Celebrating the Holy Spirit through a Charismatic Prayer Group

Story and Photos by Karen A. Avitabile

Set to live background music, the Charismatic Prayer Group opens its Wednesday meetings with a binding prayer read by two members. It is followed by worship music, In My Father’s House, Spirit of the Living God and The Light of Christ, taken from a songbook, Songs of Praise Combined Edition. 

“We are praising the Lord and asking the Holy Spirit to come down upon us,” says Dolores Libow, facilitator of the group which meets weekly in the church hall of St. John Vianney Church in West Haven, part of St. John XXIII Parish. 

The members are seated together around a table with a statue of the Blessed Mother at its center and a candle shining light upon her. They meet for silent meditation, praise, worship, Scripture reading, sharing and fellowship.

One member then requests the song Battle Hymn of the Republic. “Praise you Lord,” they say with outstretched arms at its conclusion. Then, the worshippers read their favorite passage from The New American Bible, followed by contemplations and more music.

To close the meeting, Libow asks for expressions of gratitude, prayers for others or petitions on the heart. At a recent meeting, requests included suppressing conflict around the world, asking for good health of a family member and more priestly vocations. A collective, “We thank you and praise your Father” was said after each one.

The group stands together for the final prayers, “Our Father,” “Hail Mary” and “Glory Be to the Father” followed by fellowship.

This meeting format goes back to 1972 when the Charismatic Prayer Group formed at Our Lady of Victory Church in West Haven, which has since merged into St. John XXIII Parish. 

The prayer group traces its roots to an Ecclesial movement emphasizing the many gifts of the Holy Spirit in one’s life and the need for a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. First called the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, its founding transpired in 1967 at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pa., when a group of students on retreat began praying. 

Libow became interested in the Charismatic movement when she lived in Ireland. She joined the West Haven group after moving to town in 1985. She calls the focus of the organization “down-to-earth Christianity. It helps the Bible come alive.”

Lena Carbone of West Haven, a member of the Charismatic Prayer Group since 1978, says she “feels the love of God” during the meetings. “It’s the Lord,” she says. “It is where you feel comfortable.”

Two-year member Lisa Pitoniak says she “treasures” the comradery. “It’s a time of my day to be peaceful and reflect on my blessings,” says the West Haven resident, who also studies the Bible as a student in the New England Catholic Biblical School. 

Neil Zvonkovic of West Haven, who joined in 1977, has provided music for the meetings through tambourines, shakers, bongos and percussion woodblocks. He also designed the  group’s “Lord of Peace” logo consisting of a dove to symbolize the Holy Spirit.   

Gail Belanger of New Haven attended her first meeting in 1980. “It’s my passion for Christ which started in grade school and I wanted a deep connection with him,” she says.

The Charismatic Prayer Group of St. John XXIII Parish meets each Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in St. John Vianney church hall, 300 Captain Thomas Blvd., West Haven. The meetings are open to anyone who is interested. The group does not meet during July and August. For more information, email Dolores Libow at doloreslibow@gmail.com.