She said, “We need to adjust, we need to unite with one heart and one soul. The Catholic Charismatic Renewal must remain faithful to the Catholic Church and its traditions, without being tempted to adopt characteristics of other Christian movements, such as Pentecostalism.”
The March 2-7 Congress was realized under the theme, “Like Unleavened Bread, Let Us Purify Ourselves from the Old Yeast.”
Reflecting on the theme of the congress that was held in Angola’s Catholic Diocese of Namibe, Ms. Canene said, “Unleavened bread highlights the need to eliminate the old yeast, meaning negative practices and attitudes that can contaminate the spiritual life of members. The goal was for participants to purify and renew themselves, becoming 'new dough,' more aligned with Christian holiness and purity.”
She went on to outline some challenges for members of the movement in the Southern African nation raised during the congress.
“The lack of unity within the group can weaken the movement and hinder the action of the Holy Spirit, who dwells only where there is unity. Overcoming internal divisions was a central concern, as cohesion is essential for the movement’s growth and effectiveness,” Ms. Canene said.
She added, “Many times, as Christians, if we do not have the capacity to understand our doctrine, we end up spending years in other churches—these sister churches—and bring what we have learned there into the Renewal. This is a major concern because we are the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, not the Pentecostal-Charismatic Renewal.”
“Many members of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal do not have a solid understanding of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which can lead them to be attracted to erroneous ideas or even sects. To avoid this risk, it is essential that all members deeply know and live the Church’s doctrine,” Ms. Canene said.
She continued, “The lack of obedience to Church leadership and doctrine was another issue raised. This problem can affect the harmony and spiritual growth of members, creating an environment where the movement’s directions and teachings are not adequately followed.”
Against this backdrop, Ms. Canene said, “As charismatics, we must seek constant purification in our spiritual lives, avoiding negative practices and excesses that could harm the movement. We need to renew ourselves, abandoning what does not align with the true Catholic faith, so that we may become new creatures in Christ.”
She underscored the need to foster fraternity, saying, “As members of the Charismatic Renewal, we need to live in unity. Division and disharmony can weaken the movement.”
