COLUMBIA — The 2008 South Carolina Catholic Charismatic Conference will be held at Our Lady of the Hills Church in Columbia Oct. 24-26.
The guest speakers are Fathers William Halbing and Dave Pivonka, TOR. The theme is from 1 Thes. 1:9-10: “Spiritual Freedom … Transforming the Culture.”
Father Halbing is the pastor of St. Antoninus Church, a parish in Newark, N.J. He has been involved with the renewal since 1975, and is a sought-after Bible teacher and speaker. He has spoken at several national seminars and at the Steubenville youth conferences. He also speaks at parish missions and tent revival meetings.
Father Halbing is involved in door-to-door evangelization and Hispanic ministry.
Father Pivonka, a Third Order Regular of St. Francis, is the vice-president for Mission Effectiveness at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio.
He recently wrote the book “Spiritual Freedom: God’s Life Changing Gift.” Also, he produced a set of six CDs of his talks called “There is Freedom” on how to experience greater freedom in life, and “Generation Why,” a two-CD compilation about understanding youth culture.
Father Pivonka said he longs for others to experience the passionate love he has found in Christ.
The conference schedule of events begins with registration at Our Lady of the Hills Church on Oct. 24. It will be followed by praise and worship, and Mass, then exposition and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.
Sessions will be held in the parish life center on Oct. 25. Fathers Pivonka and Halbing will hold several talks, including prayer for a fresh outpouring of gifts, and a renewed release of the Holy Spirit.
A special seminar will be held for newcomers. Mass will be celebrated and followed by a healing service. Prayer teams will be available.
Father Pivonka will celebrate Mass on Oct. 26, and a leaders’ session will follow. This session is open to leaders of prayer groups and ministries, and those people who are actively involved in charismatic prayer groups. It is limited to the first 90 registrants and will be conducted by Father Pivonka and the State Service Team. The cost of the session is $15 and includes brunch.
Pre-registration for the S.C. Catholic Charismatic Conference is $20 for individuals, $30 on-site, and $10 for Saturday only. It must be received by Oct. 15.
For married couples, the pre-registration cost is $40, $50 on-site, and $20 for Saturday only.
Make checks payable to S.C. Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services, or SCCCRS, and mail to 7817 Loch Lane, Columbia, SC 29223.
The Catholic charismatic renewal is a movement within the church emphasizing the experience of “baptism of the Holy Spirit,” often accompanied by such gifts as healing or speaking in tongues. Though these gifts are given to Christians at baptism, the renewal movement seeks to use and develop the gifts.
For more information contact
Sharon Crocker at (803) 356-3042, (803) 309-2480 or scrocker4@windstream.net;
or Ross Gamble at (803) 788-4480 or rbgam2@juno.com.