This past 21st of January, we had the pleasure of accompanying the Escuela de Formación [School of Formation] in their first meeting of the 2023 school year. CRS Boston Director, Romanus Ajaero, along with former and current CRS Boston Council members, had the great privilege of living the day of a student at the Escuela. They were able to see the classes and go to opening Mass!

The Escuela de Formación was founded 13 years ago with the vision of instructing and forming servers within the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Archdiocese of Boston. The Escuela [The School] is currently located at St. Stephen’s Parish in Framingham, MA and the students meet every third Saturday for two semesters, 5 months each semester. The school currently has over 250 students! The Escuela is directed by Maria Grassi and Enrique Mendez.

Although the Escuela is in the Archdiocese of Boston, the Escuela not only serves to teach those within the Archdiocese of Boston. The Escuela has now reached students from the surrounding Diocese as well including the Diocese of Worcester, MA, Diocese of Springfield, MA, Diocese of Fall River, MA, Diocese of Providence, RI and the Archdiocese of Hartford, CT! Every one of the students in the Escuela come from a prayer group within the Hispanic Renewal.

The Escuela is composed of the Escuela de Crecimiento [School for Growth] and the Escuela para Servidores [School for Servers]. The Escuela de Crecimiento is composed of two levels, Crecimiento A and Crecimiento B. These courses are offered to brothers and sisters who have already lived their Life in the Spirit Seminar and serves as a tool for those who ask, ¿what next after living my Seminar?

The Escuela para Servidores is composed of 5 different levels which help instruct those called to serve within the Renewal. To enter the Escuela para Servidores, the student must have gone through the Escuela de Crecimiento, it is a pre-requisite. In the 5 levels, the students are taught about a variety of things; introduction to the Bible, introduction to the Renewal, evangelization in the modern world, the gifts and charisms of the Holy Spirit, apologetics, moral theology [Christian theology], fundamental elements of a prayer group, upon other things.

The CRS Boston Council members who stopped by at the Escuela were able to pray with the students, speak to the students, listen to the students and most of all, serve with the students. We are amazed at how the Holy Spirit works within the church and moves those in the Renewal to do His Will at all times. Many great things are coming for the Renewal in the Archdiocese of Boston and working together in the Spirit will increase our vision of spreading the gift of the Holy Spirit not only to our communities who have heard the voice of the Lord, but also to those who long for His presence and aspire to be witnesses of His love.

Together in prayer we stand and say, Come Holy Spirit.

 

The photos below show the Esquela in action on January 21, 2023 when members of the CRS Boston leadership visited the school.

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(Photos by Kevin Ventura Cruz)