‘Our hearts have been touched by love’

By Dianelys Rodriguez -

MIAMI | For Héctor and Martha Pérez, who have been married for 55 years and are members of St. Monica Parish in Miami Gardens, this year’s Charismatic Conference was deeply meaningful.

“The messages of transformation have been beautiful, as well as the testimonies, the revival, the music… Our hearts have been touched by love,” shared Héctor Pérez, adding, “This year we have had a very emotional celebration.”

Highlighting the warmth of the event and its organization, his wife, Martha Pérez said, “We have felt very welcome and supported. St. Thomas University took excellent care of all the logistics. They contributed to making this 2025 conference a great experience for us.”

It was also a powerful experience for the more than 500 participants from 44 parishes in Miami-Dade and Broward counties who gathered at St. Thomas University’s Fernandez Family Center in Miami Gardens on June 7 and 8, 2025, for a weekend of faith, formation, and deep spiritual renewal during the 40th Hispanic Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conference of Miami (RCCH).

This year’s theme was “Caminemos juntos con el Espíritu Santo ¡Y renovemos nuestra Esperanza!” (Let us walk together with the Holy Spirit and renew our hope!). The event began on Saturday with moments of prayer, music, and preaching.

“Pentecost is not about praise and fleeting emotions, but about lives transformed and given unconditionally to service,” said Archbishop Thomas Wenski in his homily at the closing Mass of the event, which coincided with Pentecost Sunday, June 8.

“In a world that wants to do without God, it is up to us to live differently,” the Archbishop emphasized. He added, “Amidst so much confusion, the Holy Spirit dwells in every Christian who responds ‘yes’ to God’s will.” He invited those present to allow themselves to be transformed by the Holy Spirit.

One of the main speakers at the conference was Father Alejandro Marca, director of the RCCH in Chicago, who centered his message on God’s ability to transform lives.

Using concrete biblical examples, Father Marca explained how Zacchaeus, “a greedy tax collector, was converted into a generous and just man,” and how Mary Magdalene, “went from sadness and mourning to being the first messenger of the Resurrection.”

“God renews life even after the deepest losses,” said Father Marca. In his talk, he also reflected about the concept of active hope.

“God wants us to act in favor of justice and peace in our surroundings, to be builders of unity and forgiveness in a fragmented world. Christian hope is not naive; it recognizes evil, but it trusts fully that God always has the last word,” he said.

Several priests from the Archdiocese and beyond also participated by giving talks during the two-day conference.

On Saturday evening, the Vigil of Pentecost was marked by spiritual intensity. The evening, which began at 7 p.m., included adoration, testimonies, healing prayer, and anointing. Many attendees shared how the Holy Spirit was prompting them to let go of fear and walk in faith, and how the gathering inspired them to carry out the message of evangelization through acts of charity.

“I work in hospitals, and sometimes I am afraid to serve, but here I feel strengthened in my vocation,” said Martha Flores, from St. Agatha Parish in Miami, speaking with emotion.

“In our Charismatic Renewal group, we pray for the sick, visit them, and help those most in need. On a personal level, I leave feeling fulfilled—ready to evangelize and serve anyone who needs my help,” she added.

Evy Peralta, executive director of the RCCH in Miami, said, “In this Jubilee Year, as pilgrims of hope, missionaries, and evangelizers, we must always be ready to bring the Word and our testimonies of life to create true disciples.”

Peralta expressed gratitude to God for the annual conference—”for being part of this blessed stream of grace, and for being called to bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit, living a transforming life that glorifies God.”

As in previous years, the conference was not only a spiritual event but also a school of committed Christian living. Each participant was encouraged to return to their parish, family, and community with renewed fire, ready to serve, love, and proclaim Christ through concrete actions.

The Charismatic Renewal continues to grow as a space where many rediscover the joy of believing, praying in community, and allowing themselves to be led by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

 

A LIVING STREAM OF GRACE

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is a movement within the Church that seeks to live the faith intensely through the action of the Holy Spirit and his gifts. Emerging in the 1960s as a “current of grace,” the Renewal has led millions of faithful around the world to rediscover the living presence of God in their daily lives—especially through prayer, praise, reading the Word, and service to others. Today, it is present in 238 countries.

In Miami, the RCCH is active in dozens of parishes, offering prayer groups, discipleship courses, retreats, and doctrinal formation. It has become a source of lay leaders committed to the Gospel.

 

FIND OUT MORE

• For more information about the events and activities of the Hispanic Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Miami, visit its website: www.renovacioncarismaticamiami.com.