Have you noticed a surge of groups in your parish or in your neighborhood doing some prayer meetings and other religious activities? That's because there happily is a rise of ecclesial movements these days.

To mention a few, you have the El Shaddai, Couples for Christ, Bukas Loob sa Dios, Christian Family Movement, and a number of charismatic groups and what are now known as covenanted communities.

You cannot deny that they attract multitudes of followers who openly admit that these groups have helped them tremendously in their spiritual life.

Pope John Paul II called this phenomenon 'a new springtime,' a manifestation of the Holy Spirit's continuing action in the Church. It's like having a spiritual bonanza in the Church, in spite of its troubles.

Pope Benedict, euphoric during his inauguration in 2005 upon seeing this spiritual resurgence right before him, could not help but exclaim, 'the Church is alive.' Yes, the Church is alive and kicking, in spite of its age.

This, of course, is a great cause for joy, a boost to our spirit. But it also reminds us of grave duties and responsibilities.

The Church is not only visible and hierarchical. It also is invisible and charismatic. It is in how to blend these two dimensions where the skills and genuine spirituality of Church leaders are tested.

Our Church leaders should be wary of falling into red tape and bureaucracy. They have to be always alert to new developments, because the Church by nature always exceeds expectations.

While we continue to live within certain structures and known laws, we should not rule out new things that the Holy Spirit can surprise us with from time to time. Away with rigid ways and uniform mentality! Leadership is not a matter of domination and possession.

These new things can have a certain radicalness to them. We have to be open and prepared for them. We have to learn how to handle both old and new things as well as a multiplicity of elements.

It is this working of the Holy Spirit, manifested in many ways, which the visible and hierarchical Church should carefully and, as much as possible, punctually discern, defend, promote and properly integrate within the Church.

Discerning the authenticity of charisms, for example, is already a formidable task. Bogus charisms are plenty. But that's not all. Purging charisms from impurities that can take place at their reception or in their expressions is even a tougher job.

It cannot be denied that abuses and errors have accompanied what otherwise can be considered as a genuine charism. Pointing them out and correcting them require real fortitude and prudence.

To top it all, Church leaders and officials should also know how to promote it, how to develop its potentials to the full and to integrate it for the benefit of the whole Church.

Nothing less than heroic sanctity is expected of them to carry out this function.

These responsibilities certainly depend on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. On our part, we should be quick to discern this divine guidance and translate it into some human workable system. The Spirit wants to rely on human means too.

I am sure that a lot of guidelines have already been made about how concerned Church officials and everybody else should behave when apparent spiritual manifestations take place.

Let's make them more known, so that everyone can be properly guided. Both the authorities and the persons or groups claiming some charism can easily seek out each other. Hopefully, openness, mutual understanding and coordination can ensue.

In this regard, it is worthwhile to recall some relevant indications meant to test the authenticity of a charism. They are:

a) Is the charism clearly rooted in the faith of the Church?

b) Do those claiming it stand by the successors of the Apostles and of Peter? Do they obey the hierarchy?

c) Are they free for social service and the proclamation of the Gospel?

d) Is there a personal encounter of the members with Christ?

With these, we hope the springtime in the Church becomes perpetual.

**********

Fr. Roy Cimagala is the Chaplain of Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE) in Talamban, Cebu City. You can email him at:Email: roycimagala@boholchronicle.com