Colm Fitzpatrick
Cathy. 
Youth Space
‘Cathy’ describes the transformative powers of a Dublin Catholic Youth Group
The ‘Transformer: Life in the Spirit’ seminar was an absolutely incredible experience. From the moment I walked through the door there was a most beautiful sense of welcome, joy and peace. As I entered the large spacious room jam-packed with young joyful Catholics, the vibrant and exciting atmosphere told me something special was taking place here.
The seminar was run by Living Water, a Catholic charismatic youth group based in Dublin city. When the group announced that this seminar series was going to take place I was so excited, as I had heard so much about the success of ‘Life in the Spirit’ programmes internationally.
I had been practising my Faith up to that point for about three years. Growing up in a traditional Catholic family, I left my Faith in my teenage years seeking fulfilment elsewhere. I was drawn back by an encounter I had with the Lord where I experienced the Holy Spirit and the real and living presence which he has in my life.
Relative
This occurred when a relative of mine, who was very close to the Lord, asked if I would like him to pray with me. I said yes, but wasn’t taking it all that seriously. However, as he prayed with me, I felt within me a most powerful, and yet peaceful, sense of what I now know to be the Holy Spirit. It was so intense and beautiful that I couldn’t ignore it.
This propelled me to go further into my faith and relationship with God through His Church. After a while though, things became challenging – those around me who hadn’t had such an experience couldn’t understand the change in me and I couldn’t understand how everyone didn’t ‘get it’. Studying in university, I encountered many reactions to my beliefs and many questions. This left me feeling quite isolated and in a sense, fearful, of what others thought of me.
It was around this time when the ‘Transformer: Life in the Spirit’ series began. As part of the course, we received free Scripture books containing a passage for each day to reflect on and pray with. I found that Scripture was truly coming alive and speaking directly to my heart in a powerful way.
There was also a weekly talk given at ‘Transformer’ by experienced invited speakers. These talks were sequenced to look at aspects of the Good News, such as ‘The Love of the Father’ in a fresh and relatable way. These talks impacted me greatly and I drew such inspiration from them.
Outpouring
I was most looking forward to the ‘Outpouring of the Holy Spirit’ evening on week six. I was, I must admit, expecting the Holy Spirit to make some sort of ‘wow’ appearance for me as he had done before. However, it was in the following days and weeks when things began to unfold. I began identifying new areas of healing and growth in my life.
For example, shortly after ‘Transformer’ I began to experience a desire to do some form of mission work. This desire would have frightened me before but now I was unafraid and bursting to start working for the Lord.
This revealed another gift God gave me through ‘Transformer’ – his courage. This enabled me to let go of so much unnecessary fear and to take a leap of faith in doing mission work. I said yes and haven’t looked back since.
This is only one of many gifts the Lord gave me at this time. There are still graces I am only recognising now which were given through the Life in the Spirit programme. It has truly transformed my life in a most beautiful and profound way.
As Christians, we have the greatest gift in the world of knowing Christ. But it doesn’t stop there – he wants us to be filled to the brim with him and his JOY! He wants to give us the “Peace the world cannot give” (John 14:27). He wants to use us to lead others to him and to set this world ablaze. We have been given the gift of his Holy Spirit through Baptism.
The ‘Transformer: Life in the Spirit’ series is essentially a way we can say ‘yes’ and receive anew the power of Holy Spirit that will work in and through us in a powerful and mighty way as never before. He wants to set us free and use us to set others free.
This is our time to show the world who our God is and how powerful and wonderful He is.
So is ‘Transformer’ for you? Yes! I firmly believe every Christian around should complete this ‘Life in the Spirit’ series. We are so blessed in Ireland to have so many youth groups building the faith, and especially Living Water taking on this challenge and setting up this ‘Transformer: Life in the Spirit’ series.
If you are between 18 and 39 and are seeking more joy, peace, love or fulfilment in your life, Living Water’s ‘Transformer’ series is for you.
The Transformer Series will take place on Wednesday evenings at 7pm for January to March 2018 in the Edith Stein Room, St Teresa’s Church, Clarendon Street, Dublin.
