And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17
The Catholic Charismatic renewal has been active in the Archdiocese right from the year 1976 at the initiative of a young Jesuit scholastic, Fio Mascarenhas studying in Vidyajyoti. A prayer group was formed which had Rev. Fr. Vincent Concessao (now Emiritus Archbishop of Delhi), Rev. Fr. Susai Sebastian, Rev. Fr. Joe Thomas, Rev. Fr. George Kureethra among others. Although there were few prayer groups in operation in some parishes, successful signs of organized activities came from the end of 1984 / beginning of 1985. Among many Prayer Groups which were active those days were Greater Kailash, Madangir, Holy Family Hospital, Defence Colony, Prasad Nagar, Jesus & Mary College, RK Puram, etc. Archbishop Angelo Fernandez, put in efforts to bring all the Charismatic Prayer Groups under a single umbrella and the interactions were also concurrently taking place, with the National Service Team of National Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services (NCCRS). Accordingly, the apex body of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal which was called Delhi Diocesan Service Team (DDST), was constituted by the then Archbishop Angelo Fernandes on 8th January 1986, with Rev. Fr. Susai Sebastian as Chairman, Rev. Fr. George Kureethra as Vice Chairman, Mr. K. C. Cherian as Secretary and Sr. Augustine , RJM and Sr. Lucia SCMM as members. The first Delhi Service Team (DST) organized many Charismatic retreats in different parts of Delhi by external preachers like Fr. Rufus Pereira, Fr. A.V. D’Souza, Terance Fonn, James D’Souza and Rev. Fr. Leo D’Souza.
In 1989, Mr. Louis Mendonca succeeded Fr. Susai Sebastian as chairman, followed by Mr. Rajan Xavier in 1991. A number of charismatic conventions were preached in this period, by prominent preachers such as Rev. Fr Mathew Naikaomparambil, Fr Augustine Vellooran and Fr George Panackal from Potta/Divine Retreat Centre. The conventions were attended by people in great numbers; as a result, many more charismatic prayer groups were formed in this period.
New Leadership
December 1994 saw the mantle of leadership of the service team change hands to a new team, with Mr. Cyril John as Chairman (now Chairman, National Service Team, India; Chairman, ICCRS Sub-Committee for Asia-Oceania ISAO and a former Vice President of International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services, Rome) and Fr Johnson Kizhakkeveettil as Spiritual Director. By the year 1995, the Delhi Charismatic Renewal Services had been working among the people both Christian and non-Christians in the city of Delhi, through prayer groups, retreats, conventions and outreach programs for the cause of evangelization. In the year 1997, Mr. Cyril John was elected as Chairman for a second term with Fr Johnson Kizhakkeveettil continuing as the Spiritual Director. This period had shown growth of different ministries - especially Delhi Crusaders, the Intercession Ministry and the Preaching Ministry. Delhi Preaching Team reached out in different parts of the country and emerged as main resource Centre for North India and North East Region. There were around 45 Prayer Groups in the Archdiocese of Delhi in different languages that time. Regular conventions/retreats and renewal programs were organized in this period.