ROCHELLE—Catholic evangelist and accomplished musician, Bill Richart, presented a day filled with songs of praise, worship and instructive talks to nearly 50 people who traveled from around the Rockford Diocese and from as far away as Bloomington.

They gathered in the St. Patrick, Rochelle, parish hall on Nov. 12, for a day of renewal, “Gateway to Glory, A Day of Praise, Worship, Prayer and Healing Ministry Through Music.”

The event was sponsored by the diocesan office of Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services,

Richart, who lives in Howell, Mich., with his wife and two children, has traveled to nine countries and more than 30 states in the U.S. to minister the Gospel through his gift of Scripture knowledge and music.

The focus of his presentation was how the Lord “inhabits” the praises of His people, and that there is what he termed a “flow” of music that transforms exuberant praise to deep worship, where we can closely connect with the presence of God, a transformation that moves “from glory to glory.” (2 Cor. 3:16-18)

Richart said he encourages music directors and worship leaders to realize, when they lead their groups to that level of deep connection, their total experience has not been completed, but they have “only arrived.”

All exuberant praise has to result in deep worship, and is an opportunity to take time to be silent and let the Lord love them in whatever way He has chosen for them at that moment.

All too often we are helped by those music ministers to reach that level of closeness but are quickly moved on to something else, minimizing, or even missing, that most precious contemplative experience.

He also shared the struggles he and his wife experienced when their daughter, Faith, was born with serious heart problems, resulting in multiple surgeries before she was 30 months old.

Richart was diagnosed in 2014 with throat cancer that he battled with concentrated prayer, chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Today, he is completely cancer free and his voice has returned to near-normal. It’s an asset he uses to serve his parish as music director and to minister to people around the world through his music.

Richart plays both keyboard and guitar, and has made several music CDs that are used by listeners in their homes to help them reach a deep level of close contact with their Lord.

Richart intermixed sessions of praise and worship with teaching and instruction throughout the day to help prayer group and parish worship leaders to improve their ministries.

The day ended with a prayer service and individual prayers for healing.

The next event sponsored by Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services is a day of renewal targeted for April 2017 and featuring a nationally known speaker who is popular with youth and adults. Watch for updates on the CCRS website www.rockforddiocese.org/charismaticrenewal/.
— Ron Bergman