Spirit Filled Weekend

This past weekend I went on the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of New Orleans' Women's Retreat at the Lafayette Hilton.  This was my second year attending and it was amazing, especially spending it with my sisters from my prayer group, Women Empowered by the Word of God.

I have been blessed with so many new friends since my separation/divorce...women (and a few men) I have met through Beginning Experience.  Women who have gone through the same grief with the death of their marriage...some by divorce, some by death.  God has led these to these wonderful women for a reason and I am so thankful to Him because of it.

Friday night was praise and worship, a testimony and then a teaching.  Saturday I attended a Life in the Spirit Seminar (this is the 3rd one I have attended) and each time I attend I come away with something new!  I could feel God's presence in my heart and that is such an amazing feeling.  God gave me the gift of tongues!  

After the seminar was over we went back into the ballroom to be prayed over individually by Father Richard McAlear.   This wonderful man suffers with arthritis of the spine but prayed over each one of the 600+ retreatants!  Patti Mansfield (an amazing woman who I will write about in a minute) told us to keep our eyes open and look into Father McAlear's eyes as he prayed over us.  All I can say is WOW!!!  It is so hard to describe what I felt when I looked into his eyes...his kind, compassionate eyes!  He then made the sign of the sign of the cross on my forehead and gently touched my cheek.   I felt such peace!

Sunday after Mass, when Patti was speaking she asked how many of us felt like we were looking directly into Jesus' eyes when Father McAlear prayed over us and that is exactly how I felt!!!! 

As for Patti Mansfield, what an amazing woman!  I feel so honored that she is with CCRNO, especially since she was present at Duquesne University when the Holy Spirit was present for the start of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.  Patti has ministered on five continents, has addressed Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI and I get to hear her testimony and teachings!  

I haven't been attending the weekly CCRNO meetings much this past year, but I know God is calling me back to them!