Kevin Ranaghan
Encyclopedia
Kevin Ranaghan is an American religious
scholar, Catholic
deacon
, and a founder of the People of Praise
. He is married to Dorothy Ranaghan, and has six children and twelve grandchildren.
in 1940 to parents of Irish Catholic
descent.
in liturgical studies
in the theology department
at the University of Notre Dame
, Kevin met his future wife, Dorothy. They were married in 1966.
in the lives of some friends at Duquesne University
. After an initial period of skepticism
, their prayer
and study led him and his new wife to be baptized in the Holy Spirit on March 5, 1967.
al outpouring in the church. His travels brought him into contact not only with Catholic groups throughout the world, but also with groups of Protestants
from Pentecostal, mainline, and evangelical
streams of Christianity
. Ranaghan served as a bridge between Catholics and those from other denominations who, for the first time in history, were experiencing a simultaneous and similar renewal in the Spirit.
in 1973. He joined the United States National Service Committee for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal for 15 years, and for 11 years was its executive director
. He has been a principal organizer of national and international conferences, especially the 1975 Catholic Leaders Conference in Rome
, and the 1977 Ecumenical Conference in Kansas City
. Currently serving as an ICCRS Council member representing community expression of the renewal, Kevin also serves as council vice-president. He was a member of the council from the time of its establishment in the late 1970s until 1984. In 1990, he returned to the Council in his present role.
, an ecumenical Christian covenant
community
.
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
scholar, Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
, and a founder of the People of Praise
People of Praise
People of Praise is a Christian ecumenical charismatic covenant community. It presently consists of 21 branches in the United States of America, Canada, and the Caribbean, with a total of approximately 3,000 men, women, and children....
. He is married to Dorothy Ranaghan, and has six children and twelve grandchildren.
Early life
Kevin Ranaghan was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1940 to parents of Irish Catholic
Irish Catholic
Irish Catholic is a term used to describe people who are both Roman Catholic and Irish .Note: the term is not used to describe a variant of Catholicism. More particularly, it is not a separate creed or sect in the sense that "Anglo-Catholic", "Old Catholic", "Eastern Orthodox Catholic" might be...
descent.
College
While completing his doctoral degreeDoctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in liturgical studies
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
in the theology department
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, Kevin met his future wife, Dorothy. They were married in 1966.
Religious Conversion
Ranaghan heard about a new work of the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
in the lives of some friends at Duquesne University
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
. After an initial period of skepticism
Skepticism
Skepticism has many definitions, but generally refers to any questioning attitude towards knowledge, facts, or opinions/beliefs stated as facts, or doubt regarding claims that are taken for granted elsewhere...
, their prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
and study led him and his new wife to be baptized in the Holy Spirit on March 5, 1967.
Catholic Charismatic Renewal
In 1969, the Ranaghans published Catholic Pentecostals, the first book detailing the history of this renewal movement and articulating its theological implications. They linked baptism in the Spirit to a renewal of the sacraments of initiation. The book was translated into several languages, and Kevin Ranaghan traveled extensively, both in and out of the United States, to spread the news about this PentecostPentecost
Pentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...
al outpouring in the church. His travels brought him into contact not only with Catholic groups throughout the world, but also with groups of Protestants
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
from Pentecostal, mainline, and evangelical
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
streams of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. Ranaghan served as a bridge between Catholics and those from other denominations who, for the first time in history, were experiencing a simultaneous and similar renewal in the Spirit.
Committees and Conferences
Ranaghan was ordained a permanent Catholic deaconDeacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in 1973. He joined the United States National Service Committee for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal for 15 years, and for 11 years was its executive director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
. He has been a principal organizer of national and international conferences, especially the 1975 Catholic Leaders Conference in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, and the 1977 Ecumenical Conference in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. Currently serving as an ICCRS Council member representing community expression of the renewal, Kevin also serves as council vice-president. He was a member of the council from the time of its establishment in the late 1970s until 1984. In 1990, he returned to the Council in his present role.
People of Praise
Ranaghan was a founding member of the People of PraisePeople of Praise
People of Praise is a Christian ecumenical charismatic covenant community. It presently consists of 21 branches in the United States of America, Canada, and the Caribbean, with a total of approximately 3,000 men, women, and children....
, an ecumenical Christian covenant
Covenant (religion)
In Abrahamic religions, a covenant is a formal alliance or agreement made by God with that religious community or with humanity in general. This sort of covenant is an important concept in Judaism and Christianity, derived in the first instance from the biblical covenant tradition.An example of a...
community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
.
See also
- Catholic Charismatic RenewalCatholic Charismatic RenewalThe Catholic Charismatic Renewal is a movement within the Catholic Church. Worship is characterized by vibrant Masses, as well as prayer meetings featuring prophecy, healing and "praying in tongues." This movement is based on the belief that certain charismata , bestowed by the Holy Spirit, such as...
- The People of Praise