Schenectady parish is longtime home to charismatic renewal

After nearly 30 years of upbeat, joyful praise in song, liturgy and witness, the Catholic charismatic renewal is still going strong in the Albany Diocese, particularly at a Schenectady parish.

Charismatic Catholics from around the Diocese gather on Saturdays at St. Paul the Apostle Church to celebrate a 7 p.m. Mass, as they have done since the early 1970s when Rev. Elmer Donnelly began the practice.

Today, Rev. George Brucker, pastor, often presides at the liturgy, but different priests take turns celebrating.

Testing the waters

Father Brucker said that charismatic prayer is not for everyone and encourages interested people to attend several Masses before they make up their minds.

"People come for a specific reason -- to give praise and thanks to the Lord," he explained. "They come for support and comfort from the charismatic community, which has gathered to support each other in some very specific ways, like song, witness, prayer and worship. It is an outreaching, a celebration of people's feelings."

Musical intro

Before the Mass, one of two charismatic music groups performs music with a specific purpose.

"The music ministry sets the tone for the liturgy. We begin by singing songs that are upbeat, joyful and of high praise to the Lord," said Flo Barbagallo, director of "We Shall Behold Him," the original charismatic music ministry at St. Paul's. "Our purpose is to really get people praising the Lord."

Before they sing, the members meet for their own time of prayer and preparation. It is characterized by expressive, joyful praise, and an openness to the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit.

"Our group meets to pray for a spirit of glory and worship with the congregation," she said. "By the time we get to the beginning of the Mass, we have started to temper our music to a more intimate and passionate level so participants can feel the Spirit rising within them."

Sing joyfully

The other group, "Joyful Heart," was formed from the parish's Life Teen program in the late 1990s. It is also a traveling music ministry.

Marilyn Gannon noted that "there is very little difference in the music [the groups] play, but we also do a lot of outside performances. throughout the Diocese and beyond.

"We had our beginnings as a youth music ministry, but young people grow up and move on to college or other ministries. Our current members are the ones who have been consistently present over the years."

Group meetings

In addition to the music ministries, two charismatic groups are active at St. Paul's. "Spirit of Love" is an ecumenical prayer and worship group that started in the 1970s.

"We began with a handful of people from different denominations who were interested in praise and worship," said Marguerite Marsh, one of the original members. "We have grown to nearly 40 members. We spend the first part of the meeting in praise and singing. Then we share how the Lord has been active in our lives. We read prayer petitions and pray for those in need. We're a very strong, active group."

The "Ablaze" group was organized about 15 years ago by the young adults of the parish who offer praise, song and sharing about the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

(A Life in the Spirit Seminar, an annual charismatic renewal retreat, will be held in St. Paul's Nov. 19-20. For information, call Marguerite Marsh at 355-6843.)

(11/18/04)