Blessing, Dedication of the Ark and the Dove, Birthplace of Catholic Charismatic Renewal

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal has spread to every nation in the world and has renewed the faith of 125 million to 250 million Catholics so far.

On Thursday, February 18, 2016 in Gibsonia, PA., Bishop David Zubik, the bishop of Pittsburgh, blessed the Ark and the Dove as a renewal center and a pilgrimage site dedicated to those seeking an immersion into the Father's love though experiencing the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. This site is recognized worldwide as the birth place of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in 1967. It was purchased by supporters of renewal to maintain the historical and spiritual link to the retreat weekend that birthed the largest ecclesial movement in the history of the Catholic Church.

GIBSONIA, PA (Catholic Online)  - On Thursday, February 18, 2016 in Gibsonia, PA., Bishop David Zubik, the bishop of Pittsburgh, blessed the Ark and the Dove as a renewal center and a pilgrimage site dedicated to those seeking an immersion into the Father's love though experiencing the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

This site is recognized worldwide as the birth place of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in 1967. It was purchased by supporters of renewal to maintain the historical and spiritual link to the retreat weekend that birthed the largest ecclesial movement in the history of the Catholic Church.

Forty-nine years ago, 26 students and professors from Duquesne University entered a humble retreat house in Gibsonia, PA, called the Ark and the Dove. On that weekend, much to their amazement, they had a profound experience of God's love that changed the world. 

Dave Mangan, one of the retreatants in 1967, said that he came on the retreat determined to learn more about the Holy Spirit. During the retreat David had the idea of "renewing his sacrament of Confirmation" much the same way we renew our baptismal promises every Easter.  He asked the retreat master's opinion of his intention.

The response from the leader of the retreat was to pose a simple question in return, "Are you prepared for what God may ask of you?" Young and naive, but with the kind of humble and sincere faith which Mary demonstrated at the annunciation, Dave said "yes". His "yes", like the "yes" of every committed Christian throughout history, released God's blessings. It also enlisted him in the spiritual battle which accompanies a firm decision to follow the Lord as a disciple.

Sometimes this battle manifests itself in very practical ways.

Within a matter of hours, the plumbing in the retreat house broke and the plumber stated he could not come out to fix the problem until the following week. Dave turned to prayer and went into the "upper room" chapel on the second floor that looked out onto the 16 acres of wooded land. 

While interceding to the Father for His help so these young students could continue their retreat, the plumber had a change of heart and decided to make the trip to the retreat house and fix the problem. Upon leaving the chapel Dave turned on the water and found it working.

Going back to the chapel to thank God, Dave experienced the Holy Spirit. "Walking into the chapel was like pushing myself into a bubble of water. The Holy Spirit's presence was so real." His body started reacting to the manifest presence of God and time seemed to stop. What felt like a few minutes turned out to be hours! Feeling like mini dynamite explosions were going off in his body he felt he had to leave the chapel and went downstairs to a sitting room.

Another retreatant, Patti Gallagher (Mansfield), went up to the chapel to invite the students to a birthday party that was occurring downstairs. Upon entering she too quickly experienced God's manifest presence and fell prostrate before Him. "Somehow my shoes came off. I've been told by theologians that that is significant since I was standing on holy ground like Moses" she said. She became overwhelmed by the Love of God.

For a full account of Dave's experience click here. For a full account of Patti's experience go here.

The retreatants had been praying the ancient prayer to the Holy Spirit, Veni Creator Spiritus, prior to each session creating an atmosphere of openness to the Holy Spirit to work during the retreat. About half of the students began to feel drawn into the chapel to pray on Saturday night.

Of the 26 participants on the weekend, about 12 of them experienced what Pope Francis refers to as this "current of grace". Many who have been touched by this current refer to it as a baptism, or an immersion, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Some of the other retreatants said they experienced nothing. Still others were turned off by what was happening and considered leaving early. This is a pattern that has repeated itself throughout the last 49 years as the Charismatic Renewal movement and the "current of grace" associated with it, has spread.

Most importantly, as the retreatants began to share their experience with their friends after leaving the retreat, their friends also wanted this "baptism in the Holy Spirit". They asked for this immersion into the very Love of God and the power of Pentecost.

The retreatants quickly found that God was again "pouring out His Spirit on all of mankind". This experience was like a new Pentecost for each one of them. In fact, it soon spread like a fire. Many who asked the Father for the Holy Spirit were being gifted with the "current of grace". Thus began the history of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal has spread to every nation in the world and has renewed the faith of 125 million to 250 million Catholics so far.

During the 1990's Pope St. John Paul II embraced the Catholic Charismatic Renewal by recognizing its two sister organizations, ICCRS and the Catholic Fraternity, as Private Associations of the Faithful. Pope Benedict XVI moved their international offices into the Vatican in 2012 when he established the office for the New Evangelization. He also charged them to work together to spread Catholic Renewal and authentic Christian ecumenism throughout the world.

The Ark and the Dove is a site for all of the ecclesial movements in the Church to use as a resource center, pilgrimage place, teaching facility and renewal center. Its hope is to serve all Christians, helping them to experience God's manifest presence.

One of the participants at the dedication ceremony explained it this way, "It's not about the buildings or the land or the retreatants. It's all about God offering His presence to us in a tangible way. When you experience the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, 'God with us' - Emmanuel - becomes real". 

Dr. Vinson Synan, a classical Pentecostal scholar, noted author and leading historian on the work of the Holy Spirit in the 20th century, asked me to tell the people gathered at the dedication that Catholic Christians do a great job in preserving the sites where God moves so powerfully.

Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, the preacher to the papal household, wrote a letter of encouragement which was read at the dedication. He stated that he wished the Church could also purchase the site of the first Pentecost, like we have now purchased the site of the New Pentecost.

Both men are longtime friends and expressed that they are greatly encouraged that the Ark and the Dove is also dedicated to promoting authentic Christian Unity. Gordon Robertson, CEO of the Christian Broadcasting Network, sent a special note of encouragement that was read at the pre-ceremony reception the night before the dedication. It was received with great affection by all those present.

At the end of the Mass celebrating the 49th anniversary of the event, Bishop Zubik blessed the building and the grounds, dedicating the Ark and Dove as a pilgrimage site for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. He then knelt down in the middle of the crowd and surrendered himself to the prayers of the people in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

This prophetic humble gesture, mirroring the frequent actions of Pope Francis, also echoes the teaching of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI that clergy and laity no longer see each other only as collaborators, but as partners. The laity, the pope states, "must be seen as co-responsible for the church's life and mission."

The Ark and the Dove is a holy place, where the presence of the Lord is palpably present, precisely because people pray and believe that Jesus Christ is truly risen - and that the Holy Spirit has really been poured out on the Church, and is still available to all believers. It's mission is to help lead Christians to the spiritual maturity so desperately needed in this new missionary age of the Church.

Visiting the Ark and the Dove provides an opportunity to encounter the Risen Lord Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit afresh. It is a Center, from which renewed and dedicated missionary servants can go forth to serve the whole Church. It will also become a base from which missionaries go forth to serve a culture struggling under what Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI called a "dictatorship of relativism" by offering true freedom. They will proclaim the fullness of the Good News, that God's loving plan is revealed in Jesus Christ and His Church. 

The final decision to purchase the property occurred when one unnamed donor loaned the National Service Committee of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal the $1.3 million needed to secure the property quickly from the Sisters of Divine Providence.

If you are one of the millions of people who have been touched by this infusion of grace from the Holy Spirit or if you want to support the ongoing work of renewal and ecumenism, you can partner with this effort by helping pay off this loan. You can read more about the vision, find out how to visit, and donate to the effort by clicking here.

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Deacon Darrell Wentworth serves as the liaison for the Catholic Fraternity of Charismatic Covenant Communities and Fellowships' North American leaders; he is the Director of the Family Pillar of the Common Good Foundation. Ordained in 2003, he and his wife, Geriann, promote efforts leading to the spiritual maturity of adult Christians.

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