Life in the Spirit Seminars in Nenagh
A series of events aimed at deepening relationships with God will run every Tuesday in St John the Baptist Church, Tyone, Nenagh, for the next seven weeks, each Tuesday from February 6, from 7.30pm. Here, Karen McGregor, a member of Nenagh Holy Spirit Prayer Group, reveals how attending similar seminars deepened her faith and transformed her relationship with the Holy Spirit.....
Who is the Holy Spirit? I had my first real encounter as an adult with the Holy Spirit when I was 25-years-old. To be honest, since my Confirmation, the Holy Spirit was not someone I knew, understood or thought about.
There was one weekend while studying in Waterford IT that I kept coming across posters in nearly every shop I went to, inviting people to a special healing Mass. I had no intention of going; however, something in me was stirred, and so out of curiosity, I went.
Immediately I felt at home and could feel the warmth and faith of the people present, particularly the people welcoming us at the door, Rosary beads in hand. During the sermon, the priest compared life without the Holy Spirit as being like ‘having a car with no engine’.
This had a huge impact on me, as I realised that there was a real emptiness in my life that wasn’t being filled. We were invited to go to the next monthly healing Mass and also the local prayer group. This I did, and it was the beginning of a new relationship with God, as a personal and alive one. One which I never dreamed was possible! I took part later that year in the ‘Life In The Spirit’ Seminars. These gave me a great understanding into The Holy Spirit and His gifts for me.
Paul speaks to Timonthy and says ‘for this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands’ - 2 Timothy 1:6
‘SPIRITUAL BILLIONAIRES’
On the day of our Baptism, we were anointed with a portion of God’s own Holy Spirit and personal gifts…we are in fact spiritual billionaires. For most of us, throughout our lives, many of our gifts have remained dormant, never knowing that ‘more’ was available to us. Many have gone to Mass all their lives, but never came to actually know God. The Holy Spirit simply wants to flame into flames and activate these dormant gifts that we received at our Baptism and Confirmation so that we can have life and have it in abundance - John 10:10.
In February 1967 students at Duquesne University, USA rediscovered the power of prayer through praise and worship. Since then, across the world, Christians are now rediscovering the opportunity to have a personal relationship with Jesus for themselves that is transformative.
It was for this reason that Pope Francis, at the 50th anniversary of Charismatic Renewal in Rome, made a request that Life In The Spirit Seminars be held by every parish in the world!
INVITATION
I encourage anyone reading this humble article as a personal invitation to you to get to know the Holy Spirit during our upcoming Lenten period. Come and hear some well-known national speakers such as Eddie Stones (Emmanuel House, Clonfert), Fr Pat Collins, CM, author, Fr Brendan Walsh, SCA, speak and give testimonies at the up-and-coming Life In the Spirit Seminars and go on a journey that will transform your life and your relationship with God.
If you wish to take part in the Life In the Spirit Seminars, please leave your name at the Nenagh Parish office; 067-31272 – please see Nenagh Notes for more details.