By Eric Martin
International evangelist Alan Ames’ ministry has seen him conduct healing services across more than 40 countries.
The Perth man recently held a healing service at Subiaco Parish, St Joseph’s Church, with Mass celebrated by Subiaco Parish Priest Monsignor Kevin Long and concelebrated by Fr Richard Rutkauskas.
At the conclusion of Mass, Alan explained to the congregation how the evening’s healing session would take place.
“Healing begins in the Mass,” Mr Ames explained to the some 100 people gathered.
“It’s the greatest healing prayer of all.
“The healing continues through the talk and then afterwards, though confession, which after the Eucharist, is the next most powerful healing prayer in the Sacraments.
“The healing [tonight] is there – my prayers only compliment the Sacraments. The healing doesn’t come from me – it comes from the Lord, from Jesus.”
The story of Alan Ames, began in 1993 in a hotel in Adelaide when, during a business trip at the age of 23, he experienced a terrifying moment spiritually.
“I felt as if I was being strangled, as if I was going to die,” Mr Ames recalled.
“It was in that moment that I felt the urgent need to pray the Our Father and in desperation I began to pray it.”
Mr Ames went on to explain that at the time he was not going to Church, but with the help of prayer, he was able to work through that spiritually challenging time.
It was the beginning of a new spiritual experience that continues to this day; he discovered that he had been given the gift of intercessory healing through prayer (by the laying on of hands).
It was also during that time that Mr Ames met with now Emeritus Archbishop Hickey who was supportive of his experience.
“I spent a long time with him and explained my situation and he gave me his support and encouraged me to go out and talk about what was happening,” says Alan.
“He appointed a spiritual director for me, and it was very wise. Within about three months, the priest became my strongest supporter.”
The now Emeritus Archbishop Hickey supported Alan for 17 years, with Archbishop Costelloe SDB and Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton continuing to support Alan’s ministry.
Though Alan’s original spiritual supervisor passed away, his new spiritual director, Fr Richard Rutkauskas, closely monitors everything that occurs during a service, in addition to being principal celebrant when required.
For example, at the 1 October healing Mass at St Joseph’s Church Subiaco, Fr Rutkauskas was there as con-celebrant, in addition to providing the sacrament of Confession.
Another task assigned to Fr Rutkauskas is to collect evidence of genuine instances of healing that occur as a result of Alan’s healing Masses: everything that Alan does is documented.
Alan emphasises time and again, that it is God, who is responsible for the works of healing; he has been involved with this ministry for a quarter of a century now and has seen amazing results, yet to this day, he still never knows who will be cured and who will not.
At the 1 October service he was particularly careful to explain (to the congregation) that healing is not guaranteed for everyone and that one of the biggest impediments to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is that people are just not ready to receive that grace.
“Many people are focused on the physical healing, rather than getting their life healed,” Alan explained.
“The world today has drawn us into self-centredness where we come to God and demand of him.
“Instead of coming to God and saying, ‘Lord, what do you want?’; we treat God more as a servant rather than as our Master – he is our master of love and we are his servants yet people often get it the wrong way around.”
“When I started praying, nothing happened for six or seven months,” Alan explained.
“It’s that perseverance that opens you up to the Grace.”
Alan’s says that his message is consistent: to love God and put Him first and focus on Him in everything without ceasing and live your faith; celebrate the Eucharist frequently, and; become a vessel of Grace.
“You have to share Him,” says Alan.
“He fills you and can come out through you to relate to others. If every Catholic did that, the world would be a different place.”