Vatican: CHARIS, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal International Service, will begin its journey on 9 June, Sunday of Pentecost. On the same day the ICCRS and Catholic Fraternity will cease to exist, since the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life established in December 2018 a new single service for the current of grace of Catholic Charismatic Renewal, naming it CHARIS.
Strongly desired by Pope Francis, CHARIS is first and foremost a service of communion among all the entities of Catholic Charismatic Renewal, which currently numbers more than 120 million Catholics in the world who live the experience of baptism in the spirit through three different expressions: prayer groups, communities and schools of evangelization, and networks of communications and various ministries.
The aim of CHARIS is to awaken communion between all these realities at national, continental and global level, and its statute emphasizes the importance of spreading the grace of baptism in the spirit, work for the unity of Christians, service to the poor and participation in the evangelizing mission of the whole Church.
On the occasion of its initiation, from 6 to 7 June CHARIS will hold an international conference in Rome for the leaders of Catholic Charismatic Renewal, to be attended by more than 550 people participate. On 8 June Pope Francis will address a message to charismatics throughout the world and on Sunday 9, all those responsible for the Charismatic Renewal will attend the Holy Mass for Pentecost in Saint Peter’s Square.