THE Holy Spirit dwelled in the hearts of more than 230 attendees from Queensland, New South Wales and New Zealand at a one-day Pentecost retreat hosted by West End’s Awaken Community on June 9.
Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge celebrated Mass at the retreat, and it was the pinnacle of a day focused on talks, healings, silent prayers and commemoration of the Holy Spirit’s descent upon Jesus’ disciples.
The Holy Spirit Crusade, as it was called, was led by Awaken founder Steffanie Le and facilitator Capuchin Father Lam Vu.
“Our faith was brought to life on Pentecost,” Ms Le said at the end of the day.
“The faithfuls all came earnestly seeking the presence of God and, just as the faithfuls who came together Pentecost 2000 years ago, we too came together and we too witnessed the glory of the Holy Spirit this year.
“Thank you, Holy Spirit – we adore you and honour you.
“We give thanks for the fresh anointing on each and everyone of us.
“We love you, Holy Spirit.”
Fr Vu, who also serves as Dutton Park and St Mary’s parish priest, said people needed to have the Holy Spirit to fully live out Jesus’ teachings.
“It was truly a Holy Spirit Crusade retreat,” he said.
“The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was so powerful and ever-present.
“I witnessed people get healed from addictions, healed from blindness, cancer and depression.
“It was a day of healing and miracles – a truly blessed day.
“We thank the Lord for His blessing and grace upon us.”
Archbishop Coleridge’s homily helped stoke the fire of the Holy Spirit.
“The purpose of the fire of heaven is not just to destroy, it is to create – to bring this fantastic new life that can only come because of the fire,” he said.
“And you see then the fruits of the Holy Spirit … and that’s what it means to be fully human and fully alive.
“That’s what it means to live the life that’s bigger than death.
“That’s what it means to live the life of the risen Christ.
“And that’s what the Church is all about …”
Awaken hosts prayer groups every Tuesday evening at 7pm, at 47 Dornoch Terrace, West End.
It also hosts the Rising Youth Ministry, a youth group catered to young people aged five to 25, on the second Sunday of every month, at 1.30pm at the same address.
Feedback from the event was full of praise about the joy and the love of the people and the day.
“I have had the most wonderful, faith-filled day,” one attendee said.
“Everyone was so kind, generous and giving of themselves.”
Others even reported healings, with one person reporting their hernia felt cured.
“The pain had gone,” the attendee said.
“I am confident God was present in my cure and I claim it.”
Another attendee reported their knee pain was gone after the retreat.
Spirited disciples: More than 230 attendees from Queensland, New South Wales and New Zealand attended the one-day Pentecost retreat.
