Pentecost Retreat a Success!

Pentecost retret a success

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

 

Novena To the Holy Spirit for the Seven Gifts

Novena to the Holy Spirit for the Seven Gifts

The Pentecost retreat is only two weeks away. Just as the apostles and prophets purified themselves before the Lord, so too must we must prepare ourselves to receive the graces of the Holy Spirit.

The Novena of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirits is a powerful Novena. We encourage you to pray this with us as a family every day until Pentecost, so that together, we may pray for each other and open our hearts to God while inviting His powerful presence in our lives.

Should you have any questions about how the Novena works, please don’t hesitate to ask any of us at Awaken.

DOWNLOAD NOVENA

Haven’t booked for the retreat yet?

Please do so soon as registrations will close for catering. If you speak to anyone who attended last year’s retreat, you know this is definitely not one to be missed. Register now: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/holy-spirit-crusade-tickets-61289126427

Miraculous Retreat With St Bakhita Sudanese Community

Bakhita Retreat with Awaken

Last Sunday, our Awaken community ran a one day retreat for the St Bakhita Sudanese Community at the request of Fr Stephen Kumyangi, Chaplain. The two communities (Sudanese and Awaken) came together to worship and praise our Lord, in what was a powerful and successful retreat. Approximately 130 people attended the retreat.

We all felt the presence of the Holy Spirit and His love for us, as one person ex- pressed, “I was absolutely touched by the love of God which has utterly changed the way I see myself and others.” We were all touched and renewed by the retreat in a powerful way. So many people received graces and heal- ings. We are so blessed to have Awaken in our Parish. Here are some of the testimonies from our participants:

“I felt the Lord telling me to leave my worries behind and he will take care of everything. I felt the spirit in me. I feel like singing & praising Him today forever.”

“The Lord touched me through Steffanie’s words. I’m so blessed and grateful for this community Awaken. It’s a blessing to everyone.”

“I’m a changed man today: I came back to God.” “I feel better and refreshed.”

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“For the first time I broke down and cried, surrendering all my problems to God and I felt his love and presence. Thank and praise the Lord.”

“Steffanie is very gifted. I have never seen anyone like her. God is in her.” “I didn’t think that today my mind and thoughts can be changed.”

“I thank God for today. I felt God’s presence and grace in this retreat. The whole time during this retreat one voice kept repeating in my mind: “let it go” and forgive all those who hurt you. Thank you God for this day.”

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“I feel fresh and restored in today’s retreat. I’ve stressed, sometimes I feel like a ‘nobody’. I have had one of the toughest weeks of my life. My job was-still on the line because of some misunderstanding. I feel no stress anymore because I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, he has poured himself on me and I am so thankful to continue my journey with God and Jesus.”

“I feel that all of my problems are washed away. God is awesome!!”

“God healed my constant stomach pain; for many years I have a burning fire in my stomach.”

Our Awaken community gathers every Tuesday at St Francis Hall, West End, at 7pm.

Visit our Facebook page  to see more photos.

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