With arms raised and voices lifted in prayer, 500 faithful gathered over six evenings outside St. Michael the Archangel Church in Co-op City at a tent revival for English and Spanish-speaking Catholics with worship and song.
“Come, Holy Spirit, so that we have a new hope, so that we have more faith,” Father Shane Johnson led the crowd in prayer on Friday, September 19.
“The Lord wants to do new things in your life, you’re going to be able to find many moments in which the Lord arrives and asks of you something new,” Father Johnson, pastor of St. Margaret Mary Church in the Bronx, said during his talk. “And the Lord will bless you in ways that you did not expect.”
These occurrences in life’s journey, he said, come when one maintains dedicated faith in God, a strong trust in the Lord.
“The Lord not only knows what there is today, but what is coming. The Lord does not want us to remain the same. He is always inviting us for more,” the priest said, in alluding to the importance of evangelization in word and deed. “The Lord knows that you are made for more. Ask the Lord to send his Holy Spirit to you. … We raise our voice to you, Lord, saying, ‘Come Holy Spirit, come into our hearts; come with that fresh rain, Lord — so that among us we have love, we have peace. So that we have a new hope, so that we have more faith.'”
He continued, “Thank you, Holy Spirit. Thank you for your presence — for being here among us. Thank you, Lord, for your Word. … We trust in you, Holy Spirit; we trust in your power. We trust in your love that you will fill this place. There is no limit to your love. We humbly invite you into our hearts. … You are Holy, Lord. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Thank you, Jesus Christ, for being so faithful to your Word.”
The Friday gathering was the conclusion of a three-day Spanish-language Tent Revival at St. Michael the Archangel. It followed a three-day English-language Tent Revival that ended Tuesday, September 16. In all, attendance was estimated at 500 over the six evenings.
Among the speakers in the early part of the week was Ansel Augustine, assistant director of African American Affairs, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Community celebrates together
The third annual Tent Revival was organized by Father Kareem Smith, former pastor of St. Michael the Archangel, in conjunction with the Cultural Diversity Apostolate and Adult Faith Formation, Archdiocese of New York. Father Smith, who was a speaker early in the week, is now pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in New Rochelle. Spanish-language sessions were added this year. The event was funded in part by the archdiocesan Sharing God’s Gifts Pastoral Grants Program.
As is tradition at faith revival events, the gatherings featured lively praise and worship music provided by vocalists and musicians dedicated to using their talents to help the Church spread the Good News. The people, encouraged by the music and the inspiring talks, often sang along while standing with arms raised and eyes closed.
Wanda Rodriguez, a parishioner of St. Michael the Archangel, was among the attendees at the Friday evening gathering. She served as a volunteer that night and on previous nights.
“This brings us together as a community, instead of just seeing each other on Sundays (for Mass),” Rodriguez told The Good Newsroom shortly before the start of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. “We talk, we look out for each other with faith.”
Rodriguez also noted, “I was born and raised Catholic; my children were raised Catholic, and they continue their belief in God.” She has two grown sons and is a grandmother of four.