Abstract:

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal has emerged as one of the most significant agents of renewal for the Church since the Second Vatican Council. Their central teaching is that Christians today can receive a new and powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit like that of the early Church. The thesis seeks to examine this central teaching in light of its scriptural and theological foundations and its sensitivity to the context in which Filipinos live. To start, this will be done by looking at the Pentecost experiences in the Acts of the Apostles through the lens of two established exegetes from the Protestant and Pentecostal schools of thought: James Dunn and Howard Ervin, respectively. One will then find that a Catholic understanding of the Holy Spirit’s work in the life of a Christian may serve as a synthesis of the points raised by these two exegetes. Next, the author will assert the need to appropriate this teaching in the context of Philippine society, as reflected upon by the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II). Teaching modules which are currently used by three local charismatic renewal groups will be assessed in light of the pastoral challenges raised by PCP II. The thesis will then apply the preceding reflections in a proposed teaching module that charismatic renewal groups can use to refine their current modules.

Final Defense:

Board of Examiners: Dr. Ruben Mendoza (Principal Examiner), Fr. Albert Alejo, S.J., Ph.D., and Dr. Emmanuel De Guzman

Proposal Defense:

Board of Examiners: Dr. Joaquin Yap, S.W. (Adviser), Fr. Peter Pojol, S.J., S.T.D., and Fr. Albert Alejo, S.J., Ph.D.