The Catholic Charismatic Renewal International Service or CHARIS has elected its new set of council members including Fe Barino of the Archdiocese of Cebu.
Together with Cyril John of India, Barino will serve as representative for Asia to the 18-member council, also known as CHARIS International Service of Communion.
Barino is the current national coordinator of CHARIS Philippines and president of the Cebu archdiocese’s Commission on the Laity.
The election of the new international council came during the first general assembly of CHARIS held in Rome on Oct. 29 to 31.
Representatives from 70 countries attended the assembly to elect new officers who will serve for a three-year term, with Pino Scafuro from Argentina chosen as their new head, or “Moderator”.
The Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life officially inaugurated CHARIS in 2019 to provide a “new, single, international service for the needs of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Church.”
CHARIS assumed the roles previously held by the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Service and the Catholic Fraternity of Charismatic Covenant Communities and Fellowships.
While the body lacks legal authority over charismatic communities, its purpose is communion, formation, and advice.
Since its inception, CHARIS has been under the guidance of Capuchin Cardinal Raniero Cantalamesa, the preacher of the papal household, serving as its ecclesiastical adviser.
In a meeting with around 4,000 members of CHARIS in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on Nov, 4, Pope Francis encouraged them to proclaim Christ to all, even in the most remote places and among the poor.
In his address, the pope said that their particular mission “is promoting charisms and encouraging them to be put at the service of the whole Church”.
He also reiterated that their task “is not to judge who is or is not an authentic charismatic” and to always be “on guard against the temptation to exercise power and influence”.
