Holy Spirit Conference planned for May 2-4

The 26th Conference of the Holy Spirit will be held May 2-4 at Carroll College in Helena. Sponsored by the Diocese of Helena, the conference will begin Friday evening and will end with a closing Mass on Sunday.
Bishop George Leo Thomas will give a brief welcome to kick off the conference on Friday night. The theme this year conference is “Moved by the Holy Spirit, we encounter Christ.”
According to organizers, the conference will feature some excellent speakers, celebration of Eucharist on Saturday and Sunday, and a healing service on Saturday night. The Sisters of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary’s music ministry will lead praise and worship throughout the weekend.
Mother Adela Galindo, founder of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary, will be the keynote speaker. She will speak on “The Word Became Flesh by the Power of the Spirit.” Sister Juana Maria Sanchez will also speak.
Mother Adela founded the diocesan religious institute in 1990 in the Archdiocese of Miami, Fla. They’re a contemplative and apostolic community, whose spiritual charism is to be an offering of love and consolation to the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Their apostolic charism is to be ardent witnesses to the power of love and to the splendor of the treasures of the Church, to form hearts to bring about a new civilization of love and life. The four characteristics of their spirituality are eucharistic, charismatic, marian and faithful to the magisterium.
Additional speakers include Father Eric Gilbaugh, parochial vicar for the Cathedral of St. Helena Parish, Father Marc Lenneman, director of campus ministry at Carroll College in Helena, and Brother Bob Fishman, director of faith formation and religious education at the Cathedral of St. Helena Parish.
Doug Tooke, diocesan director of youth and young adult ministry, will lead the youth track, along with the Catholic Youth Coalition board, with assistance from Sister Maria Jose Socias and Sister Silvia Tarafa of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Kelly and Matthew Fischer of Helena will head up the children’s ministry by providing faith-filled activities throughout the weekend.
Registrations will be mailed to those who attended last year’s conference. Adult and youth registration will be available later this month at www.diocesehelena.org/chars. For more information, contact Donna at 406-442-5820, ext. 16. Watch for additional information in your parish bulletins.
Spread the word, mark your calendar, invite a friend, and come to experience the healing power of Jesus.

Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 24, No. 1, January 18, 2008.