A
History of WWCCR
Blueprints For Planning a
Charismatic Healing Mass
by Bobbie Brown and Virginia King
Many of you have come to one of the Healing Masses that WWCCR
has sponsored over the years. We thank God for the people who come to these
Masses. We know that each person who comes receives some kind of blessing. Many
who have come have received dramatic healings from Our Lord Jesus as a result of
their participation in the Mass.
These include physical, emotional, spiritual, psychological and relational
healings.
Of course healing is available at every celebration of the
Eucharist, especially when we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus in the
sacrament—“Say but the word and I shall be healed.” In fact, a primary
purpose of our Healing Masses is to help people realize this very fact and to
begin to exercise expectant faith for healing every time they go to
Mass.
When you arrive at a Healing Mass, you might not think about
all the background work that has been done to prepare for this special
Mass.
I’d like to show you the “blueprints” for these Masses, the plans that need to
be ”drawn up” before the actual event takes place.
Doing the planning and preparations for these Masses requires
a staff person working ten or more hours each week, all year long. Our goal is
to have at least one Healing Mass every month. Many months we have more than
one, especially when we have invited a priest from outside the Archdiocese to
travel here for Masses.
The process of planning a Healing Mass begins with
brainstorming names of priests who might be available to preside. Some of the
priests we invite are active in our own Archdiocese. Some have been recommended
to us and we have researched their background and have determined that we would
like to invite them. Some are priests from different parts of the country that
we have met at national meetings or have become familiar with through their
speaking or writing.
Several months or even up to two years before inviting
priests from outside the diocese to preside at Charismatic Healing Masses here
in Western Washington, a letter is sent to the office of
the Vicar for the Clergy for the Archdiocese of Seattle. This office in turn
contacts the Bishop or Religious Superior of the priest, to ask for a
testimonial letter which affirms that they are able to do ministry for us. Then
we receive approval from our Archdiocese to invite a particular priest.
Now we are able to send a query letter and make a phone call
to invite him to preside at healing masses and perhaps a day of retreat—if we
are inviting a local priest this will be our first step. The priest will check
his calendar and let us know the date or dates he would be available to come.
Following the confirmation of the dates is many months of communication. We pray
that the Lord will keep this communication focused as we proceed. We ask each
priest to send us their biography, to decide on a theme and readings for the
Mass, to let us know about any books or tapes he will be selling, and to
communicate how he prefers to do healing prayer ministry. We also take care of
the details of his transportation and housing for his visit.
Next we look for locations in areas North, West, South and
East (we want no one left out). Who would be willing to host a Charismatic
Healing Mass and have that particular date available on their church calendar?
Oftentimes, people will come to us, requesting that a Mass be planned at their
parish. It usually takes 6-12 months between the time a request is made and the
actual Mass happens. Once a date is set, a letter is sent to the hosting parish
to confirm the Healing Mass and to invite the Pastor to concelebrate.
It is absolutely essential that we have a cheerful, willing
parishioner to be our Contact Person in the parish where the Mass is scheduled.
That person volunteers to coordinate the liturgical ministers, prayer teams,
ushers, helpers, bookstore assistant, and hospitality—all of these ministries
and more. We provide a “job description” and guidelines for the various
ministries and the Contact Person works closely with us through months of
communication by way of phone, email, faxes, letters.
Music Ministry is very important to the Healing Mass with
songs of praise, songs for the liturgy and for prayer ministry following the
Mass. We invite people to lead the music who have
experience in a Charismatic Renewal setting. We provide guidelines for their
involvement in the Mass and ask them to complete a Liturgy Planning Form. The
leader of the Music Ministry selects the music and works with our office to
assure that the people will be able to participate as fully as possible.
At most of the Healing Masses, we invite trained individuals
to participate on a prayer team in the prayers for healing after
Mass.
We provide guidelines to these prayer teams for the particular kind of ministry
that is appropriate at the Healing Mass. Those who participate on prayer teams
are very generous in responding to this need.
A person who can do translation is one who gives a special
ministry to their brothers and sisters. Sometimes we ask someone to minister in
this way if we believe there will be people attending who do not understand
English. We are always able to borrow translating equipment through the
Archdiocesan Media Library for these occasions.
Publicity for the Masses is by way of our newsletter,
“GLEANINGS”, and through posters and bulletin notices which are sent to all the
parishes in the Deanery in which the Healing Mass will be taking place. We
invite all who are in need of physical, emotional, relational and spiritual
healing to bring their needs to the Lord. A notice is requested in the Catholic
Northwest Progress and in some secular newspapers. Sometimes we also mail
postcards or do other local advertising.
As the day of the Mass approaches, a detailed schedule is
drawn up, including traveling time to distant parishes. A map is produced to aid
us in finding the church. Notes for the announcements are prepared.
Complimentary copies of GLEANINGS and other information regarding prayer teams,
prayer groups and upcoming events are packed up, as well as books to be offered
for sale.
When we arrive on the scene for a Healing Mass other details
must receive attention, including gathering the prayer teams before Mass to pray
together, assigning stations for prayer ministry and setting up the bookstore.
So you see, by the time you arrive at a Healing Mass, a lot of people have been
working hard for a long time to be ready to welcome you and pray with and for
you.
Of course, we are simply providing the environment in which
the Lord does the real work. It is not the priest or the prayer team who heals
anyone. It is the Lord—“I, the Lord, am your healer.” (Ex
15:26)
