In the 1960’s Vatican II called for the renewal of the spiritual life of the Catholic people.   It is hoped that the Life in the Spirit Seminar will be a tool for that spiritual revitalization and an answer to Pope John XXIII’s prayer, “Renew in our day, O Lord, your wonders as in a new Pentecost.”  Over 60,000,000 Catholics throughout the world have taken some type of Life in the Spirit seminar and have discovered that the Holy “Spirit” is not an inaccessible, “ghostly” intelligence, but the very “breath” of our lives as followers of Jesus Christ.

            The original Life in the Spirit Seminar was used as an evangelistic tool in home, work, and social groups, and not primarily in church situations.    But many do now use the seminar for church renewal in the parish or other church circumstances.  The seminar is designed so that church members can “renew” their baptismal life in Jesus which is sacramentally confirmed as young Catholic adults, recommit to the Lord, and experience a fuller “life in the Spirit”.    The seminar is usually a once-a-week six to seven week course which covers talks, testimonies and small group sharing on God’s love, His salvation, new life in the Spirit, surrendering to Gifts and Charisms of the Holy Spirit, Baptism in the Holy Spirit, growth and transformation – but is sometimes condensed into shorter time periods.   As a people of God, we still have so much to learn about our ongoing immersion into God’s life and Spirit.

            “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”  Rom 5:5

            “The Spirit prepares men and goes out to them with his grace, in order to draw them to Christ.  The Spirit manifests the risen Lord to them, recalls his word to them and opens their minds to the understanding of his Death and Resurrection.  He makes present the mystery of Christ, supremely in the Eucharist, in order to reconcile them, to bring them into communion with God that they may ‘bear much fruit.’ (Jn 15:8,16)”  Catechism of the Catholic Church 737

          In the Diocese of Lafayette, the following charismatic local prayer groups are available to conduct Life in the Spirit Seminars upon request and scheduling:

Immaculata Prayer Group, Lafayette – contact Lora Moreau – 235-1209

Jesus Is Alive Prayer Group, New Iberia – contact Faye Boutte – 367-1441

Holy Ghost Prayer Group, Opelousas – contact Charles Richard -942-4912

Schedule of Life in the Spirit Seminars:

Follow-Up Growth in the Spirit Seminars:

Sunday evenings - 5 weeks - beginning April 18th - 6:00-8:00 p.m. by Disciples of Blessed Trinity with Dell Trahan, Juanita Poland and Lucy Goodley - at St. Nicholas Church in Lydia.