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NEWS UPDATE!
ISAO 1st CCR Leader’s Conference
Jakarta, Indonesia, 14 to 18 September 2008
This was attended by 525 leaders from 21 countries. It was indeed a time of new awakening for the Renewal in the region. We experienced tremendous fellowship and unity at the gathering. We as a body sensed the Lord telling us: “I am about to do a new thing: now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Is 43:18). Incidentally the ISAO Conference was held in the Krakatau Convention Hall in Mercure Hotel, North Jakarta, named after a volcanic island-mountain in Indonesia that ejected in August 1883 approximately 21 cubic kms of rock, ash and pumice and generated the loudest sound historically reported. It was heard in Australia, Philippines and even Mauritius, more than 5000 kms away. A tsunami followed the explosion and its impact was felt all around. At the end of the Conference, we had several reasons to believe that this conference was a spiritual eruption, a tsunami that had greatly impacted the region leading to a New Springtime.
ISAO 1st Gulf Conference for CCR Leaders
Abu Dhabi, 07 to 09 December 2008
The Gulf was a region where Renewal entities and groups never before came together even at the national level for a Conference. For the first time 1800 leaders from six Gulf countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE – came together under the banner of Gulf Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services (GCCRS) for a conference in Abu Dhabi from 07 to 09 December 2008. “Let the Fire Fall again” was the theme of this conference. As a follow up, the Bishop of Abu Dhabi and Kuwait has officially recognized the Renewal by drawing up and giving the Kuwait National Service Team (KNST) a set of Statutes. The Bishop of Abu Dhabi is taking personal initiatives to appoint National Spiritual Directors in each of the Gulf countries in his Vicariate and set up National Service Committees to help foster the Renewal.
First ICCRS International Conference outside Italy
Kkottongnae, South Korea. 01 to 09 June 2009
The International Leader’s Conferences by ICCRS in June 2009 was the first such Conference being held outside Italy, and the place chosen was Kkottongnae, two and a half hour by bus from Seoul City, South Korea. This was yet another opportunity for the leaders of the regions to also come together in large numbers to interact even more with CCR at the International level. Kkottongnae is a home where the sick, destitute and handicapped are taken in and cared for. From June 01 to 09, Kkottongnae was the location of the 2009 International ICCRS event, “Love in Action”. And what better place? Kkottongnae means in Korean “fields of flowers”, and for the volunteers and full time workers, the flowers are the ones being cared for. For the 1,000 participants who flew in from 43 different countries, it was a sincere opportunity for experiencing love in action.
For the first two days, early arrivals from outside of Korea had the opportunity to serve alongside the 200 Korean volunteers and 340 full-time workers, most of which are religious. On the third day, there was an official opening mass held in the evening, which was
presided over by one archbishop, three cardinals, ten bishops, and many priests. ICCRS President Michelle Moran lit a symbolic torch and welcomed the participants to the conference, and the evening ended with much praise and worship.
Throughout the next few days, informative and inspiring talks were given. During the last two days, event participants visited various holy places of martyrdom, where the ICCRS Council prayed for healing and peace throughout the world. The highlight of the Love in Action event was an open-air rally, where the participants of the conference were joined by over 50,000 Koreans, who came to celebrate mass and worship together in harmony. This entire event was a powerful demonstration of love.
ISAO Events For Year 2010
During the ISAO Executive Committee Meeting, as well as Committee Meeting held in Kkottongnae, South Korea on 01 June 2009, four regional follow-up conferences to be organized over a span of two years
besides a Priests’ Retreat and a Businessmen Retreat scheduled to be held in 2010, was planned for.
1st of the Regional Conferences for Near East, Middle East
& South Asia to be held in Bangalore, India
Being the first of the Regional Conferences to be confirmed and organized, this event will see participation from CCR entities from the Gulf States, who in December 2008 organized the ISAO 1st Gulf Conference for CCR. The Conference Committee comprise of members from the Bangalore Service Team for CCR
Malaysian CCR Leaders Prepare for
ISAO Ist South East Asian Conference
In January 2009 at the Majodi Center in Johore, Malaysia, a meeting between representatives of ISAO Executive Committee and the PMST (Peninsula Malaysia Service Team) for CCR was held to begin discussion, prayer and discernment for the proposed
ISAO Regional Conference in Penang, Malaysia scheduled for August 2010. Following the meeting, Cyril John, Francis D’ Souza, Felix Ali Chendra and Gerard Francisco conducted a two-day Pre-ISAO Conference Leadership formation program where leaders from PMST, and the three Diocesan Service Teams attended. His Lordship Bishop Paul Tan Chee Ing, Bishop of the Melaka-Johor Diocese, celebrated the opening Mass and inaugurated the event.
Follow Up Meeting in Malaysia for
South East Asian Conference
A meeting between ISAO Executive Committee Members and the PMST, in the presence of His Grace Archbishop Murphy Pakiam and His Lordship Bishop Selvanayagam was held at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. The dates for the 1st ISAO South East Asia CCR Conference, was finalized for 12 to 15 August 2010. St. Anne’s Church at Bukit Mertajam, Penang was chosen to be the venue, being a place for pilgrimage.
A follow up leadership formation program conduced by Cyril, Felix and Gerard followed, with both Bishops also contributing to the inputs. Gerry Pereira, a PMST Member reports – “It was truly a joy to see about 120 leaders from all the four language groups, our African brothers and sisters (community in Malaysia), from Sabah as well as members of covenant communities assemble for the Pre-ISAO Conference for Leaders. Simon Mathew, Chairman of PMST encouraged those present to work together for greater unity, and to strive to be more effective leaders in order to carry out the vision and mission of CCR. He also thanked former PMST leaders for their leadership and contribution. It was truly a blessed time of formation, prayer and healing, as they were also led to ministering and reconciliation.
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