Pittsburgh has a remarkable landmark at The Ark and The Dove Retreat Center in Gibsonia, located in a pastoral setting a few miles north of Pittsburgh. The Upper Room Chapel at The Ark and The Dove is the birthplace of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal where the Holy Spirit fell in power on 25 students and 2 professors from Duquesne University in February 1967. From this humble place, baptism in the Holy Spirit grew worldwide in the Catholic Church like wildfire, such that 120 million Catholics worldwide have received the grace of baptism in the Holy Spirit.
In a move of the Holy Spirit, The Ark and The Dove Retreat Center was purchased in December 2015 by a newly-formed 501(c)(3) nonprofit for the benefit of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal worldwide. Given the short window to purchase this sacred place and keep it from being purchased for secular or redevelopment purpose, an anonymous friend extended a $1.4 million loan.
To accelerate our vision and mission given the rapid secularization in the US and throughout the world, the friend who extended the $1.4 million loan has offered to match every $1 in new charitable donations by reducing the principal balance by the corresponding amount, such that all new cash will go directly to programs in support of our vision and mission.
The Diocese of Pittsburgh has warmly embraced the vision and mission of The Ark and The Dove, Inc., as it seeks to bring baptism of the Holy Spirit, not only to the Greater Pittsburgh region, but to the Catholic Church worldwide and to all other Christian faiths experiencing this grace.
The Holy Spirit is leading the leadership of The Ark and The Dove together as we pray, teach, equip, evangelize, communicate and unite to spread this grace in building the Kingdom of God. Baptism in the Holy Spirit has been encouraged by the Popes over the last 50 years. Pope Francis has repeatedly requested that the Catholic Charismatic Renewal bring this grace to the whole Church. As the birthplace of the Renewal, The Ark and The Dove is uniting its efforts with entities worldwide to fulfill this mission. We look to establish Pittsburgh as major worldwide center for the Catholic Church for this grace, as it becomes a prime pilgrimage destination, retreat center, praise and worship venue, resource center and holy site for individual and group prayer and reflection.
We are blessed that the sisters of the religious charismatic community the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ have established a convent at The Ark and The Dove Retreat Center, to manage daily operations and use their spiritual to support those who visit.
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