Many people already know about the beginning  of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal at Duquesne University in 1967.  In 1968 a young man named John Leary introduced Albuquerque to the Renewal.  He and his wife Jan held prayer meetings first at their home and then at the University of Albuquerque (now St. Pius X High School) where they would introduce Roman Catholics to the baptism in the Holy Spiorit.  In May of 1969 Fr. Carl Hammer, the pastor of Our Lady of the Asssumption Parish, attended his first Catholic charismatic prayer meeting.  When he arrived about 10:00 pm  he found a group of people standing in a circle, holding hands and singing in tongues.  Later that evening he had become so overwhelmed with the worshipper's joy and their love for God that he raised his hand and said, "Whtever you people have I'd give my right arm to have."  The following week he received the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

     In June of 1969 a friend of Fr. Hammer's, Joe Flannagan, told him he was looking for a place where they could have a weekly prayer meeting of the east side of town.  Thus began the prayer meeting at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish.  In the beginning they met in a small chapel in the church with no more than 20 people in attendance.  Soon, however, the numbers began to grow.  When they reached about a hundred people they decided to move the prayer meeting into the parish hall. The numbers continued to grow until there was anywhere from 500-600 people in attendance every Friday evening. 

     Although there were mostly Roman Catholics present there was a good representation from Protestant denominations too.  There were Lutherans, Episcopalians, mainstream Pentecostals and others who had come for no other reason than to praise the Lord! There was rarely, if ever a mention of denominational differences.  The only things that was important to these early charismtics was Jesus Christ and the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

     Today there are very few prayer Catholic charismatic prayer meetings left in Albuquerque or the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.   For a while due to the pandemic we had to stop meeting altogether.  We' are currently meeting on Friday evenings, but our numbers have been rather low.  But this is okay!  Whatever our numbers are we commit ourselves to praising God and misistering the baptism in the Holy Spirit.  We welcome anyone who would like to worship with us, especially youth and those from other denominations.  Our belief is that God is doing a new work in His church and a part of that work is Christian unity.  Praise God!