Perth-based Catholic healer Alan Ames performs his healing wonders in more than 40 countries across the globe. Photo: Matthew Lau.
By Matthew Lau
Making the world a better place begins with Catholics defending their faith to help strengthen the Church, says international healer Alan Ames.
The motivational speaker and author held a healing service in Perth on 18 July to a full congregation at St Anthony of Padua Church, Wanneroo Parish.
The Touch of Heaven ministry event began with a Holy Mass celebrated by Fr Grant Gorddard and concelebrated by Fr Richard Rutkauskas.
It was followed by a riveting testimony by Mr Ames, before he performed his healing service during Eucharistic Adoration.
It is well-documented that the lowest point of Mr Ames’ life was prior to a deep and personal experience of Christ in 1993, which caused a dramatic change in his life from a violent alcoholic to man of the Sacraments and prayer.
“I wasn’t looking for Him, I had no faith and wasn’t interested in God,” Mr Ames told The eRecord.
“He started talking to me and filled me with the Holy Spirit. I fell in love with Him and He asked me to do this work, so I’ve been doing it now full-time since 1996. He keeps me going and gives me the strength.”
Evangelist Alan Ames gives a rousing speech about his Catholicism to a full congregation at Wanneroo Parish on 18 July. Photo: Matthew Lau.
Mr Ames describes the love of God as “greater than any other emotion a human can experience”, and wants all to experience that love.
“True love is beyond this world, it really is. To experience that love of God, and then to see other people touched by that love when God pours it out through the Sacraments, is a wonderful thing.”
As Mr Ames continues to journey with God in his ministry, he encounters people from all walks of life, many of whom experience hardships in their own journey of faith.
“It’s easy to doubt, because the way the world is today, there are so many attacks on the faith and on the Church. At times when we’re hurt and bad things happen in our life, it’s easy to reject God and turn away from Him.
“But our life doesn’t get any better when we do that, we still have the problems and we still struggle, but now we’re doing it by ourselves because we’ve closed ourselves to God,” he expressed.
“If we truly understood what we’re denying ourselves when we deny God. Understanding that all we’re doing is embracing the suffering in the world, which makes things get worse, they don’t get better. Then we would never deny God and His help because we would know He would make things better.
“I hope anyone who has turned away from God will turn back and find that help and the true peace and love that awaits in Heaven.”
Mass was celebrated by Fr Grant Gorddard and Fr Richard Rutkauskas on 18 July at St Anthony of Padua Church, Wanneroo Parish. Photo: Matthew Lau.
With the Plenary Council gathering scheduled for 2020, Mr Ames acknowledges that the Church in Australia requires some healing of its own.
“We need to stand up gently and lovingly, proclaiming the love of God to others and explaining what our faith is – it’s a faith of love, of forgiveness, of mercy.
“It’s not some hard demanding faith where you’re told to do this and that, but it’s the Lord leading and advising us with love,” Mr Ames added.
“Yes, there have been some difficulties in the Church, and that needs healing. But it’s healed by us turning to God, asking the Holy Spirit to pour that grace out into our lives so we can truly live our faith, and through us the Holy Spirit can pour His grace into the lives of others and bring them to God and so that the Church can be strengthened by that grace.
“So we live that faith, and in living that faith the Church becomes stronger and the world becomes a better place,” he concluded.