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The Sacred Heart "is a reality that marks the core of Christ's being," Philadelphia Auxiliary Bishop John J. McIntyre told attendees at the June 1-3 national conference for charismatic Catholics. It is Christ's heart "into which each of us is drawn, so that more and more, each day after day, each passing year, like his," we are "rooted in charity and full of that light which he has unleashed upon the world; a light that is stronger than sin and death and hell itself," the bishop said. Bishop McIntyre was the principal celebrant and homilist at the opening Mass of the conference, which drew approximately 2,500 Catholic women and men from around the country. They gathered at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia for a joy-filled conference and celebration of the Holy Spirit. "Let us pray with one heart together with Mary in the Upper Room" was the theme of the conference, held every five years. It brought together four distinct branches of Catholic charismatics in the United States -- English speakers, Hispanics, Filipinos and Haitians -- with both general sessions and separate sessions for the four tracks as well as a fifth that targeted youths. Prominent among the concelebrants at the opening Mass was Ukrainian Archbishop Stefan Soroka of Philadelphia. "This is my first time at this and I was really impressed by it," he said. "It was really beautiful to see the light and joy on people's faces. It was life-giving."

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