Sacrofano (RM),November 16-17, 2024
The third National Assembly for Leaders/Servants of the realities of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, held in Sacrofano (RM) on November 16 and 17, 2024, saw an active and significant participation of representatives and members of communities and prayer groups, on the theme “One is the Lord” (1 Cor. 12:5). This meeting, organized by the CNSC – CHARIS Italy at the Fraterna Domus Institute, had as its main objective the election of the new National Service of Communion, as well as the promotion of greater unity among the various charismatic realities.
On Friday 15, prior to the assembly, taking advantage of their meeting in Rome, some members of the Commission for the Communities of the CHARIS International Council (CISC), were willing to meet with different communities to get to know them and share the work entrusted by the Holy Father to CHARIS. Various short talks were given by Pino Scafuro, Moderator of CHARIS, Shayne Bennett (Australia) coordinator of the Commission, Tony Laureys (Belgium) representative for Europe and leader of the Ecumenical Community the “Sword of the Spirit,” Fred Adrian Mawanda, representative for English-speaking Africa and Elisabeth Namusoke, representative of the communities, the latter both from Uganda.
The need to support and assist Communities in need was identified as one of the priority tasks, inspired by the experience of early Christian communities. In addition, the beauty of the call to Christian unity was emphasized, urging participants to overcome rifts and divisions through the action of the Holy Spirit. A powerful image used to explain this concept was that of Kintsugi, the ancient Japanese art that transforms scrap pottery into works of art, using a glue mixed with precious metals. The Holy Spirit is the precious glue that can transform the wounds that realities have gotten on their way into signs of beauty and communion.
On Saturday 16, a musical group composed of members of different realities created an atmosphere of intense spirituality, engaging the participants in prayer. Afterwards, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, in a video message addressed to the participants, underscored the theme of the meeting, “One is the Lord”: It is essential that each member of the Church, while maintaining his or her own specificity and charisma, contribute to building a unity that reflects the love of Christ. The invitation that emerged is clear and relevant: let us love the Church and feel in communion with it because One is the Lord!
In the second part of the morning, the interventions of Mario Landi and Maria Pasquarelli, members of the CNSC, offered significant insights. Mario Landi, in particular, focused on the theme of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR), exploring the dynamics of synodality and the charismatic dimension in the life of the Church. His observations can be summarized in key points that highlight the relevance of the co-responsibility of the Laity, the recognition of charisms as gifts of the Holy Spirit and as vocational diversity, and the importance of inclusive listening. The Church community is called to be united in mission, reflecting the body of Christ, Landi said. The words and orientation of Pope Francis were central to his address, suggesting a prophetic vision of the Church on the road to unity and mission, where communion is essential and diversity is valued. The baptismal dignity, as reaffirmed by the Second Vatican Council, which is fundamental to valuing every contribution within the community, and ecclesial maturity, that is, ongoing formation in the faith, were emphasized, both of which are necessary to live authentically and missionally in contemporary challenges and renew one’s missionary commitment within the Church. Charisms and synodality must work together to build a more inclusive and living Church.
Maria Pasquarelli in her talk traced a reflection on the history of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) in Italy, highlighting both the initial successes and the divisions that have emerged over time. He emphasized how reconciliation and a renewed spirit of unity among the various charismatic groups are seen as positive signs of recent spiritual growth. The speech highlighted that thanks to CHARIS and the creation of the National Services of Communion, a new phase of unity and communion has been possible, empowering the Holy Spirit to guide charismatic realities toward a common path. This process is considered fundamental to achieving full fraternal maturity, an essential element of being a Church on the move. A goal that represents long-awaited fruit, for which gratitude can be expressed to the “One God who works all things in all.”
Late in the afternoon, elections were held to establish the New National Service of Communion. The following people will be part of the SNC for the next four years:
Ciro Fusco, Mirko Pettinacci, Maria Pasquarelli, Giuseppe Cataldo, Anna Leonetti, Michele Rossatti, Griselda Ciclista, Corrado Sergio Di Gennaro, Fr. Pasqualino di Dio, Alessandro Ruo Rui, Mariano Benzi, Alessandro Rutigliano, Michele Ragone, Daniela Giorla, Fr. César Alejandro Pluchinotta.
The youth representative (under 30) will be elected shortly by a forum of young people from the different realities.
The style of the representatives of the new National Service of Communion (SNC), as emphasized by Ciro Fusco in his closing remarks, must remain that of humble servants.
During the day on Sunday 17, significant moments were experienced, including a participated charismatic community prayer on the CNSC representatives themselves and the Eucharistic celebration led by H.E.R. Archbishop Dario Gervasi, Assistant Secretary of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life.
During the homily, Archbishop Gervasi remarked that even from divisions positive fruits can be born and that the time has come to seek unity. He stressed that CHARIS represents an opportunity to relive the communion in the Spirit that characterized the early days of the Charismatic Renewal’s journey. Unity, he explained, is fundamental because it brings light, joy and conversion, and is an essential element for effective evangelization.
Archbishop Gervasi invited everyone to commit themselves to rediscovering unity of purpose, a crucial element also for re-evangelization with innovative methods, recovering the freshness that only the Holy Spirit can give. He described the current context as a world marked by rubble and conflict, urging people to ask for the gift of unity for the Church and the world. Finally, he invited everyone to cultivate the desire for God’s coming in their hearts, to live this period as a fruitful and hopeful expectation.
