Dear Parish Family,
Our parishioners are raving about the Pentecost Healing Service that happened last Sunday evening, which lasted FIVE hours long, from 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.! There was not enough space in the pews for everyone to have a seat, as Fr. Mathias Thelen led the congregation in prayer for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to bring healing of bodies and souls. Here is what a few of our parishioners shared with me the following morning:
- Tim Powers sent me an email: “What was witnessed last night at our Church will be with all who were there for the rest of their earthly lives. All Glory and Praise to HIM for what is happening at our Parish.”
- Judy Christian wrote, “That was a night I will never forget. I could have stayed there forever. The Spirit of God was moving so strong, and I just wanted to drink it all up and never stop. Then my Lord had to be put back in the tabernacle, and it was like the lights went out.”
- Kristen Hawks wrote, “Last night was the most I have ever felt the Holy Spirit within me!! Indescribable! I belong to the most amazing parish!”
With many in the packed church never experiencing anything like this healing service before, not a few folks were naturally skeptical coming into it. As Diane Manor said, however, it was hard to imagine people leaving that evening and not be moved, but this was the literally the case for a Lumen student playing college football next year. As he went up to be prayed over, he was so overcome by the Holy Spirit’s power that he fell to the floor and could not move for a long time. Even as we were closing adoration with benediction, the young man was still laying there bewildered, but at the same time peacefully resting in this new experience of the Holy Spirit until Fr. Mathias finally had to pray for and help him to finally rise up.
Laura Kuschel assisted Fr. Mathias in gathering over 30 testimonies of those healed! Among them, a woman with carpal tunnel couldn’t use or move her wrists, and while being prayed over they became warm and tingly and instantly she could move them 100%. A man, who was suffering from arthritis, was in constant pain and always limping said he was healed on the spot and that he could jump and walk now. There were two separate cases of scoliosis. One person said, “My back bones are moving and aligning up,” and the other said, “My back is bending straight.” A woman who suffered from anxiety attacks felt heat all over her body, and all anxiety left instantly. A lady who had a knee replacement 10 years ago has suffered with a stiff knee ever since and has a bone-to-bone contact with no cartilage. She was prayed over and was elated to say that tonight was the first time she was able to kneel in ten years!
Laura commented, “Perhaps the most amazing gifts from God that evening were seeing firsthand how people were encountering the living God who is all good, loving, and a merciful Healer.” THANK YOU to Fr. Mathias, Fr. Mark Rutherford, Fr. Dan Westermann, Cindy Smith, our incredible music team led by Kathy Kryst that played all night, and the many volunteers and staff that made the evening possible!
Memorial Day Mass – 9:00 a.m., May 30
I hope to see many of you at our beautiful St. John Cemetery as we honor those who have passed in the service of our country.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Chas