Relaxed in the Spirit: Charismatic Renewal

I was born & raised in South Philadelphia, Pa. as Mary Pracuta.
After graduationfrom Hallahan High School I married my High School boyfriend, Bob
Putnick. After 2 years in the Marine Corps Bob enlisted in the Regular Marine Corps.
We lived at Camp Lejeune, N.C. for 2 years & had 2 sons while there...Robert J. &
Steven. After his discharge we returned to South Philly & settled there. WE then had 2 more children, .our son Steven & only Daughter Paula Marie whom we lovingly nick-named Penny fron song ＂Pennies FRom Heaven.＂
In 1971 I became a member of our Church Prayer Group & became involved with the Charismatic Renewal. Our small group, at the time merged with another Group at Holy Spirit Church. After the group had grown & we had helped start other new Prayer Groups I remained with the Holy Spirit Church Prayer Group .
I became involved in Teaching & giving Seminars at other Churches when they were preparing their own Prayer Group. I was asked to be Religion Editor at Active News...a small weekly Newspaper. It grew quite successful & we had readers from all over . As a Press Member & Teacher I was invited to onferences at Atlantic City Stadium in N.J. where I met & interviewed President Jimmy Carter’s sister, Ruth Carter Stapleton & & Maria Van Trappe whose life was made into the movie ＂Sound of Music＂.
I also was invited to Conferences at Notre Dame University where the Stadium was filled with thousands of people from all over the world. My 1st visit I was housed
at Notre Dames’ Sister College, St. Mary’s not far away. There I was part of an International group & shared with Representatives from other countries. On my 2nd
visit there I was housed on campus at Notre Dame . There were various Teachings
given on different topics on the open hours & rooms where anyone could go to have
prayers said for them. Ihad only seen Notre Dame when games were played at the Stadium & on TV. It was a tremendous sight to see Thousands of people gathered
in the Stadium to not only hear the Speakers but to pray together as a group. What a
sight to behold when thousands of people joined in on the singing!
My husband had worked for IBM in Philly. We visited my sister up here in tha Allegheny Mountains each year. The year there was a terrible flood my husband volunteered to remain here & helped at the IBM office here. We were stranded! A few years later Bob requested a transfer here & so we, with the exception of our
married sons, moved up to this small town. Years later my one of my Married sons made the move up here. I had gotten a job at 1 of our 2 local Banks & got involved in
Church activities as well as starting adults getting involved in a Christmas Play for all
the School Children. We had to have another night as so many Adults wanted to see the play. Something new up here. Later, when I became very ill I could no longer help at school. When depressed me the most was the loss of my Book which I felt I had
no credit for, it had been inspired by the Holy Spirit! It was a great loss to me. I felt
it would never get Published & that I had failed in something the Lord asked of me....
to continue teaching thru the Book as I had taught so many, many people in Philadelphia & a few other States.