An Introduction
When I was ordained in 1985, I would not pray aloud in restaurants. During liturgies I made sure that my voice was never louder than the average. I was reluctant to speak to non-Christians about our faith, even when they spoke to me about their beliefs. I acted as though I was ashamed of the Son of Man.
During my first assignment as a priest, I was invited to preside during a monthly Charismatic liturgy. With much trepidation, I agreed. During the next three years, thanks to God's grace and to the loving encouragement and challenge of many in the Charismatic community, the Spirit gave me the gifts of enthusiastic proclamation of the Good News and bold boasting in the Lord.
Since coming to Holy Family parish in 1989, the Spirit has continued to pour forth divine gifts including tongues and counsel. Now, I look forward to praying aloud in restaurants and encouraging others to join in. Now, I enjoy praising God at the top of my voice whenever the Spirit so inspires, even if it happens to be during a regularly scheduled parish liturgy. And now, I'll talk about God at the drop of a hat.
Much of this growth in the Spirit was facilitated by loving, caring, supportive, challenging, and Spirit filled Christians, like yourselves. People whose lives embody the joy and zeal experienced by everyone who unabashedly proclaims, in word and deed, that "Jesus Christ is Lord!"
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