Catholic Charismatic Renewal Centre

The individuals in the Charismatic Renewal believe that they have been "filled" or "baptized" with the Holy Spirit, often through the laying on of the hands. The signs of the "baptism" or "filling" may include joy, the gifts of speaking in tongues , resting in the Spirit or slaying in the Spirit, prophecy, healing, interpretation of tongues, discernment of spirits… the 9 spiritual gifts of 1Cor.12:8-10.

The essence and life of any Charismatic, is a life of joyfully praising the Lord, and service, helping his neighbor who is another Christ (Mt.25:31-46)... the same as the results of any of the seven Pentecost experiences of the New Testament.

In fact, the first Charismatic of the New Testament is Blessed Virgin Mary, as related in Mat.1 and Lk.1: In the in the first Pentecost of the NT Virgin Mary was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and Jesus incarnated in her. And with Jesus within her, she did the two things all good Charismatic should do:
1- She went immediately to serve, to help her cousin Elisabeth who was six months pregnant at old age (Lk.1:36, 39-45).
2- She joyfully sang the praises of the Lord in her Magnificat (Lk.1:46-56).

"The CCR was instrumental in the formation and advancement of the Catholic Bible Institute (the Institute). Prior to the establishment of the Institute, a small group of early CCR members journeyed to Mount St Benedict every weekend to meet with Fr Bernard Vlaar OSB who taught them the Word. The group was joined later by Fr IIdefons Schroots OSB who assisted Fr Bernard. News spread and soon enough prayer group leaders joined the original group. These leaders then taught their people. Meanwhile, Fr IIdefons travelled throughout Trinidad teaching the Word. Like Fr IIdefons, a few members of the original Mount St Benedict group, took the Word and their love for Jesus to many.

While all this movement was taking place, the then Archbishop of Port of Spain, His Grace Anthony Pantin, was inspired to gaze upon the dilapidated house of God, Our Lady of Victories, in Frederick Settlement. On March 9, 1982, Archbishop Pantin offered the chapel and grounds to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal to use as they saw fit. By this time Deborah de Rosia had been infused with zeal to have the Word of God go out to all who would hear. Conferring with the then Spiritual Director of the CCR, Fr IIdefons, Deborah organised a campaign to clean and renovate the chapel and build a centre for teaching and reflection. By June 1983, the chapel was restored to the extent that Charismatic Masses and sacramental
baptisms were celebrated every first Sunday in the presence of the leaders of the various Charismatic prayer groups. In September 1983, evening school for Bible study began at the chapel. Subsequently, plans began for the official establishment
of a Catholic Bible Institute. In 1986, the Institute was launched at the CCR Centre in Caroni, to meet the needs of the Roman
Catholic laity for knowledge and training in the Bible. In its first year, there were 40 registered students, 27 of which
graduated at the Institute’s first graduation."

[Taken from The Fruitful Vine, I & II, published by the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and relayed by the Catholic News on December 12 2012]