What is Unity in the Spirit Prayer Community?
Unity in the Spirit Prayer Community is a group of people from varying backgrounds who meet regularly in an atmosphere of love and support for one another in an effort to grow in the knowledge and love of God, and to show this love in their attitude to their neighbor. Members seek to use gifts, also called charisms, given to them by the Holy Spirit at Baptism, to build up the community. Each prayer meeting is open to anyone who wants to come. Those who attend prayer meetings are predominantly Catholic Christians, but groups are open to anyone. People come to be refreshed and renewed in their relationship with Jesus.
UNITY is a part of the world-wide Catholic Charismatic Renewal, called CHARIS now given a home in the Dicastery for Laity and Family Life. See the Vatican press release below:
A new, single, international service for Catholic Charismatic Renewal
The Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, wishes to announce that on December 8th, 2018 the Holy See will erect a body providing a new, single, international service for the needs of Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Church. At the same date, the statutes of this body will be approved, ad experimentum. This body, requested on several occasions by the Holy Father Pope Francis, will be called CHARIS, and will operate in favour of all expressions of the current of grace that is Catholic Charismatic Renewal.
As a body in the service of all the realities of Catholic Charismatic Renewal, CHARIS will not exercise any authority over these realities. Each single charismatic reality will remain as it is, fully respected its own identity, and under the jurisdiction of the ecclesiastical authority upon which it currently depends. However, to help fulfil its own mission, each of these realities will be able to benefit freely from the many services CHARIS will provide. Indeed, providing these services is CHARIS’ fundamental objective.
The UNITY Community has been a place where many people have found a new dimension to their spiritual lives, and have discovered the love of God in a more profound way.
St. Paul wrote in 1 Cor 14:26: "When you assemble, one has a hymn, another some instruction to give, still another a revelation to share, one speaks in a tongue, another interprets. Let all things be done to build up the community."
Unity in the Spirit Prayer Community meets at 7:00 p.m. on the first Wednesday of most months in the downstairs conference room at the St. Andre Bessette Pastoral Center on the Sacred Heart Campus, 277 Union Avenue, Laconia, NH. We also Zoom these gatherings in winter weather for the convenience of all. Request a link at [email protected]!
There will be NO Unity in the Spirit Prayer Community Gatherings in July, 2024 (Vacation time),
The meeting takes place in a relaxed atmosphere where joy and the love of God is emphasized, and where everyone is welcomed. God is praised with enthusiasm. Praise of God is characteristic of Catholic Charismatic Renewal, in line with the Catholic tradition in which praise permeates the liturgy, song, and prayer. The praise time beginnings the meeting and is interspersed with quiet time to listen to God, Prophecy, Teaching, Words of Knowledge for Healing, and sometimes even dancing in the Spirit as King David did before the ark.
The Unity in the Spirit Prayer Community at St. Andre Bessette Parish encourages people to incorporate praise of God into their whole lives, as in praising God we go out of ourselves and gaze at the goodness of God. Often people’s problems disappear when they begin to praise God, who gives them a new perspective on things. Praise focuses on the utter goodness of God, and celebrates his goodness in our lives. “Rejoice in the Lord always,” says St. Paul (Phil 4:4). We believe our joy should be expressed often in praise.
Some parts of the prayer meeting are quiet. Silence forms an important part of the worship periods, and people are encouraged to listen to what the Lord is saying to them. Some will sense that God has a message of encouragement, exhortation, or consolation for the group, and will feel moved to speak this out. This is known as the gift of prophecy. Others receive a prompting regarding a healing the Lord wants to effect in someone's life. This is known as word of knowledge for healing.
The Word of God in Scripture is often read and listened to, and regular teaching on Scripture and aspects of the Christian life instructs and helps people to grow in their spiritual life. Each prayer meeting has a teaching aspect. In addition to these times, there are times of prayer ministry, and times of intercession. People are encouraged to share what God has done in their lives (witness) as a most important way of building the faith of others. The book of Revelations proclaims, "They overcame by the blood of the lamb and by their testimony . . ." Rev. 12:11. There is much variety in prayer meetings.
At Sacred Heart Church (St. Andre Bessette Parish) a Come Alive for His Glory Healing Service is celebrated on the third Wednesday of most months (click here for schedule)
The Blessed Sacrament is exposed, Words of Knowledge for healing are given and trained healing prayer teams are available to pray for personal intentions. Fr. Marc Drouin processes the Holy Eucharist around the church and blesses all who are there. Participants can stay for adoration. Many healings have been reported.
