Published in digital edition of the bulletin published by the Valladolid's Archidiocese - March 23th. 2012

A charismatic and international retreat in Valladolid

People from all the Autonomous Regions and from nearly all provinces of Spain, including the Canary Islands; from Portugal, Italy, England, Ireland, Croatia and Poland; and from various Latin American countries, have come to Valladolid and packed La Sala Borja Theatre, during last weekend, from Friday the 16th till Sunday the 18th of March, to attend a Retreat of Evangelization with Father James Manjackal (www.jamanjackla.net), charismatic and Missionary preacher, from the Order St. Francis of Sales.

It has been a wonderful time, at the feet of Our Lady of Fatima and the Merciful Sacred Heart of Jesus, whose holy images presided the event, which lasted three days (16th, 17th and 18th of March). Now, those who attended the retreat do not cease to give thanks, some of them to praise God; others to give thanks for the blessings from previous Retreats; Many, seeking physical or spiritual healing for themselves or for their offspring; A few sought to be freed from the Evil one. They all knew well the words of Jesus in the Gospels: " Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." (John 14:12). "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." (Mark 16:17-19).

I was particularly struck by the presence of Juan Fernández's parents, an 8 year old boy whom they brought from Ecuador to the Clínica Universitaria de Navarra (Navarra's University Clinic) and who died on the 15th of March. After learning about this Retreat of Evangelization, they set about traveling to Valladolid to seek the Lord's consolation, not knowing - what a serendipity!, providence says I - that the Doctor who treated their son, turned out to be coming to the Retreat too and the person who was actually giving them a lift.

Another very significant case: that of a young man who resolved to give up drugs after her mum prayed for him here. She had been praying for him for many years, as St. Monica; but this time, the second day of the Retreat, her son phoned her from his car to let her know that he was on his way. The following day, he went to Confession. Now, her mother, a medical doctor by profession, says on and on: "my son has converted". It is also striking the case of a woman who, no having been able to attend the Retreat, joined it spiritually and experienced her liberation.

Published in Ekai - The Polish Catholic News Agency (Katolicka Agencja Informacyjna)

The Polish people have a special task

Czarnków, 2012-03-11"The Polish people have a special task. To remain true Catholics and draw all European countries back to Jesus". Thus was the call from charismatic Indian priest Fr. James Manjackal to the people of Poland. Over a thousand people from all over Poland attended a four day long Evangelization Retreat lead by Fr. James Manjackal in Czarnków.

During the retreat, which took place from the 8th to the 10th of March in a sports hall of a Junior High School in Czarnków, Fr. James shared his testimony of physical and spiritual healing, which he experienced when he was a young priest. Since then, he said, he has offered up his life preaching the Word of God.

"You, Polish people, have a special task. To remain true Catholics and to draw all European countries back to Jesus", stated Fr. James Manjackal in an interview broadcast by KAI (Polish Catholic News Agency). He said that this is the reason why he comes so often to Poland to preach. "I come here to bring you to the path of righteousness and salvation", he said.

He also asked the Polish people to be awake, and abandon anything that doesn't come from God. He explained that the reason why the great Power of Jesus Christ cannot be experienced either in Poland or anywhere else in Europe, is because we compromise too much with evil. The devil, mentioned Fr. James Manjackal, brings darkness to our souls and makes us blind, whereas The Holy Spirit brings real wisdom and knowledge of truth.

Fr. James Manjackal explained metaphorically that in the river, one can go either with the flow or against it. "Look in the river: the living fish swim against the tide, and the dead fish go with the flow. Do you want to be living Christians or dead Christians?" asked Fr. Manjackal, stressing that a living Christian must go against the current of modern times; that is, to keep the values and rules which characterize Christian life; everything taught by the Church and in the Bible.

"Read the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church; pray the Rosary and the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy; celebrate the Way of the Cross and receive the Sacraments. Only then will you see the great power of Our Lord", said Fr. Manjackal. He reminded us that God's will for our lives is our holiness.

The retreat in Czarnków was organized by the Parish of St. Mary Magdalene. However, the idea of inviting Fr. James came from Fr. Rafal Pleszewa, who is the Chaplain of Youth. "I had attended two retreats of Fr. James already. Through his ministry flows the incredible grace of God. That is the reason I wanted to share this experience with my parishioners" - said Fr. Pleszewa. He added that priests from neighboring parishes found the idea of organizing the retreat very interesting. They regarded the event as an impulse to conversion for those who attended it.

Fr. Pleszewa explained that the preparation of the retreat started last year, in October. Over two hundred people prayed and fasted. Some priests from Czarnków and neighboring localities celebrated Gregorian Masses for this intention.

"The organization of the retreat took great effort and a lot of prayer. Many people were engaged in this event: priests, lay people from prayer groups, volunteers" - said Fr. Pleszewa. He explained that the organization of this retreat was only possible once permission from the Church's authorities had been granted, and with the courtesy of the public authority.

Therefore, over a thousand people from Czarnków and surrounding areas could attend the retreat. There were people from the Archdiocese of Poznan, and from many other parts of Poland: from Ostroleka, Bialystok, Lódz and even from Rzeszów and the Province of Podkarpackie.