Forty years is a significant period of time and while the renewal began 37 years ago in Trinidad and Tobago it has done so much to help enliven individuals and the Church that it has taken two volumes of the book The Fruitful Vine to record all the wonderful effects of this marvellous spirituality.

FLASHBACK:Household Communities gather with Archbishop Anthony Pantin and Bishop John Mendes to celebrate that Jesus is Lord

As Aunty Babsy Bleasdell said during an interview edited by Dr Ena V Thomas, “The thing about this renewal is that the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Trinidad was not introduced by anyone as a movement. It was begun again by God. It was planted here by God Himself.”

And so, for the benefit of our people and to mark this 40th anniversary of CCR internationally, we take the opportunity to highlight some of the local pioneers and mileposts as listed in The Fruitful Vine II.

November 1970 - Trudi Cortens of Madonna House Carriacou visits Nora Devaux in Woodbrook, Trinidad and tells her of a “NEW THING” happening on US campuses. Nora asks for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

March 1971 – Nora Devaux and Janet Melizan begin a prayer group after attending a Better World Retreat at St Theresa’s RC Church, Woodbrook.

September 1971 – Sr Vivian visits Rosary Monastery in St Ann’s Trinidad. Sr Assumpta (Rose Jackman) experiences the Release/Baptism of the Holy Spirit with Sr Ann, Sr Assumpta begins a Prayer Group in St Ann’s.
- Fr Claude Montes De Oca, CSSp returns from USA and shares experience of CCR with Nora Devaux. He encourages her to expand her prayer group. Fr Claude liaises with Archbishop Anthony Pantin on CCR.
– Babsy Ursula Bleasdell begins prayer group – “Precious Blood” in Arima. Seminarian Harcourt Blackett helps.

1971- Nora Devaux and Janet Melizan invite the fully charismatic Fr James Duffy of Madonna House Apostolate, Carriacou, to visit Trinidad.

January 1972 – Fr Claude meets Babsy Bleasdell and introduces her to Nora Devaux. The three prayer groups, Arima, Woodbrook and St Ann’s in liaison with each other courtesy Fr Claude.
 – Fr Duffy visits Nora Devaux Prayer Group in Woodbrook.

March 1972 - Courtesy Harcourt Blackett members of Prayer Groups from Arima, Woodbrook and St Anns attend seminar on “The Pentecostal Movement in Catholic Church” conducted by Dr Josephine Massyn-berde Ford at the St John Vianney Seminary, Mt St. Benedict.

April 1972 – Fr Duffy returns. He conducts the first public Release/Baptism of the Holy Spirit in Precious Blood Prayer Group, Arima. Babsy Bleasdell receives the release.

1973 - Fr Bernard Vlaar OSB and Fr Hildebrand Greene OSB attend Charismatic Prayer Group Meetings at Nora Devaux’s house, Woodbrook.
- Fr Claude shares copies of David Wilkerson’s The Cross and The Switchblade with prayer groups.
- Fr Robert De Grandis, a Jesuit Priest visits Trinidad. He advises a meeting of Charismatics at St Mary’s College to be bold enough to ask for gifts of the Holy Spirit.

August 1973 - First National Service Team (NST) elected by ballot at home of Nora Devaux. First Chairman is Fitzroy Rue Smith. First Secretary is Babsy Bleasdell. First Spiritual Moderator is Fr Claude Montes De Oca CSSp.

October 1973 - Abbot Bernard Vlaar and Fr Duffy represent Caribbean Charismatics in Rome at the First Meeting of International Leaders of CCR. His Holiness Pope Paul VI embraces the Renewal.

1975 - First Leaders meeting for the Caribbean takes place at Mt St Benedict.
- Abbot Vlaar and Babsy Bleasdell represent Trinidad and Tobago in Rome at the Second International Leaders Conference of CCR.

1978 -Visit and teaching by Mary Goddard “Understand the gifts, recognize who has them. Free them to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit.”
- Establishment of the First Caribbean Service Team (CST). First Chairman, Abbot Bernard Vlaar. First Secretary, Cuthbert Mejias.

1980 - Establishment of Caribbean Pastoral Institute (CPI).

1982 - First Retreat for CCR at Holy Ghost Seminary, Tumpuna Road, Arima. Frs Claude and Duffy and Fr Aldwyn Primus of the Anglican Church in attendance.

March 1982- Our Lady of Victories Church, Caroni offered to CCR by Archbishop Anthony Pantin.

1983 – Request by CCR for St Bernadette’s Convent School, Clifton Hill, Point Fortin.

1984- Retreat Centre for South established on the site of St Bernadette’s Convent School.
- Building of quadrangle adjacent to Our Lady of Victories Church, Caroni, to house Secretariat and Retreat Centre.

1986 - Birthing of CCR Bible Institute at Caroni. First Principal – Fr Ildefons Schoots.

1988 – Birthing of CCR School of Evangelisation. First Principal – Fr Michael Moses.

1989 – Centre for Leadership Formation established at Caroni.

1994 – Bible Institute moves to Eternal Light Community, Tunapuna to facilitate renovations at Caroni.
 – First Evangelisation Conference at St Charles, Tunapuna. Conference Director - Sr Deborah de Rosia, Principal of School of Evangelisation.
- Weekend Bible School in Tobago.

1995 - Renovated Bible Institute opens at Caroni. New Principal – Wendy Ann Jones.
- Fr Urban Hudlin becomes Spiritual Moderator CCR.

September 1996 – Silver Jubilee celebrations for CCR begin at La Romaine, San Fernando. Since then there have been many more mileposts.

Additionally, several new expressions of living, understanding of and participating in our faith have come as a result of CCR, all for the edification of our Church.

They include most importantly, Christian communities - Emmanuel, Violet D’Ornellas, Fr George Pritchett and others; Eternal Light, Deborah de Rosia and others; Living Water, Rhonda Maingot, Rose Jackman and others; Servants of Jesus Christ, Cuthbert and Daphne Mejias; Zion, Margaret Woods, Mary Baptiste and others; Word of Life, Babsy Bleasdell and others.

Other very significant results of CCR are: reading and studying the bible; tithing; prayer groups; praise and worship in the liturgy; understanding of the Eucharist; prophecy; catechesis; the sanctifying and charismatic gifts; the fruits of the Holy Spirit; intercession; counselling; music ministry; ecumenism; youth ministry; testimonies; evangelisation; Life in the Spirit seminars; National and Caribbean Conferences and Rallies.

For the faithful who want to become more involved in their parish, start by contacting your prayer group and come to the rally on June 3. Begin to experience life in the renewal. You will realise your potential and help build up your beautiful Catholic Church. See you there!