Prudence & Courage: Gathering of Charismatic Family

On Saturday 12 April 2025, clergy and representatives from across the Diocese of East Anglia came together at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist for a significant moment in the life of the local Church. Pam Smith reports.

The occasion marked the first ever Gathering of the Charismatic Family in the diocese and was centred around a Mass celebrated by Bishop Peter Collins, followed by a time of sharing and reflection.

The gathering was organised to give Bishop Peter the opportunity to meet and encourage members of Charismatic ministry teams, prayer groups, and communities who serve in this diocese. It also served as a response to the growing communion between the Magisterium of the Catholic Church and the worldwide Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

In his homily, Bishop Peter reflected on the day’s readings and commended those present to embrace both prudence and courage — virtues essential to living out our mission in the Church today. Prudence, he reminded us, is not about hesitation, but about discerning wisely and acting with care. Courage, in the biblical sense, means responding to God’s call even when we feel unequipped, trusting in His provision and stepping out in faith.

The establishment of CHARIS (Catholic Charismatic Renewal International Service) at Pentecost in 2019 marked a significant moment for the global Charismatic movement. CHARIS was created not to govern but to serve; not as a lay association, but as a body with public juridic personality, officially recognising the Charismatic Renewal as a “current of grace” for the Church. Locally, the Charismatic Diocesan Service of Communion (CDSC) operates as an association of the laity under the authority of the Bishop, called to mission and to unity.

Bishop Peter emphasised the importance of communion within the Church, stating, “Nothing happens within the diocese in isolation.” He reiterated that my role as Coordinator of the CDSC is to be a point of reference for all Charismatic groups and ministries — especially in ensuring adherence to diocesan policies and safeguarding practices. “Walk with care,” he said. “Souls are fragile.”

The vision we serve through the CDSC and CHARIS is threefold: to unify, to serve, and to share the grace of our baptism in the Holy Spirit. Charisms are to be exercised in obedience to the Church, in communion with the hierarchy, and in alignment with the pastoral authority of the Bishop. They are given for the building up of the Body of Christ.

The afternoon also offered the opportunity for ministries to introduce themselves. Representatives came from across the diocese, including Transform Ministries UK, Littleway Healing Ministries, Couples for Christ, and Unbound Mother of Good Counsel, among others — each sharing the richness of their call and mission.

Bishop Peter spoke candidly about the journey ahead for every parish in the diocese, as we seek to renew our missionary purpose. “The Charismatic Renewal is a significant part of our spiritual journey to allow us to engage with the challenges” and it “must reference the Diocesan family first before the wider Charismatic Renewal movement. Nothing is in isolation and the nourishment must be across the Church and the Diocese. Everything must serve the mission of the Church.”

Looking forward, work is underway to redesign the diocesan website, with new pages dedicated to the Charismatic Renewal. These will provide information about CHARIS, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR), and Pope Francis’ vision for this movement. A diocesan directory of Charismatic prayer groups and ministries will also be included, along with links to national and international resources.

Plans are already taking shape for future Charismatic Family Gatherings, and those who were unable to attend this year are warmly encouraged to send representatives next time. It is through this shared witness and unity that the diversity of our ministries becomes a strength for the whole Church.

Please keep me in your prayers as I seek to serve both the Diocese of East Anglia and the CHARIS vision with prudence, courage, and love.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to this special day: Jo Graham and DeSepra for leading Praise and Worship, Fr Luke Goymour, Fr Gladson Dabre OSA, and the Narthex team for their support and service.

Fr Gladson Dabre and Transform Ministries will return to the Cathedral on Saturday 7 June at 7:30pm for the Pentecost Vigil “Outpouring”. All are welcome to come and “be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).

For more information about the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Diocese of East Anglia, please contact me at: renewaleastanglia@gmail.com

Picture credit: Andrea Cope

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