November 12, 2025

Next Mass will be celebrated Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. at Notre Dame Church

By Suzanne Pietropaoli
Staff Writer

On Pentecost Sunday, Mary Haas attended the Charismatic Mass at St. André Bessette Church in Malone.

“I didn’t know what to expect, but I wanted to find out,” the longtime parishioner relates. “I wanted to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit more fully.”

She was not disappointed.

“My experience that day brought me to tears,” she said. “There was great joy as I experienced God in a new way and had a new sense of feeling the presence of the Spirit. I knew that there was something there, and that I am on the right track in going after it. Each time I go, I feel so much more alive! I love the music and experience the presence of God at a whole new level. For the whole week after, words of those songs keep going through my mind. What a joy to be in an atmosphere of so much praise!”

Haas also notes that she was “intrigued by speaking in tongues.”

“While I was being prayed over, I could hear the woman nearest me speaking unknown words,” she said. “This was new to me, but completely peaceful. It was also a freeing experience – asking for help, letting go, and knowing that whatever happens, happens.”

Haas said attending the Charismatic Masses has become important to her.

“I was definitely touched by being there, and at the two subsequent Charismatic Masses we’ve had,” she said. “I can’t not go. Each time one is announced, it is ‘Yay! Another one I can go to!’ It is hard to explain the joy of a whole community of believers all praising God!”

Haas’s experience echoes the miraculous events of the first Pentecost. After Jesus’ Ascension, the Apostles gathered in Jerusalem awaiting the promised Holy Spirit. The second chapter of Acts describes what happened that day: A driving wind, after which tongues as of fire rested upon each of Apostles, who “began to express themselves in foreign tongues and make bold proclamation as the Spirit prompted them.”

This proclamation was heard, each in his own language, by those in the large crowd that day. All were “amazed at the marvels God has accomplished.” This was followed by Peter’s discourse, and his call to all present to reform and be baptized. Acts 2:41 records that some 3,000 were baptized that same day.

In Acts, 3, Peter and John meet a man crippled from birth.

“ I have neither silver nor gold,” Peter tells him, “But what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazorean, walk!”

Peter helped him to his feet. The man began to walk, and all who saw were astonished.

“He went into the Temple with them, jumping about and praising God!” (Acts 3, 8.)

This gift has persisted throughout the history of the Church, which recognizes healing as an authentic charism, or gift of grace. Tales abound of saints whose prayers for the sick were answered by God in very powerful ways. In fact, proof of miracles is necessary for both beatification and canonization.

Even now, we continue to pray for the sick – individually, in Prayers of the Faithful and through the anointing of the sick.

Healing Masses continue to be important. Often, after a Charismatic Mass, prayer teams are available to pray for healing for those who seek it. This prayer is accompanied by the laying on of hands as Jesus instructs in Mark 6,16.

Eve McGill, now a parishioner at St, Alexander’s in Morrisonville, can speak to the importance of this healing dimension. She has been involved in the Charismatic Renewal since 1978.

At that time, a Charismatic prayer group met in the Upper Room at St. Peter’s in Plattsburgh, where she had the privilege of going through the Life in the Spirit seminars.

“When they prayed over me for the baptism in the Holy Spirit,” she recalls, “I rested in the Spirit. Soon I was involved in music ministry and praying for people.”

Years later, Jeannine Nichols, who had been blessed with a healing gift, became extremely ill. McGill recalls that “while praying for her one day, I heard :’Will you answer my prayer?’’

The next day, McGill visited her friend. Nichols shared with McGill her conviction that God was calling Eve to the healing ministry.

“Jeanine (Nichols) confirmed that I was the one to succeed her in this work,” McGill said. “It was a most humbling experience.”

After Nichols died in 2007, McGill and a friend talked with their pastor at St. Peter’s in Plattsburgh, Father John Yonkovig, about healing ministry.

“Our ministry really started under his blessing,” McGill explains. “Providentially, Father John had just learned of a training opportunity downstate. He sent us for intensive training through Francis MacNutt’s School of Healing Prayer. At our prayer group and at healing Masses, many came forward willing to pray for those in need. Eventually we had 27 people who made up six to seven prayer teams.”

After moving to Morrisonville some years ago, McGill continued this work when then-pastor Father Scott Seymour offered Healing Masses. These prayer teams now generously travel to Malone to join in the Charismatic Masses and to pray with those seeking healing.

After his first year as pastor at St. André Bessette, Father Seymour was approached by a parishioner who said, “We haven’t had a prayer group or a prayer meeting in a long time!”

Speaking with the parishioner, Father Seymour sensed a real need; after praying and talking with McGill, he decided to begin with a Charismatic Mass on Pentecost – which had “an amazing turnout,” the pastor said.
Masses were offered in September and October.

“Worship is not only an obligation,” explains Father Seymour. “It is also a response in love. People need to encounter Jesus. Every Mass is a call for you personally, to welcome Christ into your whole being.”

The next Charismatic Mass in Malone will be Sunday, November 23, at 2 p.m. at Notre Dame Church.

The 2026 schedule includes Life in the Spirit Seminars, May 8-9 (registration required) and the Mass of Pentecost on May 24.”