"Lifting my voice in thanks, recounting all your wondrous deeds.
LORD, I love the house where you dwell, the tenting-place of your glory." - Psalm 26:7-8

"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of His own, so that you may announce the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were "no people" but now you are God's people; you "had not received mercy" but now you have received mercy." - 1 Peter 2:9-10

"They conquered him [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony" - Revelation 12:11

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal would like to collect testimonies - stories of God's work in our lives - especially through Baptism in the Holy Spirit or stories about healing, and offer them here for His glory and to encourage people in faith.

God is busy, always at work to bring us to closer union with Him. God calls us to conversion, giving us new life and new hope in Jesus. He opens our hearts to serve the poor and the sick, and to come alongside the least, the lost, and the lonely.

He heals people in mind, body, and soul.

He restores families.

He provides when things seem desperate.

He delivers us from evil.

He sets people free.

He reaches out to the abandoned person. 

He teaches the art of living.

He finds the orphan.

He calls everyone into community.

He cares for the widow. 

He restores joy.  

He befriends the foreigner. 

He transforms a culture of death into a culture of life.

He is filling people with His Spirit.

He gives spiritual gifts that build people up and make known His goodness.

He loves us!  He is the reason for our hope!  He is the center of our faith!

God is building His Kingdom, which is a civilization of love.

God does this one person at a time.

He does this through His People, the Church.

He says, "Behold, I make all things new" - Revelation 21:5.

If you would like to share your story here, please email the Arlington Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services Committee at: leadership@arlingtonrenewal.org

You may submit testimonies as text or video. If you would like someone to help record your story on video, please email us about setting up a time to meet. Everyone has a story, and some are more dramatic than others, but all can teach us about His immense love, so we encourage you to contact us and tell your story. In keeping with the purpose of this website of serving people through the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, please keep stories focused on what God has done in your life, in particular through your relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus My Savior and Friend - A young woman's journey from being dedicated as a baby in Islam, to meeting Jesus who filled her with the Holy Spirit, called her to enjoy the fullness of faith found in the Catholic Church, and remains always with her.

"I decided (with my mom and grandma) the day before to attend the healing service. My grandma was healed at the service - her right arm is able to go all the way up in the air and wave, and stay up, which she was not able to do for over a year and doctors couldn't figure it out how to help her. after the service, other things that were bothering her in health - her chest, her legs...all pain has gone away and she is so strong! Praise God!" - July 9, 2011

From Hinduism to Catholicism - A couple's journey of discovering Christ and His Church with the help of dreams and a charismatic prayer group.  They saw the church in their dream before ever having seen the church in person, and knew that this is where God was calling them to find Him.  Click the link to read their story in the diocesan newspaper.

For two years, M. had hearing problems and needed a hearing aid in her left ear, and had pain all the way from her right hip to her feet.  The pain in her leg and hip had lasted for 15 years.  After praying with others for healing, she her hearing problems instantly vanished and she could hear 100% without the hearing aid.  At the same time, about half of the pain in her leg and hip disappeared, and she was able to walk without the walking stick!  Praise God!

G. had a tumor in her right knee and was often very weak especially as the day went on.  However, upon coming to a charismatic prayer meeting and praying for healing, she had more energy, felt stronger, and the tumor in her right knee was suddently reduced!

For six months, T. could only raise her left arm about half way up.  However, at a prayer meeting they prayed for healing and she was able to move her arm and did not have any pain!

B. had pain in her shoulder and legs, pain in her joints, and tightness in the spine.  She could not lift up her arms.  This condition lasted for more than 5 years.  At a charismatic prayer meeting when the prayed for healing, she was able to lift her arms without any pain!

D. came to a prayer meeting with eye problems, and after praying for healing, was able to see better and even be able to read writing!

D. had a lump in her thigh the size of a lemon for several months, with increasing pain over time.  After praying for forgiveness, she she suddenly noticed that her tumor had shrunk!

M. had arthritis in both knees for 20 years.  At a healing service, she was healed enough to be able to kneel without any pain!  Thank you Jesus!

A. was very dependent on her walker, and had not walked in 3 years without it or her cane.  At a healing service, they prayed for healing and a man asked if she wanted to walk down the aisle.  She said she did not know if she could, but he said, "Take my hand," and together they walked to the altar, something she was not able to do before the healing service!

R. had back pain, weak knees, and had to walk slowly for two months.  At a charismatic healing service, a lady prayed with her, and she felt warmth in her back.  She was able to walk faster, and even was able to run!

D. Had significant to profound hearing loss in both ears for about 40 years.  After praying at a healing service, he was able to hear much better!

L. had to walk bent over and had arthritis for 3 years.  At a healing service, he was suddenly able to walk without his cane and even ran for all there to see that he had been healed!

by Father Stefan Starzynski

Fr. Stefan celebrates monthly healing Masses at St. Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church in Fairfax, Virginia. God has worked numerous miracles through Fr. Stefan's healing ministry. Enriching the lives of the people of St. Mary's as an excellent homilist and a storyteller with a terrific sense of humor, Fr. Stefan has now compiled several of these stories to share with the rest of the world in the book Miracles: Healing for a Broken World.

As founder and spiritual director of the Paul Stefan Homes for Expectant Mothers, a foundation that assists homeless women in crisis pregnancies, Fr. Stefan's life reveals how God's healing extends to all areas of life. By giving a place of refuge for women who the world has given little reason to hope, Fr. Stefan's example teaches that in Christ, hope can conquer fear; and that God is so powerful He can bring tremendous good even out of a situation that begins surrounded by fear, loneliness, and confusion. He is a living example of what Pope Benedict XVI meant in his encyclical Spe Salvi, "The one who has hope lives differently; the one who hopes has been granted the gift of a new life." Today there are numerous children alive thanks to Fr. Stefan and this ministry this which is also a fulfillment of St. Faustina's prophetic call to trust in Christ's Divine Mercy.

The full story of the Paul Stefan Homes is included in his book. These Homes are operated through donations and fundraising, and all proceeds from this book will be donated to the Paul Stefan Foundation. The book is available on Amazon.com.

Read a review in the Arlington Catholic Herald.