Welcome

Welcome to the Western Oregon Catholic Charismatic Renewal (WOCCR) website. Here you will find information about the Renewal,  a list of 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 (CCR) — a Personal Invitation to Renewal

Please come and learn more about the Holy Spirit and the role He plays in our lives, beginning with the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. Since we have the anointing of the Holy Spirit from our baptism on, how much do we know and rely on Him each day. The  Renewal is all about helping each of us to grow closer to the Holy Spirit and become aware of the Spiritual Gifts He has for each of us. These Gifts are given to strengthen us spiritually, and to help our neighbors and to build up the Church

It’s 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.

There are no special, superior people in the Church called “charismatics” – but there are millions of ordinary men and women whose lives have been renewed “charismatically”, in other words by an action of the Holy Spirit. Cardinal Suenens reminded us that charismatic Christianity is normal Christianity, because the Church herself is charismatic, and we were never  supposed to live a Christian life without the full presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Sadly many Christians still attempt to do this. So the aim of the Renewal is to bring the life of the Holy Spirit into every part of the Church by bringing it into the life of every Christian man and woman.
Catholic Charismatic Renewal, UK

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

Holy Spirit window, Christ the King Church, Ann Arbor, MI

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.

If you are new to the CCR

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

If you are active in the Renewal and use the Spiritual Gifts, then let this site encourage you. Let it inspire you to 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.

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

How would you answer this question?

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

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 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

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

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

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: October 22, 2022Categories: Conference4 min readViews: 210

    Newsletter: What a beautiful ceremony it was. The WOCCR Team and St. Edward's Staff wish to thank everyone who participated in the Ralph Martin Conference held on September 23-24, 2022. We wish to thank Bishop Smith for celebrating the opening Mass along with Deacons Leo Rasca and Del DeSart and the Knights of Columbus. The music team, Sonset Worship, graced us with their Holy Spirit talent and gifts during the Mass and throughout the conference. Dina Marie Hale a wonderfully gifted radio host was the Emcee. She did a fantastic job this weekend.

  • By Published On: August 10, 2022Categories: Spiritual Development2.1 min readViews: 275

    Newsletter: Last night the WOCCR Service Team met to work out some of the outstanding items needed to put on the Ralph Martin conference. One item discussed was the very few numbers of registrants. The Conference is five weeks out and only 18 people have registered as of this date. Our other concern is a lack of volunteers. We need help in a number of areas: setting up and tearing down; someone to sit at Ralph’s book table during breaks; etc. Please note that volunteering would not impact the ability to watch the conference. We also need eucharistic ministers for the Mass and ushers.

  • By Published On: March 12, 2022Categories: News1.5 min readViews: 279

    Newsletter: Yvonne Krill was a Spirit-filled, faithful vessel of God’s Word, artistic, caring, kind, loving, and graceful dancer.  A true gift to us all.  These are just a few of the words friends and family use to describe Yvonne Krill, who ascended to Heaven Friday, March 4, 2022, after being diagnosed with lymphoma, nine months prior. She was a devout member of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, in Lake Oswego, OR and helped with many programs including Grade School, Sunday School, Catechism and Marriage classes.  Yvonne was invited by a Nun to attend a prayer meeting which sparked Baptism in the Holy Spirit and the charismatic renewal that became the bedrock of her life.

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!