Filled with the spirit
Speaking in tongues. Shouting out praise to the Lord. Placing your hands on someone's shoulder to seek divine healing.
This isn't your typical Roman Catholic gathering.
But for some Catholics in the suburbs -- particularly those in the Hispanic community -- charismatic practices typically associated with Pentecostals and other Protestant groups are becoming more common.
The Catholic charismatic movement celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
The Spanish-speaking charismatic prayer group that meets at St. Joseph parish in Elgin formed 31 years ago with five people. It now attracts four or five dozen faithful every Wednesday night.
"My spiritual life has grown more," said Francisco Fausto, one of the five founding members.
The movement has declined since peaking in the early 1970s, but experts believe Hispanics are fueling a resurgence.
More than 90 prayer groups recognized by the Archdiocese of Chicago and the dioceses of Rockford and Joliet meet regularly. Almost half the Rockford diocese's groups meet in Spanish.
About half of the people who regularly attend St. Joseph's prayer group meetings are recent immigrants from Mexico and Central America, estimated Fausto, a welder who emigrated from Guatemala in 1971.
The charismatic movement appeals to Hispanics, Fausto believes, because they "are more open to new movements of the spirit. That's my personal opinion," he said.
"Especially those people in poverty. They are seeking help. When you can't afford things, the only resource we have is to turn to the Lord."