“Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4)
From 5 to 8 August 2026, more than 900 intercessors from 40 countries gathered at the Canção Nova Community in Cachoeira Paulista, Brazil, to take part in the 2nd CHARIS Worldwide Intercession Conference—a time of listening to the Holy Spirit, deepening communion among the nations, and renewing missionary zeal.
The CHARIS Intercession Commission, established to support and promote the ministry of intercession throughout the world, organized this gathering as a continuation of the legacy of the 1st Worldwide Intercession Conference, held in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, in 2023. The growing participation is a clear sign that the Lord continues to raise up, on every continent, a new generation of men and women called to intercede for the Church, for the nations, and for the whole world.
Coordinated by Cyril John, Coordinator of the CHARIS International Intercession Commission, together with Katia Roldi Zavaris, Coordinator of CNSC Brazil, and with the generous support of Obra de Maria and the Canção Nova Community, the Conference brought together intercessors from many languages, cultures and nations, united by one common desire: to be led by the Holy Spirit.
The Conference opened with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, presided over by Bishop Joaquim Waldimir Lopes Dias of Lorena, followed by the inspiring Parade of Nations, during which each delegation entered the stage carrying its national flag and wearing traditional attire, offering a powerful image of the beauty of a universal Church praying with one heart.
The programme combined moments of formation, adoration, liturgical celebrations and testimonies. Reflections offered by Archbishop Francis Kalist of Pondicherry-Cuddalore (India), together with Cyril John, Fr Hayden Williams OFM Cap, Dr Jean Emmanuel Clément Akobé, Sheny de Góngora, Katia Roldi Zavaris and Jean Christophe Sakiti, highlighted the essential role of intercession as an authentic ministry at the service of the Church and her mission of evangelization.
Testimonies were also shared on the development of intercession networks across different continents, with contributions from Oceania, Asia and Africa. These experiences demonstrated how the Holy Spirit continues to raise up a worldwide network of men and women called to support, through prayer, the mission of the Church and the evangelization of peoples.
One of the most profound moments of the Conference was the time of adoration and intercession for the nations. Participants came forward continent by continent, carrying the flags of their respective countries as they entrusted the peoples of the world to the Lord, praying for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In this atmosphere of faith, Fr Hayden Williams led the prayer for healing and for Baptism in the Holy Spirit, followed by numerous testimonies of healing and spiritual renewal.
Another particularly meaningful moment was the Jericho Prayer March, during which participants walked in procession seven times with the Blessed Sacrament. Each round was dedicated to a specific prayer intention: peace in the world, the nations, the Church, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, the Great Jubilee of 2033, families and young people. It was a simple yet deeply prophetic act, expressing the confidence that persevering prayer continues to open new paths for God’s action.
The Conference concluded with the celebration of the Holy Mass at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, presided over by Archbishop Mario Antônio da Silva of Aparecida. Moments of praise and worship, led by the Brazilian Music Ministry, fostered an atmosphere of profound openness to the Holy Spirit and concluded with participants sharing prophecies and words of knowledge.
Many participants left Brazil with hearts full of gratitude, testifying that they had experienced the living presence of God and a renewed call to the ministry of intercession. More than a Conference, these days became an experience of communion among the nations, where prayer became mission and communion became a tangible sign of the work of the Holy Spirit.
In a world marked by conflict, division and uncertainty, the 2nd CHARIS Worldwide Intercession Conference reminded us that prayer remains one of the greatest gifts God has entrusted to His Church. A current of grace continues to flow through the heart of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, calling men and women from every nation to “put out into the deep” with faith, so that the world may continue to recognize, even today, the living work of the Holy Spirit.
