Dear Awakeners,
Like the story in the Acts of Apostles, where people from different places gathered at Jerusalem on Pentecost Day (Acts 2:5-11), last Sunday we had people from all over Brisbane gather at our annual Awaken Pentecost Retreat. We had more than 230 people participate. They came from Gatton, Caboolture, Sunshine Coast, Mt Cotton, Gold coast, Casino (NSW), and other places of Brisbane, interstate and New Zealand. People from all different backgrounds. It was truly Pentecost Day again. What a powerful way to end the Season of Easter with a powerful retreat. It was truly a Holy Spirit Crusade retreat. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was so powerful and ever-present. I witnessed people get healed from addictions, healed from blindness, cancer, depression, etc. It was a day of healing and miracles. A truly blessed day. We thank the Lord for His blessing and grace upon us.
You can view the photos on Facebook.
Here are some of the testimonies we received from last Sunday. “My experience today is wonderful. I’ve never seen anything like this. Is my first time to attend and to learn how the Holy Spirit work in me. When I was holding the stone and walking to the Altar my hands are shaking, also my body as well. I just control myself. It was amazing moment. Thank you, so much Steffanie for your good work. God bless us all in this place.” Huda
“My Osteoporosis knees ache and give me lots of pain. Stephanie prayed over them and commanded in the name of Jesus that the pain leave me and it did. Alleluia, in Jesus’ name. Thanks to Stephanie’s prayer and power of healing I can now go to work knowing that I don’t have to contend with that pain. Thanks to the wonderful, dedicated and caring volunteers.” Angela
“Feel so blessed. I never been in this kind of miraculous retreat. It gave me a heavenly experience. Seeing everyone gift filled with the Holy Spirit was an amazing experience.” Freeda
“Steffanie – I’ll never forget her. Such an inspiration, so full of faith and the ability to pass it on to others.” Jan
“I am delivered from my sickness” Beatrice.
“Today’s experience was powerful, uplifting and graceful. I found Healing and Mercy at the feet of the Almighty. This kind of event are what my Heart yearns for. Peace, joy and comfort are overwhelming in this atmosphere.” Anon.
“Beautiful: one of the loveliest spiritual experiences ever.” Michael.
“I was feeling quite cured of my hernia. The pain had gone. I am confident God was present in my cure and I claim it. Hope you have many more Retreats.” Anon.
“I have screws in my right ankle following a tendon transplant (and I have many other leg and foot problems). Today I have felt some strong widening in my R. ankle which has never been straight since the screws. Praise the Lord.” Sandra
“Very powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. Very powerful praise and worship. Loved what God is doing in the Church, releasing His Spirit and power in the Church. Powerful, animated, enthusiastic teaching.” Angela
“An awesome experience. Need more of these days. Steffanie is truly a vessel of the Lord” Catherine.
“A Great and I do not want to go back (home). I want to be here with God all the time. I decided I will do everything my God says to me from now on. It is His will, not mine will be done.” Joseph
“Unique and comforting and peace and relaxing. Wish I had this experience earlier; much earlier.” Anon.
“Congratulations a highly successful day. Truly if the Catholic Faith could follow this example, the Church would be heading in the right direction in a truly Jesus way.” Anon.
“I am healed of my anxiety and depression” Vivian
“Awaken is amazing and nothing more can be great in life to be in with God. Praise be to God. Amen.” James
“Diarrhoea problem ended during the course of the day” Anon.
Also, recently I had a discussion with Fr Bollar, and he has expressed to me that he would like to take on more work and share the workload of the parish with me, as a part of his training of Parish ministry. Therefore, we have decided that Fr Bollar will do the bulk of the masses at St Mary’s (with the help of the other friars), and I will do the masses at St Francis’ Church. We will both share the masses at other churches. I would like to thank Fr Bollar for his generous consideration.
Fr Lam Vu OFM CAP