This year marks the 40th anniversary of the setting up of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Malta. On 28th May, the celebration of this event was held at the Catholic Institute. The Institute's theatre was packed with believers filled with the Holy Spirit and the organisers, overwhelmed beyond expectation by the number of people who attended, had to move the venue from the over-packed auditorium on the top floor of the building to the theatre's platea that was literally filled to capacity.
The response to this activity traces its origins to 1975 when a small group of Maltese Catholics experienced what is known as 'Baptism in the Spirit'. Joe C. Aquilina, the popular Christian song writer, was one of the founders of this movement in Malta and, as one of the key note speakers at this event spoke at great length, reminiscing about his early experiences as a young man when, in his early twenties and as a member of the Balzan Bible Group, he introduced this movement in Malta.
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is a movement that has as its ultimate goal a complete renewal of the Catholic Church by the dynamic of experiencing the whole range of charismatic gifts. The unprecedented manifestation of the Pentecostal movement around the turn of the century gave birth to the innovations of the charismatic movement which in turn profoundly influenced many elements of both the Protestant and Catholic churches.
This meeting at the Catholic Institute was also attended by Mgr Charles Cordina from the Archbishop's Curia and Mgr Anton Gouder. Other notable participants included members from the local Evangelical and Pentecostal churches (Pastor Joe Fenech Laudi of Live Seed Pentecostal Church, Pastor Raphael Spiteri of Arc-Apostolic Christian Centre and Pastor Andy Franklin of Open Door church), leaders of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Malta (Jude Muscat, Dr John Bonnici Mallia), and other Catholic groups with a charismatic spirituality (Mario Cappello [ICPE]), Edward Spiteri (Catholic Revival Movement), Godwin Mallia (FGBMFI), Rita Schembri (Couples for Christ) and Joe/Marie Sammut (Families for Christ).
Rev. Hayden Williams OFM, spoke about the importance of the Body of Christ being filled with the Holy Spirit and emphasised the courage that believers need to evangelise others and bring them to the Truth of Jesus Christ in the face of the evil that surrounds humanity. This boldness marked the early Christian church, which in the face of persecution grew to immeasurable numbers. Unity in the Body of Christ is achieved through the work of the Holy Spirit who cements believers together in focusing on Christ and His Great Commission of spreading the Gospel to the four ends of the earth.
Indeed, this activity augurs well in not only bringing the much desired unity among Christians but also in evangelistic drives both in Malta and overseas. Malta and Europe need to rediscover their Christian roots and for this to happen, believers filled with the Holy Spirit manifesting the gifts and fruits of the Spirit are a necessary prerequisite.
Anthony Zarb Dimech
Birkirkara