By Mark Reidy
JESUS is the only permanent healer, international speaker Diana Mascarenhas told more than 30 people gathered at the Holy Family parish centre in Como on 2 March.
Ms Mascarenhas, co-director of the Institute for World Evangelisation, and Fr Elias Vella (OFM), the official Exorcist of the Maltese diocese, were in Perth at the invitation of Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) to present their “SetFree Healing Ministry”.
The SetFree programme, which the pair have been presenting around the globe since 2005, is designed to bring healing and wholeness through the Holy Spirit to those who have been emotionally, spiritually and psychologically wounded.
“Psychology can provide us with insight and self-knowledge,” she explained to participants, “but it will not heal us.”
Ms Mascarenhas said that only God can heal the root causes which have led to the brokenness of individuals and that these wounds usually occurred in childhood, even within the womb.
She explained how one could discern and recognise amongst others external signs and behaviours such as anger, depression, sexual promiscuity, self-pity and impulsiveness that can identify deeper wounds.
She also addressed common psychological issues that those who pray with others may encounter and provided practical and spiritual advice on how to assist in identifying the feelings that can lead to recognising the issues that need God’s healing.
In his presentation, CCR Chairman Dan Hewitt emphasised the responsibilities of those who were called to pray for others. To ensure that they received the healing God intended, he said, it was important that those praying were aware of their own prejudices, were always conscious of their listening and communication skills, made every effort to be non-judgemental, to treat others with dignity and were willing to look for Christ in everyone. Fr Vella captured the attention of participants immediately: “I will talk today about the Devil”. He spoke about the growing forays into Satanism, New Age and the occult, black magic and fortune telling and how this was leading to an increase in cases of possession and the need for deliverance prayer.
The programme, which consisted of a three day retreat in Safety Bay (47 participants) and two one day workshops in Perth, draws its inspiration from John 8:36, “When the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed”. The main focus of SetFree is to restore a participant’s true identity in Christ through Sacraments, prayer, the Word of God and Christ-centred therapy.
Speaking to The Record, Dan Hewitt said that Diana and Fr Vella, who both have qualifications in psychology and counselling, were able to not only exercise the Spiritual Gifts but also to help participants understand their own brokenness and how this brokenness came about.
Mr Hewitt believed that this psychological insight was vitally important in the process of healing as it helped pinpoint where forgiveness was needed, whether it be for oneself, others or even in our perceptions of God.
He said that each of the SetFree sessions usually commenced with a teaching on some aspect of psychology, designed to assist listeners in grasping the reality of their own wounds, so that they could gain an insight into who, and what, in their past had caused them to be where they are today.
These teachings were then followed by prayer sessions, introducing items such as the crucifix and statues of the Holy Family to help people relate to God’s presence in their circumstances.
Mr Hewitt said that he has received testimonies from a number of participants who received healing in areas of personal hurt, relationships, guilt, forgiveness and a deeper recognition of God’s love for them.
For those wanting more information on SetFree Ministry and the Institute for World Evangelisation – the missionary expression of the Glory of God International Covenant Community –
visit their website at www.icpe.org.