific video presentations for each of the topics. These video’s are presented by renowned speakers and include individual testimonies. The videos a range from 37 to 51 minutes. They are currently available in six different languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Polish.
These videos can be used by prayer groups as key presentations at a group LIS seminar. They can also be used by individuals.
Cost is free. A free will donation is appreciated.
Access to the new LIS seminars
We encourage you to visit the CHARIS International website for additional information on the New Life in the Spirit Seminars. There is also an opportunity to sign up to use the LIS seminar materials for a small group presentation or for individual use.
Updated: May 5, 2026
