A movement of spiritual renewal, evangelization, prayer, and transformation in the Catholic Church.
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is an ecclesial movement of spiritual renewal and transformation in the Catholic Church that emphasizes the need for each person to make a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and to be empowered by the Holy Spirit for the glory of God the Father.
On the day of Pentecost, the Apostles received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1–4). This great event marked the beginning of the Church. The first community of believers, guided and strengthened by the Holy Spirit, bore witness to the resurrection of Jesus in and beyond Jerusalem with boldness, unity, and power.
Since the Second Vatican Council, a renewed awareness of the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church has given rise to new lay apostolates, ecclesial movements, and associations, among which the Catholic Charismatic Renewal is one. This renewal has deepened the lived experience of faith, worship, evangelization, and communion within the Church.
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Uganda began with small prayer groups that experienced a profound outpouring of the Holy Spirit, leading to renewed faith, prayer, and evangelization. Over time, it has grown into a nationwide movement present in dioceses and parishes across the country.
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Uganda was introduced in 1973 by Rev.Fr. Roger LaBonte (Missionaries of Africa – White Fathers) in Mbarara. In the same year, Rev.Fr. Joseph Kamya (Missionaries of Africa – White Fathers) started prayer groups in Masaka. As the Renewal expanded, a National Service Team (NST) was formed in 1981 to coordinate national activities. Rev.Fr. Norbert Deprez M.Afr. became its first coordinator, later succeeded by Rev.Fr. Ernest Sievers M.Afr.
During this period, the NST decided to establish a School of Evangelisation, leading to the launch of Emmaus Centre School of Evangelisation on 4th December 1990. In 1991, four Emmaus communities were established in Kampala, Pallisa, Soroti, and Fort Portal. More communities later emerged in Mbarara, Masaka, Arua, Jinja, Kabale, Kasese, Hoima, and Gulu, and beyond Uganda in Ghana, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
Between 1995 and 2004, the Renewal experienced rapid growth across Uganda, with prayer groups emerging in nearly all dioceses. Many dioceses established well-structured offices, as the movement of the Holy Spirit spread widely and deeply across the nation.
Today, the Renewal continues to be a living instrument of spiritual transformation, fostering personal conversion, vibrant prayer life, healing ministries, and active participation of the faithful in the mission of the Church. It serves the Church in Uganda through prayer groups, communities, formation programmes, and national and international collaboration.
At the heart of our story is a continuing call to renew the Church through the power of the Holy Spirit and to bring all people into a deeper encounter with Jesus Christ.
The National Service Centre of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Uganda is served by a team of seven members who work in communion for the mission of the Church.
The National Office team provides day-to-day coordination, administration, and spiritual support for all national activities. It is composed of:
Leadership
Spiritual Direction
Administration Support
Office Management
Secretariat
In charge of the Bookshop
In charge of the Adoration Chapel and Administration
These serve in close collaboration with diocesan coordinators, ministry leaders, national service teams, and representatives of prayer groups and communities across the country.
Together, they ensure unity of vision, accountability, and effective coordination of evangelization, formation, and renewal activities at all levels of the Church in Uganda.
The National Service of Communion (NSC) is the highest decision-making and coordinating body of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Uganda.
It is a structure of communion that brings together representatives of all charismatic realities in Uganda to discern, plan, and guide the mission of the Renewal nationally.
The NSC is responsible for receiving reports, setting national priorities, approving programmes, and ensuring unity of purpose across all CCR structures. It safeguards good governance, spiritual direction, and faithful implementation of the Renewal’s mission of evangelization.
The National Network of Prayer Groups (NNPG) is the grassroots backbone of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Uganda.
It connects and coordinates prayer groups from dioceses and parishes across the country to ensure spiritual growth, formation, and unity in mission.
The NNPG brings together provincial coordinators, diocesan coordinators, diocesan spiritual directors, ministry leaders, and national leadership structures, including the National Coordinator, National Spiritual Director, Assistant National Coordinator and Director of the National Office, National Treasurer, and youth representatives.
It provides formation, pastoral guidance, and communication channels that strengthen prayer groups as centres of prayer, healing, fellowship, and evangelization.
The National Network of Communities (NNC) brings together covenant communities and organized charismatic communities within the Renewal in Uganda.
These communities are structured expressions of life in the Holy Spirit, where members—clergy, religious men and women, and the lay faithful—live out a deeper commitment to prayer, fellowship, formation, and mission.
The NNC is coordinated by the National Coordinator for the Network of Communities together with a National Core Team representing different communities.
It strengthens spiritual formation, accountability, and mission outreach, and plays a key role in fostering mature discipleship, leadership development, and community-based evangelization within the Renewal.
Learn more about the Uganda Catholic Charismatic Renewal, join a prayer group, or support our community works.
