VOLUME 12 ISSUE 1 NUMBER 60 - Canadian Conference of ... · VOLUME 12 ISSUE 1 NUMBER 60 5 Miguel...

VOLUME 12 ISSUE 1 NUMBER 60

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THE NATIONAL BULLETIN OF THE CANADIAN CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC CURSILLOS

CONTENTS

Officers’ Corner 3 Essay 9 From Around the Country 20Cursillo of Cursillos 6 From Our Readers 17 Matters Spiritual 28Conference 2010 8 Witness 19 You Asked Us 29


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OFFICERS’ CORNERCURSILLO OF CURSILLOS IN CANADA

In the autumn of 2007, a pilgrimage to Mallorcaorganized by Carlos Muñoz, Erika Romwalter,and Peter Jankowski provided participants withan opportunity to visit the birthplace of theCursillo and the chance to take part in a Cursilloof Cursillos organized by the Mallorcansecretariat. They had the privilege of meetingwith and listening to the founder of the Cursillo,Eduardo Bonnín.

Upon their return to Canada there was muchevidence that those who had participated in theCursillo of Cursillos benefitted greatly. Theexperience helped them to come to a deeperunderstanding of the Cursillo. They shared withthe Officers’ Group of the CCCC their desire tohave a Cursillo of Cursillos in Canada. In July,2009, at the Wilfrid Laurier University inWaterloo in Ontario, their wish came true.

A Cursillo of Cursillos is an intense explorationof the Cursillo that provides its participants witha deeper and fuller understanding andappreciation of this method and movement. Itexamines, through the words and witness ofindividual presenters, the PreCursillo, the threedays and the Post Cursillo. It provides itsparticipants with the chance to listen, to discuss,to share, to inquire, and to learn. Its purpose isnot to impose upon its participants a mentality;rather, it allows them to discover this mentalitythrough the conversations and sharing that takeplace within the large and small groups.

It was not the purpose of the presenters to‘answer’ all of the questions or to provide a fulland complete definition. They shared what theystudied, what they understood, and what theylived and all of this was rooted in the Charism ofCursillo and the method which it called forththrough the labours of Eduardo and those whoaided and supported him in this great work,

Those who provided the rollos presented at theWaterloo Cursillo of Cursillos benefitted greatlyby the presence and guidance of a trulywonderful rector, Miguel Sureda. Miguel hadbeen the rector of the C of C held in the autumnof 2007 in Mallorca and he agreed to perform thesame service for this Cursillo of Cursillos in2009. His loving presence, his gentleness, hisunderstanding, and his sense of humour aidedthe participants in their journey to a betterunderstanding of the Cursillo and its potentialwhen it is authentically lived out in thenormalcy of everyday life.

It was not easy. The days were long and it washot; however, the participants gave theirenthusiasm, their dedication, and their spirit of

Note from the editor

Due to serious glitches with our computer,this issue of Fully Alive is very late. The officecomputer simply wore out and crashed andburned just as we were getting ready to go toprint necessitating the purchase of areplacement. Fortunately all files were backedup but as you may know, a new computerrequires that all the programs, custom fonts,data bases etc. etc. need to be reinstalled. Oncethis was done, the new computer itself crashedso were back to square one. The delay took usbeyond the timeframe allotted for the task ofcreating the latest issue and we were forced todelay production until new commitments,already scheduled, had been taken care of.

We do apologize.

Sheelagh WinstonEditor Fully Alive


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love in full measure. This combined with theGrace that was so evident throughout the eventand in the liturgies presided over by priests andBishop Gerard Bergie of Hamilton diocese,made this Cursillo of Cursillos a wonderfullyenriching experience for those who were able toenter fully into it.

The facility and the organization added to thesuccess of this event. The local movements whoassisted the CCCC in organizing and executingthis C of C were outstanding. We commendthem for their efforts and their sacrifice.

Because we decided upon a Cursillo of Cursillosinstead of our usual national conference, therewere a number of changes both to the scheduleand to the routine. The participants took these instride and did not allow these changes to affecttheir enjoyment of and participation in theproceedings. One of the things that is normal atan annual event put on by the CCCC is thebusiness meeting. This took place prior to thebeginning of the C of C and had its ownexcitement.

The business meeting this year had to debateand decide two important items. The first ofthese involved the reorganization of thegeographic regions that the CCCC uses in itsofficer selection process. In the past the CCCChad used four geographic regions: the West,Ontario, Quebec, and the Atlantic. At the 2008

annual meeting the CCCC put forth a notice ofmotion to change the geographic structure tothree regions: The West excluding Winnipeg; theCentral Region including Winnipeg, Manitoba,Ontario, and Quebec, and the Atlantic. Thenumber of officers that make up the CCCC

Officers Group remained the same with theCentral Region providing two and the West andthe Atlantic each providing one. A number ofmeetings had been held over the interveningyear to acquaint those affected with the rationalefor this move which mainly involved the factthat the English-speaking movement in Quebecconsisted of the Montreal area only and findingone officer to represent that one small regionwas difficult. The meeting agreed to the changeand to a resolution empowering the CCCCOfficers Group to appoint an individual toreplace Carlos Muñoz whose term as theCCCC’s Officer to the Quebec Region had cometo an end. Marg Weber was invited to fill thisnew position as one of the two CCCC’s Officersto the Central Region and, after prayerfulconsideration, she accepted. Her term runs untilthe annual conference in 2013. The other CCCCOfficer to the Central Region is Nancy Bathwhose term concludes at the end of the 2010conference at St. Francis Xavier University inAntigonish, NS, June 24 to 27, 2010.

The second item that was debated and decidedat this business meeting concerned the English

The participants in the Cursillo of Cursillos, Waterloo, Ontario, 2010ursillo of Cursillo

s, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2010


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Miguel Sureda, rector ofthe Cursillo of Cursillos

Canadian Cursillo’s involvement in the NorthAmerican Caribbean Group (NACG) and byextension its membership and involvement inthe OMCC (Organismo Mundial de Cursillos deCristiandad or World Organization of Cursillosin Christianity). The meeting was presentedwith the history of the CCCC’s involvement inboth of these organizations and its frustrationswith the operations of both. The CCCCrecommended to the meeting that it bepermitted take a leave of absence frominvolvement in both of these organizations so asto focus its effort on ‘building up’ the Canadianmovement. This hiatus would benefit theCanadian movement by allowing the leadershipof the CCCC to focus on national issues. Aftermuch discussion, the meeting felt that it was inthe best interest of the Canadian Movement totake the leave of absence for a period of 3 to 5years while maintaining cordial relationshipswith both organizations. During the course ofthe Cursillo of Cursillos discussions were heldbetween the OMCC, the NACG and the CCCCwhich helped to facilitate this leave of absencewith the minimum of disruption whilemaintaining a working link and cordial relationsbetween and among the three participants. GailTerrana, the new President of the NACG andthe former past President of the OMCC wasinstrumental in accomplishing this end and theCCCC acknowledges and applauds her efforts.Another question that was addressed at thebusiness meeting was the replacement ofSheelagh Winston on the committee chargedwith revising the Fundamental Ideas. Sheelaghhad been replaced despite the fact that she hadnot resigned. Since the business meeting, thisissue has been resolved and Sheelagh remains asa full member of the revision committee.

The Cursillo of Cursillos held at Waterloo hasallowed the leadership of the CCCC to developa capability to hold others throughout thevarious regions of the country. The Cursillo ofCursillos requires the involvement of those whoare wise in the movement and who have theexperience and understanding to lend to theseevents. The CCCC is willing to guide and fosterthe development of leadership teams who canprovide the needed experience to guidesuccessful and fruitful C of Cs. To this end, theCCCC has responded favourably to a request by

the Atlantic Catholic Cursillo Council’s requestto hold a Cursillo of Cursillos in Prince EdwardIsland in September of 2010. Sheelagh Winston,the CCCC’s secretary, conference coordinator

and editor ofthe resource

documentFully Alive,has agreed toact as rectorof this eventand willprovide both

leadershipand somerollos.

The CCCClooks

forward tothe coming

year. Several publications are planned forrelease at the June conference in Antigonish. Thefirst is the revised Spiritual Director’s guide. Thesecond is a book on the ten topics of CalaFiguera. Sheelagh Winston is working withFEBA on the English translation of this. Sincethe theme of this year’s national conference iscentered around the ten topics, we feel that thetime of its English publication is most fortuitous.

At its last Officers Group meeting held at LaConsolata House in Rexdale, Ontario, the OGsettled upon a schedule for Officer Replacementthat it hopes will restore the rotation thatprovides for one Officer to retire each year. Thiswill ensure that the new Officer coming on willhave experienced Officers and SpiritualAdvisors to guide his/her development andgrowth. In addition, it was decided that theindividual selected to Chair the CCCC beprovided with at least two years in the position.With that in mind it was determined thatanother Officer from the region that providesthe Chair would be appointed by the CCCC toserve out the rotational term of the Chair. Such aperson would be eligible to serve his/her ownfour-year term should the OG agree. This couldmean that there would be five Officers on theOG, one of whom would be the Chair. By doingthis we hope to restore the rotation whileallowing for continuity in leadership.


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The Officers for the CCCC include DebborahO’Shea, CCCC’s Officer to the West excludingWinnipeg; Nancy Bath and Marg Weber,CCCC’s Officers to the Central Region includingWinnipeg; and George Henry, CCCC’s Officerto the Atlantic. Fr. Syd Mifflen is the SpiritualAdvisor to the CCCC and Fr. Pat O’Meara is theAssistant Spiritual Advisor to the CCCC. SidneyBilsky is the CCCC’s treasurer and SheelaghWinston is its secretary, conference coordinator,

and editor of Fully Alive. Our Resource Centre islocated at 957 Brunette Avenue, Coquitlam, BCV3K 1E1, Phone: (514) 713-0349,Fax: (514) 227-5221,E-mail: [email protected] Webmaster:[email protected].

George Henry, Chair CCCC Officers’GroupFor the Officers.

CURSILLO OF CURSILLOS, ARESOUNDING SUCCESS

What they said.

Gratitude to all involved in organizingthe C of C’s

Thanks for sharing your hearts and yourpassion for Christ in the rollos

Loved every moment of it and I learnedso much. I know it will help me to livethe Cursillo method (to be a friend tothose around me)

The whole conference was a call toexamine how I (or a given group)understand, and live Cursillo and howit is necessary to leave the accessoriesbehind and become more authentic

The layout was well planned, it had agradual, constant crescendo on pointingout what is essential to the Movement(Spiritually, I came in dressed as for aSunday Mass and I left with only a plaintunic)

More BE-ing and less DO-ing: Agapelove through friendship: these wereconcepts stated over and over (Youdon’t even need words to express truefriendship.

Honesty and humility weredemonstrated in the rollos

Miguel’s rollos showed joyfulcommunication of Faith in the normalityof daily living and life.

I learned the importance of my 4th day(Group Reunion and Ultreya) aspossible pre-Cursillo for somebody else;

Length of rollos was good, they werewell prepared, delivered and on target

Space and time for questioning wasgood

Well done… the 2 chapels for prayerand quiet time

Location, food, accommodations andhospitality were excellent

I was glad I had the opportunity to buyEduardo’s “My Spiritual Testament”

The input of the spiritual directorsFather Gaston and Father Sid wasexcellent and inspiring

Serving….. the upside down pyramid –great analogy.

It was a very good C of C’s indeed, nowI see more clearly.

By listening to the “living witnesses”and sharing of our own ideas, weclarified our understanding and beliefsabout Cursillo and at the same timedeepened our faith.

Like Jesus, I’d like to get up on amountain top and tell all who willlisten: “God is waiting for you andChrist is Counting on you!”

Within the small groups at tables welovingly supported each other, ensuringthat each had an opportunity to speakand be heard

Invaluable, irreplaceable. There isnothing like having someone fromMallorca there to speak and answerquestions. Nothing second-hand,however good, can replace this. AndMiguel did a wonderful job, even ifsometimes he had difficulty with the

mailto:[email protected]



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language and understanding what wasasked. The others filled in admirably.

The open nature of the event meantanything of concern could be asked, andthis led to some great understandings ofthe Foundational Charism and its focuson the faraway.

The table communities are the mostvaluable method there is in getting agreat deal done efficiently. Imagine ifwe didn't have them: we would haveleft without many of the deeperunderstandings we were able to cometo. And the deep friendships formedcould never have taken place otherwise.

Those who missed it can never be giventhe message that was given there. Truly,"you had to be there."

For me personally, the big question Ihad going in was, "Have I gotten itright? Has what I have tried to pass onover the last four years in Torontoright?" The answer was a huge "Yes!"And the others who were there fromToronto affirmed it in their comments tome. What a wonderful relief.

NOT SO GOOD Quote….”The only negative

“encounter” was to have to put up for 3days with a participant that clearly wasnot ready to be at the conference andthat made the sharing, rollo after rollo,at times very painful…. But who am I??At the end I thought it was a greatlesson to me and a proof of howimportant pre-cursillo is and it showedme that probably behind her inability tolive the Cursillo there was somebody’s4th day not lived authentically.Somebody blinded by the enthusiasm tomake a new Cursillista in number butforgetting to lead her to Christ. (but Iknow that Christ will find her)”.

I was disappointed that the talks werenot recorded and copied for people topurchase in CD form to take home andbe able to digest. I was told that thetalks would be available but when thathappens long after the fact, theenthusiasm is somewhat lost.

People were abuzz with all of the“drifting away” points in the talks.Being a “new” person I asked at least 6people what we had drifted away fromand got 6 different answers. If someonecannot give me an answer that we canall agree on then I will “drift away”myself. This frustrated me as I couldnot grasp what everyone was talkingabout and this was because everyonewas talking about something else. Iexpected more of “Christ” in the talksbut it seemed that what I got was howto “run” the Ultreyas and School ofLeaders. This was not what I attended

the conference for. I think we forget that“the weekend” for both the candidatesand the facilitators are so filled with“Christ” that this was what attracted meto the Cursillo Movement. Anotherthing I find is as with manyorganizations is that the wrong peoplefind themselves in positions of “power”or have no previous training [i.e.Chairperson of the SOL or ofsecretariat]. This can lead todictatorship where they inadvertentlydrive people away by not knowing howto conduct meetings or ever set agendas.

Miguel and George Henry, chair of CCCC,share a moment


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Perhaps the CCCC could help in thismatter. Sorry to dump on youregarding the conference and theaftermath (in London)

Two happenings touched mevery deeply:

Father Gaston’s answer to who canmake the Cursillo weekend.

The compassionate response fromBishop Bergie when he was interruptedduring the Sunday Mass.

Hamilton diocese Cursillistas, hostsfor the Cursillo of Cursillos.

CONFERENCE 2010St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, Nova Scotia

June 24th-27th

As we talk to Cursillistas around the country, many questions are brought forwardregarding the Ten Topics of the 1 Conversations of Cala Figuera. CCCC haspresented conferences based on each of these topics in the past. However, as newCursillistas come into the movement, we realize that they may not be aware of justwhat is meant when we refer to the Ten Topics in our rollos and discussions. TheOfficers, after careful consideration and reflection on the theme of the 2010conference, feel that it is time to revisit the Conversations of Cala Figuera, explainingthe context and content. Therefore, the theme of the 2010 Conference will be:

The Ten TopicsAs rooted in the Gospel and lived out in the Mentality of the

Movement.

Registration details are being finalized and on-line registration will be available veryshortly on the CCCC website. www.cursillo-canada.org

Further details will be available from your secretariats as soon as details are finalized.

www.cursillo-canada.org


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ESSAY“ESSAY” is a column, in which the talks and reflectionsfrom Cursillo leaders around the country (and abroad) canbe shared with the larger audience. Hopefully these ‘essays’will provide the basis for further discussion. If anyone caresto respond, please feel free to send your commentary toFully Alive. While these essays are subject to editing forspace, clarity and subject, they do not necessarily reflect theopinions of the CCCC.

Another great event of the summer was a World Ultreyaheld in Los Angeles at the beginning of August. It wastruly a memorable occasion with Cursillistas attendingfrom as far away as Australia.

The following is the keynote address given byProf. Dr. M. Guzmán Carriquiry LecourSub-secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Laity(PCL)

SIGNS OF HOPE

We are facing times of global crisis, fraught withuncertainties and threats on the lives ofindividuals, families, nations and internationalharmony. Secularized messianisms and utopiashave collapsed, while the idolatry of power,money, technological knowledge and pleasureclearly show that they only serve to build thecommon home on sand and straw, not rock.Even the nave of the church is facing storms andtrials. These are dramatic times that require ofChristians a unique testimony of hope.Notwithstanding all the failures in the personaland collective hardship, not withstanding allhuman limitations and, above all, death itselfthat seems to wipe out all projects, we put hopein the indestructible power of Love, whose faceis revealed in He that loved us all to the end:God is the foundation of the great hope thatsustains all life (cf. Eph. 2, 12). "In hope we weresaved" (Rom. 8, 24).

May this Ultreya be a great sign of hope ofwhich the Church gives public witness and towhich personas and peoples are called!

Indeed, among the many signs of hope for thegood of the Church and humanity, H.H. JohnPaul II recognized the emergence of "a new eraof associations of the lay faithful", which,

“alongside the traditional associations, andsometimes from their very roots, movementsand associations have sprouted with newphysiognomy and with specific purposes”,showing "The richness and versatility ofresources that the Spirit nourishes in theecclesial fabric” and “the capacity for initiativeand generosity in our lay people" (ChristifidelisLaici n. 29). He did so at the Post-SynodalApostolic Exhortation, which celebrated itstwentieth anniversary of publication, MagnaCarta for the laity of our time, that on the Synodroadway—path of communion for all theChurch - has been a further development andrecapitulation of the teachings of Vatican II onthe vocation and mission of the laity in theChurch and the world. This was also notedwhen Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 1985, wrotethat "what is giving hope at the level of theUniversal Church - and this happens precisely atthe heart of the crisis of the Church in theWestern world - is the rise of new movementsthat no one planned, but rather have emergedspontaneously from the inner vitality of the faith"(Report on the Faith, 1985). In them, theCardinal expressed appreciation for the faiththat "was reborn in young men and women,with no 'buts', without subterfuge or loopholes,a living faith in its integrity as a gift, as aprecious gift for life" (The placement oftheological Movements, 1997).

The Cursillos in Christianity have beenprophetic anticipators of that living stream ofnew movements and ecclesial communities thathave enriched the communion and mission ofthe church since before the second half of thetwentieth century and up until our time.

PROVIDENTIAL REALITY

What are the fruits of movements if not theaction of the Holy Spirit that “not only sanctifiesand leads the people of God through thesacraments and the ministries”, but that “alsodistributes special gifts amongst the faithful ofwhatever state or condition and distributes itsgifts to each as He wishes"(Lumen Gentium, n.12)? As Hans Urs von Balthasar and JosephRatzinger have pointed out how many differentextraordinary charisms appear to focus in timelyfashion, as if in a cluster, on the crossroads of


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history, change of era and deep culturaltransition, which subject the Christian traditionto the test in the face of new and emergingchallenges affecting the various dimensions ofpeople's lives and societies. These charismaticbreakthroughs are what renew bring forth theChristian tradition from its very source, andreviving and re-proposing the entire originalforce of the Christian event and its fascinatingevidence, giving rise to living currents ofsanctification of ordinary people, of Churchreform in its mystery of communion, and of thenew evangelization of pop culture.

"It is significant in this respect - said John Paul IIon November 18, 1984 – how the Spirit in orderto continue the dialogue begun by God in Christand continued throughout Christian history, hasgiven rise to many ecclesial movements in thecontemporary Church. " And on anotheroccasion, on September 29, 1985, he stated evenmore explicitly: "The Church, born of thepassion and resurrection of Christ and theoutpouring of the Spirit, and propagatedthroughout the world and at all times on thefoundation of the apostles, has been enriched forcenturies by the grace of gifts that are ever new.These have enabled it, at various times, bepresent in new and appropriate ways to thethirst for beauty and justice that Christ wasarousing in the hearts of men, and of which hehimself is the only full and satisfactory response".In the crucial context of our time, themovements are “a providential response”because “they represent one of the mostsignificant fruits of the spring time of theChurch announced by the Second VaticanCouncil, but they are, unfortunately, oftenhampered by the growing process ofsecularization "(Pope John Paul II at May 27,1998).

The Cursillo movement of Christianity iscertainly the work of the Spirit of God, aprovidential reality, a path of rediscovery of thevocation and mission of the laity, an occurrenceof new life that spreads in every environment ofcoexistence and, in such a way that it is therenewal of the Christian tradition thatanticipated and prepared for the Vatican

Council II and which cooperated in its mostfaithful and living actions.

ON THE ORIGINS OF THE MOVEMENT

If the generic category of "movements" cancertainly not be exhausted or fixed by the wealthof manners generated by the life-givingcreativity of the Spirit" it does serve, however,"to indicate a concrete ecclesial reality ofpredominantly lay participation, a journey offaith and Christian witness which bases its ownpedagogical method on a precise charism givento the individual founder in certaincircumstances and ways". It is characteristic ofall of them - continued John Paul II in hismessage of May 27, 1998 - "the commonconscience of the novelty that the baptismalgrace brings to life (...), the singular desire todeepen the mystery of communion with Christand the brethren (...), the strong loyalty to theheritage of faith transmitted by the living streamof tradition (...), all giving "rise to a renewedmissionary thrust which results in a findingitself with the men and women of our time, inthe situations where they find themselves in,and to contemplate with eyes brimming withlove, the dignity, needs and destiny of eachone”.

At its origin, then, the movements are the workof the Spirit that, by using the method of theIncarnation, distributes and gives its charisms tocertain individuals so that they will give rise to anew journey of faith that is for the conversionand sanctification of individuals, for the"common use" of building up the Body of Christin the midst of human fellowship. It has beenthe Spirit of God that illuminated the definitionof Cursillos of Christianity, in its essence andpurpose, through the Christian and ecclesialexperience lived by Eduardo Bonnin with hisyoung friends, during the 1940s in Mallorca as aliving stream of the role of laity beyond theoverly clerical limits of the Church, in harmonywith respect to what was being reflected uponwith regard to the “theology of the laity”, andwith the urgings of H.H. Pius XII so that thelaity might be fully recognized in thecommunion and mission of the Church andsoon thereafter would be taught and propelledby that great event of the Spirit which was the


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Second Vatican Council. It was this same Spiritthat assisted priests like Sebastian Gayá,Guillermo Payeras. Juan Capo and many otherscollaborated as educators in the faith, in thegenesis and development of Cursillos. And it isthe same Spirit that guided the pastoraldiscernment and doctrinal support of BishopJuan Hervás first and there after all thenumerous bishops and Popes who haverecognized and encouraged the Cursillos inChristianity, in its integrity and uniqueness as awork of God for the good of the Church andhumanity. They were not, therefore, the work ofchance or wonderful improvisation but ratherthe powerful seed planted by God in the goodearth of the Church, in the heart and intelligenceof Bonnin and his friends in the company of thepastors, which became a thriving, fruitful tree inthe vineyard of the Lord. This is why H.H. PaulVI was able to say during the first Ultreya heldin Rome on May 28, 1966, that Cursillos ofChristianity, as confirmed by their results andgood fruit, "have the right of citizenshipthroughout the world." The Pope himselfblessed and encouraged in his message to thesecond Ultreya gathered in Mexico City on May23, 1970, and H.H. John Paul II offered hisappreciation on the occasion of the third Ultreyacelebrated on July 28, 2000, in St. Peter's Squareduring the Holy Year, "for all that the Church,through the Cursillos of Christianity, has doneand continues to achieve."

Pope Benedict XVI teaches on the subject, in hismessage of May 22, 2006, how "over thecenturies, Christianity has been communicatedand disseminated through the newness of life ofindividuals and communities able to provide aneffective witness of love, unity and joy, "theforce that has set into ‘movement’ so manypeople for generations. Has it not been thebeauty that the faith has generated in the facesof the saints which has prompted many menand women to follow in their footsteps? In theend - concluded the pope - this applies to you:through the founders and initiators of yourmovements and communities you haveglimpsed the face of Christ with a singularbrightness and you started on your way ".The "new phase" of "ecclesial maturity" thatPope John Paul required of the movements, inhis speech on May 30, 1998, is today translated

to being faithful to the charism that hasgenerated and always encouraged and renewedin all its original passion, freshness and spiritualpower. It means also to be faithful to the methodof Christian rediscovery that the same charismbegan. It means also to be faithful to friendship,companionship and community fellowship thatexperience has shaped and is at once its sign andits support, its food and propulsion. Finally, itmeans also to be faithful to the ardor,enthusiastic momentum, radiant and urgingzeal to communicate in all environments thebeauty of the experience, overcoming at thesame time, all bureaucratic withdrawal andfatigue, all the difficulties and trials, all thedivisions in which the work of the devil isinsinuated.

BEGIN ANEW FROM JESUS CHRIST

What are the charisms if not a gift (gratia gratisdata) that the Holy Spirit infuses that gives riseto ever renewed paths for encountering andfollowing the Lord in the lives of individualsand communities? The Cursillos in Christianityaimed, from their origins, on what they called"what is fundamental to being Christian”. In itsbeginning there was a conversion experiencethat, beyond the tinsel traditional ofChristianity, its appearance of power andworldly success, aroused a love for Christ andthe brethren, an evangelical radicalism, anapostolic urgency, void of all tranquilmediocrity and conformity among Christiansand determined to not be drawn in to the"humdrum" of the church "machine". Thatexperience of Eduardo Bonnin and his friends,along with the shepherds who accompaniedthem, all centred on "what is fundamental tobeing Christian", could well be expressed withwhat Pope John Paul II wrote as a program inthe Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte (nn16 et seq.) "Begin anew from Christ," setting ourgaze on his face, aware of the depth of hismystery, and therefore beggars confident in hisgrace, to rediscover the human stature in whichwe have been created, re-generated by baptismand destined for growth, and converted as hisdisciples, and therefore his witnesses andmissionaries.

The Charism is a form of obedience to which


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God's mercy, by the grace of his Spirit, hasdestined for us, whereby the presence of Christand the mystery of the Church - his body inhistory - become evident and poignant ,fascinating and reasonable, in people's lives. TheCursillos are primarily that shared invitation to"open the doors to Christ," the doors of the heartand intelligence of the person and of all livingenvironments of human interaction. Indeed,these are real charisms of the one Spirit (cf. ICor. 12, 4-11) who confess Christ as Lord aretrue (cf. I Cor. 12, 3), contribute to building upthe Body of Christ in human interaction (cf. 1Cor. 12, 7, 12, 22-27) and give, above all, theprimacy of charity (cf. I Cor. 13 2Cor. 6, 6, Gal. 52 ). Benedict XVI clearly affirms this at thebeginning of his encyclical Deus caritas est: "Being Christian is not the result of an ethicalchoice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with anevent, a person, which gives life a new horizonand a decisive direction.. "

Yesterday as well as today, we arecontemporaries of this Presence! Today, “in ourworld, often dominated by a secularized culturewhich encourages and promotes models of lifewithout God", the faith of many is sorely testedand is frequently stifled and dies "(cf. John PaulII , May 30, 1998), we are all called to a renewedencounter with Christ, with the same reality,novelty and relevance, with the same power ofpersuasion and affection with the samefascinating attraction of the experience lived2000 years ago by the first disciples on the banksof the Jordan and a few decades ago by thoseyoung friends of Majorca and pilgrims toSantiago. Such is the grace that we mustimplore. Christianity is not, ultimately, areligious worldview, a doctrine about the truthor a set of rituals for "initiated" minorities, butrather the occurrence of the Word made flesh,that through the sacrament of the Christiancommunity, comes to meet us at every time andplace, and requires of our freedom only thesimple "fiat" like Mary’s, so that our flesh willbecome His and our blood, His blood. This is theconsciousness of the "new creature" we becomethrough baptism, the most profound andsublime dignity of the person created in God'simage, made participants of the death andresurrection of the Lord, redeemed as a child ofGod, new protagonists in the world scene.

Therefore, the real charisms lead to communionof the Church, assiduousness to the andsacramental Eucharistic encounter with theLord, in dialogue with him in prayer, inlistening to His Word and the faithfulintelligence to his teachings in the livingawareness of his Presence in the communion ofthe brethren in the faith, the perception of hisface in the "neighbours" of all environments oflife and especially in those who bear the cross ofpoverty, suffering, and the loss of "meaning" tolife. The realization of self is most fully obtainedin the encounter with Jesus Christ. Therefore, noother words were more primary nor repeatedmore in the teaching of H.H. John Paul II thanthat of Gaudium et Spes (n. 22): "In reality, themystery of man is clarified only in the mysteryof the Incarnate Word."

METHOD, PATH, SCHOOL

It is clear that every extraordinary charismgenerates a method of education to the faith andin the faith, or, in other words, a path ofrediscovery of Christ's presence in the lives ofpeople through their membership in thecommunion and co-responsible participation inthe mission of the Church. Method means thepath toward a goal, a route discovery, a teachingand training. Thus, Benedict XVI called themovements "schools of life", " schools offreedom, schools of communion" (Homily ofJune 3, 2006). And Pope John Paul II exclaimed,years prior: "There is so much need for matureChristian personalities, conscious of theirbaptismal identity, of their vocation and missionin the Church and the world! (...) And here arethe movements and new ecclesial communities”:they are the "providential response" (speech ofMay 30, 1998).

There no longer exists a social and culturalenvironment conducive to the transmission ofChristianity; on the contrary, there isdissemination, through the powerful andcapillary networks of media, a dominant cultureof relativist trends and even conformist nihilism,increasingly remote and hostile to the Christiantradition. The Witness of many baptizedChristians is sustained by remaining traces ofthat tradition, reduced to small residualfragments and episodes, impoverished and


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confused in its existential and intellectualcontent, and ultimately quite superfluous. PopeBenedict XVI has signaled various times to thecurrent "educational emergency", or arduousdifficulty in communicating reasons, sound andstrong ideals, that give meaning and a path forachieving a truly human way of life. Thiseducational emergency finds a critical focalpoint in the difficulty of transmitting the faith,which seems to have placed a “chokehold” oncommunication. No matter the generic rhetoricon values, or the pious speeches, or even thesimple mention of the Christian message. Thereis no interest or attraction to a Christian appealthat is not a life-bearing new experience inwhich a real radiance and a promise ofhappiness for life itself cannot be seen.Therefore, the movements are "providential"because they attract and communicate thanks tothe testimony of a new life that returns to theevent which makes it possible, they give reasonsfor the hope that inspires the radiating love ofthis experience proclaiming the kerygma of faithand suggest a learning path for peopleaccompanying them to Christian maturity. Theyare, as Benedict XVI wrote on May 22, 2005,"companies on the path in which to learn to livein the truth and love that Christ revealed to usand communicated by the witness of theapostles, in the great family of his disciples. "

The force of the charism and educationalmethod lead to overcoming any dualismbetween faith and life, to give shape to lifeunder the impact of the Christian event, tocontinue experiencing union with Christ as thefully, satisfactory, overabundant response, to thedesire for freedom, truth, happiness and justicerooted in the heart of the person, to the point ofexclaiming, like the Apostle Paul: "It is not I wholives, but Christ who lives in me" (...). "Life isChrist" (Gal. 2, 20).

Benedict XVI expressed this strongly in thehomily at the inaugural Mass of his pontificate(April 24, 2005): "Whoever lets Christ enter (intheir life) loses nothing, nothing, absolutelynothing of what makes life free, beautiful andgreat (...). Only in this friendship does the greatpotential of the human condition really open(...). Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothingaway, and he gives you everything. The person

who gives themselves to Him, receives 100 to 1.Yes, open wide the doors to Christ and you willfind true life. "

It fact, if the encounter with Christ is true, life-changes, all of life, all the points of interest inlife, despite all the distractions andinconsistencies, all worldly undertakings, all thebetrayals and denials that come from sin. Thereis no longer a divorce between the confession offaith and the fabric of everyday life; they are nolonger separated into compartments. Nothingcan be outside this metanoia, this conversionand transformation of all existence. If it is a trueencounter, it changes a person's life and leaves amark on married and family life, friendships,work, recreation, use of leisure time and money,how to look at reality. Everything becomes morehuman, more real, more splendidly beautifuland happier. Everything is embraces by thepower of a love of transfiguration, unity, life,sign and flow of this "revolution of love" that isChristianity. And this new life is not the resultof a mere moral effort, always fragile, in theperson, but the result, above all, of the grace, orrather an encounter that becomes friendship,familiarity, communion, confidence in themerciful love of God, strength in our weakness."The vital synthesis between the Gospel and theduties of everyday life that the faithful willknow how to shape – wrote John Paul IIChristifidelis Laici (n. 34) - will be the mostsplendid and convincing evidence that, not fearbut the search and adherence to Christ are thedecisive factor for man to live and grow, and toconfigure new ways of living more inconformity with human dignity. "

Moreover, thanks to the charisms and theireducational radicalism of the Gospel, theobjective content of faith and the flow of itsliving tradition they communicate persuasivelyand are received as personal experience.Movements raise and nurture, accompany andlead to an understanding of faith that is rootedin the teachings of the Church as communicatedby the Magisterium of its Pastors - condensed inthe Catechism of the Catholic Church - and thisbecomes intelligence of all reality. Not by chancedoes the tradition of Cursillos have theillustrative phrase that all reality seems to be "decolores" to believers, no longer in the dark life of


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confusion, without meaning, or thesuperficiality of a gray existence in whichChristianity for many is becoming paltry.Quintessential to Cursillos is to stir the heart,enlighten the intelligence and direct the will tothe path of conversion and formation of a newChristian personality.

COMPANY, FRIENDSHIP, COMMUNION

The "spiritual affinity" that is created betweenthose who share the same charism gives rise tostrong and deep friendships, communal livingarrangements, forms of unique fraternity, whichare company and support for the Christian lifeof individuals who "make the interior of asmaller reality, the great and vital reality of theChurch”, wrote Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in thebook Salt of the Earth, 1997- concrete, experientialand practical.” The movements aremanifestations of the "free forms" in which theone Church is achieved, by means of which theyeducate in the sense of belonging to the mysteryof communion and sharing in its mission. Thus,Benedict XVI calls the movements "luminoussigns of the beauty of Christ and the Church, hiswife" (Message of May 2, 2006), radiantreflections of this mystery of communion inwhich we recognize ourselves as "members ofone body, made "one in Christ" (cf. Gal. 3, 28,Col. 11), which has its source and summit in theEucharist, "a sign of unity” and “bond ofcharity" (cf. Lumen Gentium , 11). The Church,expressed Benedict XVI, before his trip toCologne to attend the World Youth Day, is the“support of a great love for our lives. " St.Augustine said it in these words: "In humaninteraction, so full of mistakes and suffering,what gives us consolation but a secure faith andlove of true and good friends? Can we not saythe same thing from the experience of themovements?

"What great need there is for Christiancommunities, " John Paul II also exclaimed, andthis sense also, marks the paradigmatic andprovidential character of the movements (speechon May 30, 1998). Indeed, how is faith to be keptalive in the person as living moment, how is the"new being" to grow in the newness of life andhow can the freedom of the children of God bepreserved in the midst of worldly life that is

ever more assimilating? How can this be donewithout strong roots in a specific Christiancommunity, alive, which is home to the personwho embraces their entire life, sustaining andnourishing the memory of Christ and fidelity totradition in every dimension of their existence?When the bonds to the Church are weak andsporadic, there is only a consumption of"religious" services. It is not enough, either, tohave an abstract idea of the Church, subject toour preconceptions and measures. The over-confidence that often has been placed inplanning and "bureaucracies" makes the Churchappear, in the end, for many a company ofreligious services and moral exhortationsshaped by "projects" of their stakeholders. Inaddition, we are still the heirs of thatcontradiction, which made H.H. Paul VI sufferso much as he held admiration for the mostbeautiful, profound and renewed ecclesialconsciousness that, as the fruit of the Spirit, isexpressed in the Vatican Council teachings and,in turn, warned of the phenomena of mass crisis,disaffection, argumentation, and alienation of itsauthentic communion. No wonder, then, thatwe are invited to re-read this extraordinarycouncil document, the Constitution on theChurch, "Lumen Gentium" and to re-educate the"sensus ecclesiae." We must always rediscoverthe Church as sacrament rooted in theTrinitarian life, which “means" for the wholeworld the mystery of salvific design, reveals thepilgrim nature of God's people, present inhistory as the epiphany of the inexhaustiblenovelty and contemporaneity of the Body ofChrist. It is embraced above all as a gift, in allthe density and beauty of its mystery, in all itsconstituent factors. It is not "ours", it is God’s.

If the Church does not give rise to this in-corporation into living Christian communities-in its most profound theological and existentialmeaning—then it remains just one moreaddition to life and not the "tremendousmystery", more radical and decisive than anyfamily, ethnic, social, political and cultural ties.The present circumstances only serve toemphasize this requirement. Indeed, we aremade for communion, but everything tends toobscure our origin, the desire of our hearts, andour destination. Today there is a rapid processof disintegration of social fabric everywhere, in


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societies that are increasingly fragmented into amultiplicity of interests, cultures and individualconflict, which is growing in indifference andhostility of people towards each other. Freedomconceived as individualistic independencebreaks the bonds of belonging and leaves the "I"in isolation, in terms of vulnerability,helplessness and dependency under theinfluences of power, in a growing massdepersonalization. “Virtual” communication isobviously not enough. In the "global village" ofcommunications what are truly needed are morereal encounters, accompaniment and friendship,a real exercise of communion. Thus the apostolicexhortation Christifidelis Laici (n. 34) stated that"to remake the Christian fabric of humansociety"-starting from the family and its"intermediate groups" - we must "remake theChristian fabric of the ecclesial communityitself". The Church has to become more "formamundi"—germination, sign and flow of the newsociety within the world-as a visible communityof very diverse people -poor sinners trusting inthe mercy and grace of their Lord--who live realrelationships, more humanly, morecharacterized by "being" than "having" or "beingable to", of a surprising fraternity, miraculousgift of unity that men can not win with theirsolitary and disorderly forces; always exposedto the sins of its members, always in an“examination of conscience”, always begging forforgiveness and with an attitude of conversionand renewed fidelity.

Therefore, it is essential and urgent, now morethan ever that there be " formation of matureecclesial communities, in which the faith mightradiate and fulfill the basic meaning ofadherence to the person of Christ and hisGospel, of an encounter and sacramentalcommunion with him, and of an existence livedin charity and in service. "(Christifidelis laici,34). Every Christian community--families as"domestic churches", parishes, associations,religious communities, ecclesial communities,movements ...- is called to live and bear witnessto this mystery of communion, in unity with thebishop and the Pope, as abode and fertileground for education of the individual,adherence to Christianity as a live event, thegrowth of freedom from the conformistpressures of the environment and passionate

responsibility for its own destiny and thedestiny of others. This does not depend on aplethora of initiatives and a facade ofrenovations. It is the work of the sacramentaland charismatic gifts, which are coessential inthe Church, founding it and constantlyrenewing it. Church history shows us that themovements of renewal that raises the spiritbrings forth to revive the faith and the missionreturn to the source and updating that archetypeof the primitive community in many ways, inwhich all the brothers and sisters were "of onesoul and one mind ", assiduously attending tothe teaching of the apostles, gathered in thebreaking of bread and prayers, putting life, giftsand property in common.

This pattern of communion is strongly presentfrom the origins of Cursillos of Christianity,which could also be said were the result of afriendship that, in Christ, grew in the embrace ofpeople of various ages, social condition, culturesand nations. Therefore, the phrase that has beenso common among you--"make a friend, be afriend and make them friends of Christ," is thefabric of friendship which links the circulardynamics of pre-Cursillo, Cursillo and post-Cursillo. It is a friendship that becomescommunion, that lives, feeds and supports thegreat communion of the Church. It iscommunion guaranteed by a prompt andobedient to adherence to the bishops in unionwith the Successor of Peter, ministers andwitnesses of that communion in the truth andlove. It is communion that shares this charismand works in the life of local churches for theedification of the one Body of Christ. It iscommunion, not in and of itself, but for themission.

AD GENTES!

Anyone who has found something true,beautiful and good in his life - the real treasure,the pearl of great price - is to share iteverywhere, at home and at work in all areas oftheir lives." This was acknowledged by BenedictXVI in his homily on June 3, 2006. So a few daysearlier, in his message of May 22 of that year, heurged the movements to bring " Christ's light toall the social and cultural milieus in which youlive” noting that, “Missionary zeal is proof of a


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It was very important toBonnin and those with

him to refer to the storiesof Christ's encounters

with several people in theseemingly mundane

circumstances of life (withthose who would be his

apostles, with theMagdalene and the

Samaritan woman, withZacchaeus, the rich young

man ...)

radical experience of ever renewed fidelity toone's charism that surpasses any kind of wearyor selfish withdrawal."

That missionary zeal exists in the very originsof Cursillos in Christianity. Not in vain,Eduardo Bonnin has emphasized theimportance that lay, from the very definition ofthese cursillos, on the study of the environment."This study of the environment presupposedand meant, that on the one hand, to depart fromthe "sacristies," to give an end to the enclosure ofthe church, in order to go beyond a church thatrested upon Christian routines whose socialweight covered situations and trends of crisiswaiting to happen. On the other hand, it meantremaining attentive to the circumstances ofactual, concrete and ordinaryconditions of the life andinteractions of every person andcoexistence. It is a zeal forexpanding the power ofChristian friendship in allenvironments; a livelyawareness of the universaldestination of the gospel ofChrist that does not havepreferences for people nordiscriminates according to thelabels or preventive censorship,with an open heart and withdisposition toward theencounters as if each wereeventful and promising, withpassion for life and the fate theyface.

"The Church does notproselytize - said Benedict XVI in Aparecida(May 13, 2007). It grows much more byattraction: as Christ ‘draws all to himself’."Cursillo also offers that attractive witness, thatis, "leavening" because it is capable of movingthe hearts of people, to later lead theirintelligence and then spur their will on a path ofreconciliation with oneself, with God andbrethren, since these same events are stilloccurring through his witnesses in allenvironments of interaction, in all times andplaces. It is always the same method ofdiscipleship that begins with "Come and see,come and follow me," and that will then become

familiarity, announcement, teaching, newness ofshared life, and apostolate. It is the dynamics ofthe attractive invitation ( "follow me"), of theformation ( "make them my disciples”) andsending ("go throughout the world").

The invitation to Cursillos is for everyone of allages; men and women of various socialconditions and cultural contexts, without moralor religious pre-requisites, because the Gospel isfor everyone!! And a " Catholic" charism alwaysproves capable of embracing and moving all. Itis directed both to those who have the gift ofbaptism buried in oblivion or indifference or tothe "far away" of every belief. The exhortationChristifidelis Laici (n. 34) does not leave roomtoday for easy optimism: "Whole countries and

nations where religion andthe Christian life wereformerly flourishing (...)arenow put to a hard test, andin some cases, are evenundergoing a radicaltransformation”, as a resultof a constant spreading ofan indifference to religion,of secularism and atheismso that large masses of menlive as if God does not exist.And "the number of thosewho still do not knowChrist and do not belong tothe Church - is said in theencyclical RedemptorisMissio (n. 3) - (...) since theend of the Council it hasalmost doubled." However,it does no good to only

complain, lament and denounce the evils of thetimes. Two reasons sustain our hope andmissionary zeal. The first is that the Holy Spiritalways precedes us as the great protagonist ofevangelization in the life of people in theirenvironments of life, in all nations, and in allcreation. And the second is the belief thateveryone, in their reason and affection, is madefor the truth, for justice, for happiness, for love,yearning without confines that are anxious forfull realization. Therefore, these undeniable andirrepressible yearnings of their humanity arerestless until it rests in God, finding a complete


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answer only in Christ, that is completelysatisfactory.

I interpret this "vertebration of environments" -vertebration of Christianity! - which is peculiarto the experience and the jargon of Cursillo, asthat amazing transformation that yeast producesin the dough, making the community of peopleaware and respectful of the common dignity,passionate for justice and peace, in solidaritybefore the needs, and builders of the commongood. Much more still: they are signs of theKingdom of God that mysteriously grows in themidst of human society, the "revolution of love”that only Christianity is, transmits and spreadsin the history of humanity, the Lordship ofChrist, only "corner stone” for the every trulyhuman project.

Today all Cursillistas are called, in keeping withtheir charism, to renew their missionary zealand presence at all "areopagus" that announcethe good news of salvation. You must take andpropose the experience of Cursillos everywhere,in all environments, to all corners of the world,and “even to the moon" as the founders used tosay. Then you will be clearly responding to theinvitation which the Holy Father Benedict XVImade to you on June 3, 2006: "Dear friends, I askthat you be, still more, much more so, partners in theuniversal ministry of the Pope, opening the doors toChrist. This is the best service to give to the Churchand mankind.”

This missionary apostolic passion will help, andit is no small thing to avoid the temptation ofconcentrating and wasting energy oninterpretive debates, forming opposing sides,vindictive bids for power, on tensions,suspicions and divisions that cloud thetestimony of friendship and inhibit the mostenthusiastic promotion of Cursillos and theleavening and vertebrating presence to which allare called upon to perform in all environments.

Ultreya, friends! Ultreya! It seems that thisgreeting and exclamation mean "beyond." Thegrace of the Lord takes us beyond our limits,enlightens our intelligence with the “beyond” offaith and leads us beyond our own programsand plans, inviting us to be witnesses andmissionaries, always beyond all confines and

awaits us beyond history, in its eternal abode.Ultreya, Cursillista friends!

Prof. Dr. M. Guzmán Carriquiry LecourSub-secretary of the Pontifical Council for theLaity

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FROMOUR

READERSPlease forward comments to Fully AliveC/o CCCC Resource Centre.

A Personal Reflection on the Cursillo ofCursillos – An Invitation to remain rooted inLiving Waters!

The national Cursillo Conference this pastSummer was, for me, an occasion to listen, learn,and deepen my knowledge of Cursillo. Theformat of the Cursillo of Cursillos was a littledifferent to what I had expected, as I hadimagined that the conference would closelymirror my Cursillo weekend. Many similaritieswere evident since we sat in groups at tables,listened to rollistas and then took time for groupreflection and sharing. Our Rector, fromMallorca, was Miguel Seruda, a close friend ofEduardo Bonnin. Beyond the Cursillo weekendexperience that I had anticipated, I was notdisappointed since the National Conferenceproved to be an opportunity to form and deepenfriendships and grow in my understanding ofthe Cursillo Method and its Charism.

I listened to rollos on the Essence and Purposeof Cursillo, the Cursillo Mentality, PotentialDangers in the Cursillo Movement, and a rolloon the Role of Priests in Cursillo as Cursillistasthemselves as well as spiritual advisors to theMovement. There were also rollos on Leaders,


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Pre-Cursillo, a rollo on the Cursillo weekend -its components and how it forms a piece of alarger picture, the Roles of the School of Leadersand Secretariat in serving and supporting localCursillo communities, and finally a rollo onGroup Reunions and Ultreya.

During my Cursillo weekend I was introducedto the idea of thinking about Piety, Study andAction as a tripod, formed by three inter-relatedessential parts which together provide bothstrength and a solid framework for living aChristian life through the Cursillo method. As Ilistened to and reflected on the rollos at theCursillo of Cursillos in Kitchener, I began to seemore clearly the significance of the three keyelements of Cursillo: the Pre-Cursillo, theCursillo weekend, and the Post Cursillo. I cameto understand that these too can be viewed as a

tripod, and that no one part of the CursilloMethod alone is sufficient, and that all threetogether are necessary to form the whole. Ilearned that the Post-Cursillo, if well-lived,becomes someone else`s Pre-Cursillo as solidfriendships are formed that allow others toexperience the invitation to a deeper, richer andmore abundant life; and the role of the Cursilloweekend is a vehicle to accelerate the encounterswith oneself, Christ and others.

Since the Cursillo of Cursillos, I have foundmyself reflecting frequently on the roots of a treein search of deep living water. My Cursilloweekend was very significant to me and I oftenremember that time with a sense of deep

gratitude and joy. Beyond that experience, I nowwonder if I was breaking ground then and justbeginning to scratch the surface; that althoughmy roots were not very far in the earth, theysensed that there was still more to growtowards. As the Cursillo of Cursillos progressedthis past Summer, I felt an invitation to allowmy roots to grow a little deeper and to restconnected to a source of life-giving water byliving an authentic Post-Cursillo, and in sodoing to mine the rich veins of gold beyond thesurface of my first encounter.

A CursillistaVancouver

Miguel shares lunch with members of theHispanic Cursillo Movement

Miguel doing ‘corridor work’.

Carlos Munoz and his table group


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WitnessHi. My name is Maureen Willis and I made myCursillo Oct/2009 at Camp Geddie and I sat atthe table of St. Rita.

I am no professional but one of the things I mostlove to do is sing. I have always been in a choirof some type-right from elementary up to highschool and beyond----most of my adult life. Ican burst into song anywhere at almost anygiven moment without caring that no 'normal'person does that! ( I have even had co-workersask me to stop!!) In fact, one of the reasons whyI decided to make my cursillo was because I'dheard that there was going to be lots of musicand singing.

Among other things, singing has always beentherapy for me. No matter what my mood, I canjump into some melody--it comes as natural tome as talking. It usually gives me pleasure andalways takes me somewhere whether it bethrough trials or through tribulations. I neverfelt happier than when I was on stage with amusical group or up singing in the loft with thechurch choir. It just brought me a subconsciousjoy that only few other things could so easily do.

Keeping that in mind, I'm going to talk a littleabout my philosophy of life. From as far back asI can remember, I have thought of life as aJOURNEY and I was going to treat it as such. Iwas going to enjoy the easy parts with thestraight paths and persevere through the hardparts with mountainous paths. Because I knewthat the path would become smooth again onthe other side of those mountains. I know that Ihad learned this throughout my life experiences.I had learned that I can pretty well control how Ireact to the hurdles most of the time. There is anebb and flow to our daily lives and I feltconfident that I would survive all of thembecause of my philosophy. I think one of thereasons I can do this is because I believe myselfto be very lucky:

I have a loving husband, loving in-laws, a job, acomfortable house where I live with myhusband and two children whom I adore,animals who love to be cuddled

Except for those persistent bills that come on aregular basis, I wouldn't change anything. Ihave everything I want and need.

The past few years have given me a fewchallenges. I lost my mother 3 years ago to lungcancer. It was stressful, of course. One monthlater a tragedy occurred while we were onvacation. A relative who was swimming withus disappeared. I found her face-down in thewater, and together with my husband, wedragged her to shore but were unable to reviveher. She was brain dead already and the veryfaint heartbeat that she had ended. She died inthe hospital a few hours later. I ended up takingsome stress leave from work at this time. A yearlater I was diagnosed with breast cancer andthen had a prompt mastectomy. A year afterthat, an x-ray determined that I needed a fullhysterectomy but thank God---nothingmalignant there. Two months ago, 47 of us atmy workplace were informed that our jobs wereleaving New Glasgow so as of February 12th, Iwill be among the unemployed. After 22 yearswith the same employer, I will no longer have ajob to get up for every day. It will be a cultureshock. (I mentioned to my husband the othermorning that it felt strange that I no longer hada job---with his unfailing wit he countered thiswith 'don't worry...it is balanced out by nothaving an income!') Anyway, I got through allof this very well and I am still fine. I also STILLconsider myself a lucky and blessed person. I'mhappy to be alive with my family and we are allin good health. I know there will continue to bechallenges in my life. In fact, one that my familyfaces every single day involves the special needsof my very special son who has autism.Sometimes when I feel a darkness creeping in, I

Continued on page30

Daily we touch Him


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ATLANTICCAPE BRETON EAST

Secretariat Activities:

We as a Secretariat meet once a month from September through June. Ourmandate is evangelize our environments through the building andsupporting of our Christian community using the tools of piety, study andaction. We promote Group Reunions, Ultreya and School of Leaders asvisible support systems for living our fourth day as Christians. Weorganize Cursillo Weekends seek out the far away, and contribute oursupport to the Regional Atlantic and National Cursillo Movements.

Successes:

The number of Cursillistas attending School of Leaders continues togrow. Those who have attended School of Leaders approach their role onteams with renewed enthusiasm. It is our hope that in the near futuremost of our team members will come from our School of leaders.

CHARLOTTETOWN

Lay Director’s Information

My name is Arlene van Diepen and I made my Cursillo in 1998 atBelcourt Lodge, in South Rustico, PEI at the table of St. Theresa. I havecompleted my second year as Lay Director for the Diocese ofCharlottetown Cursillo Movement of Prince Edward. On PEI, the LayDirector serves three years and serves one year as a Past Lay Director.

Secretariat Information

2008-2009 has been another busy year for our secretariat. Last year at the annual meeting, we set fourgoals.. I am pleased to say that with the prayerful support of our community and with the committedefforts of all members of Secretariat we have been able to achieve our goals:

We have increased the number of Group Reunions We have increase number of Ultreyas We have implemented the School of Leaders We have fully implemented Rainbow Manual

NEWS FROM AROUND THECOUNTRY

ATLANTIC,Antigonish (Tri-Counties,Cape Breton East, CapeBreton West) Halifax, St.John’s, Charlottetown,Yarmouth, YarmouthValley. St. John

QUEBEC,Montreal English,Spanish, Hungarian,Korean

ONTARIO, Sarnia,London, KentCounty/Chatham,Peterborough, Toronto,Hamilton, Timmins,Ottawa, Thunder Bay,Korean, Latin American

WESTERN, Victoria,Vancouver, Nelson,Prince George, Calgary,Edmonton, Grouard-McLennan, NativeCursillo, Winnipeg


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building bridges fromcoast to coast2008-09 was a stable year for our secretariat inthat we only had one new member. In June,2009, however, 3 members’ terms will end. Wehave revised the format of secretariat to be morein line with the support required within aCursillo movement and back to where it oncehad been on PEI. Positions on Secretariat willinclude: Lay Director, Spiritual Director,Secretary, Treasurer, Atlantic Rep, Pre-CursilloCoordinator, Cursillo Weekend Coordinator,Post-Cursillo Coordinator, School of LeadersCoordinator, and Palanca Coordinator. Wehope to be able to add two new members for theSchool of Leaders Coordinator and CursilloWeekend Coordinator. All coordinators willhave sub-committees comprised of membersfrom the community who will help to carry outthe functions of that position. It is our desire tohave more people involved in theadministration of Cursillo on PEI and we believethat this format will serve this purpose.

The Secretariat prays, studies, plans and actstogether to fulfill its mandate to develop andguide the Cursillo Movement on PEI as per theoriginal Charism as given to our founder,Eduardo Bonin, by the Holy Spirit. Secretariatmeets 10 times per year on a monthly basisexcept for July and August. Special meetingsare held as required.

Cursillo Community

Our movement is comprised of membersranging from those who have been involved inCursillo since they made the first Cursillo in1979 to other active members who have madeCursillo in the past few years. This balance ofexperienced members with the less experiencedserves to keep our movement vibrant. OurInvasions or Clausuras are very well attended asare our Island Wide Ultreyas. Faithful membersattend our masses held as Palanca prior to ourweekends and masses dedicated to deceased

members. Members are always willing to serveour Lord by working on our weekends.

School of Leaders

We introduced the School of Leaders to PEI in2008. Prior to the beginning of team formation,we bring both teams together for a full day for aSchool of Leaders where they hear presentationson the History of Cursillo, Elements of Cursillo,1st day of the weekend, 2nd Day of the Weekend,3rd Day of the Weekend and How To Write aRollo. We are hoping in 2009-2010 to haveseveral School of Leaders scheduled whereCursillistas will present on The Environment,the Ideal Candidate and Sponsorship.

Group Reunion

Our weekends continue to place great emphasison the Total Security Rollo. Teams continue tosupport the new Cursillistas after the weekendsto assist them to get into a group. We have 19very active Group Reunions with 135 members.Most meet all year long on a weekly basis whilea couple meet bi-weekly. The past year has beensuccessful in that we have increased our GroupReunions by 6 and members within GroupReunions by 39. We have one women’s group,one couples group and the other groups arecomprised of men and women. are workingtowards increasing these numbers.

Ultreyas

All Ultreyas use the consistent authentic format.Agendas for our Ultreya include: GatheringMusic, Prayer to the Holy Spirit, GroupReunion, Witness speaker, Echo speaker,Spiritual Advisor comments, announcements,prayers for special intentions, closing music.The Ultreya is followed with a sharing table forthose who wish to remain to socialize.


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This past year, we held two Island WideUltreyas that were very well attended. TheUltreya after the Spring weekends waspresented as per our guidelines. We did nothave mass and we began with a Group Reunion.It went extremely well and received aconsiderable amount of positive feedback. Allagreed that it was a powerful experience. Amember of Secretariat carries the responsibilityfor Ultreyas. We have Ultreya coordinatorsappointed in each of the three counties. LocalUltreyas are held on a monthly basis inCharlottetown. Our local Ultreyas haveincreased this year with Ultreyas being held inPalmer Road, Summerside and Morell.Numbers at local Ultreyas range from 25 – 35.These local Ultreyas have received positivefeedback as well.

The need for and the interest in coming togetheras a community is evident within ourmovement. We need to have more localUltreyas. If we are able to do this, we willstrengthen our Post-Cursillo. If we strengthenour Post Cursillo we will bring more people toChrist and to Cursillo. Ultreyas help to create anextremely supportive environment for us togrow in our faith and gives us the support weneed for our apostolic action in bringing thosewithin our environments to Christ.

Cursillo Weekends

This past year, we held two men’s weekend andtwo women’s weekend. We had 8 men on theMen’s Fall weekend and 16 women on theWomen’s Fall Weekend. We had 6 men on theSpring men’s weekend and 12 women on thewomen’s Spring weekend. We have 25members on our teams. All Rollos arepresented using the Rainbow manual outline.We have re-introduced the Cursillista After theCursillo rollo, we have instituted the silentretreat on Thursday, we now use the Pilgrim’sGuide and Service Sheets. Feedback from teamsand candidates have been extremely positiveand our weekends continue to be very powerful.

Other EventsWe continue to have a Palanca Mass before webegin each weekend. These are very well

intended. A practice that has grown inpopularity this year, is that Group Reunionsacross the province get together to pray for theteam and candidates participating in weekends.We also have an annual Mass for DeceasedCursillistas.

On Thursday, August 7, 2008, host, author andlay Catholic evangelist Ralph Martin gave apresentation to a gathering of the PEI Cursillomovement at St. Augustine's Church, SouthRustico. Mr. Martin played a key role inestablishing the Cursillo movement in NorthAmerica working for the national CursilloSecretariat in the US, developing publications onits behalf

The Year Ahead

Over the next year, we will focus on three goals:

Strengthen our Post Cursillo byA. Increasing the number of GroupReunionsB. Increasing the number of localUltreyas

C. Scheduling 3 School of Leaderssessions in Summerside and 3 inCharlottetown

Celebrate our 30th Anniversary Plan to host the 2010 Atlantic

Conference

Arlene vanDiepenLay DirectorDiocese of Charlottetown

ST. JOHN’S NL

Goals:

To Bring Back Fellow Cursillistas whohave been absent from our Ultreya.

We look forward to having a men’s andwomen’s Cursillo weekend in St. John’sand on the Burin Peninsula (The BurinPeninsula is about a 4 hour drive fromSt. John’s)


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Secretariat Activities:

In May, 2009 we met with our newSpiritual Director, Fr. Leo English,C.Ss.R. who accepted the invitation ofArchbishop Martin Currie to take onthis role within our movement.

Our secretariat meets once a month andwill meet after the Ultreya if needed.

As of June 30, 2009 we will have toreplace three of our outgoing memberswhose terms are up.

Successes:Pre-Cursillo:

We held an Advent and Lenten day ofreflection where we had four speakersand two of the speakers were fellowCursillistas.

We had a Christmas Dinner and Dancethat was well attended and of course wehad special guest appearance by ourlocal Mummers who danced in withSanta.

Cursillo Weekends:

The last weekend we had was awomen’s weekend on the BurinPeninsula in Oct. 2007; however, wehave put teams in place this year andhave them prepare for a weekend lateron in the fall of 2009. We tried forSpring 09; however, there were notenough candidates.

Fourth Day (Post-Cursillo)

In St. John’s we have a weekly ultreya(20-30 people in attendance) and on theBurin Peninsula we have Ultreya once amonth with (20-30 people inattendance).

We have a Grand Ultreya for St. John’sand Burin in June of each year and thisyear St. John’s is hosting.

We have a phone tree in place to letfellow Cursillistas know of any prayerrequests and advise them of upcomingevents within the Movement.

We have a Fifth Day Celebration everyNovember to remember thoseCursillistas who have passed away.

Communications: We continue to have a quarterly

newsletter that is e-mailed to 30Cursillistas and of course we have 30distributed to the Burin Peninsula andother copies are available at our Ultreya.Should anyone wish to have a copy ofour Newsletter please [email protected].

We have a Special Events committeewho look after any extra events ie:Christmas Dinner and Dance, FundRaising, etc.

New event:

We also have a birthday celebration thelast Saturday in every month tocelebrate fellow Cursillistas birthdaysthat occur during that month.

Background Information: Cursillo has been active in this Diocese

for 27 Yrs.

Terri BaileyLay DirectorSt. John’s Archdiocese Cursillo Movement

[email protected]

CENTRAL REGIONLONDON AREA CURSILLO

The London Area Catholic Cursillo Movement(LACCM) has had a very good year in 2009 asthe secretariat has approved a new constitution,our teams have led two very successfulweekends, attendance at Ultreyas remainsconstant and our School of Leaders continues todraw crowds of Cursillisatas.




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The LACCM constitution draws heavily onarticles from other successful Cursillomovements as it outlines our goals andobjectives. It also provides guidelines for theconduct of meetings and the duties of officers.

The ladies and mens’ weekends were bothbooked to the capacity of the physical plantwhere our weekends were held. Our specialthanks to the Michaelite Fathers for the use oftheir facilities. The witness comments given bythe candidates were outstanding and were atribute to the work and dedication of the teammembers. The Holy Spirit probably had a rolein this as well. Congratulations to all the newCursillistas. We tried an outdoor closing for thefirst time in London area and it was a greatsuccess in spite of the wind competing with therector for the microphone. Hopefully, we willbe able to repeat this type of closing in thefuture.

Ultreyas, while well attended, are stillstruggling to attract the new Cursillistas and toinvolve them in active small group sharing.New programs are being implemented for thispurpose and the success of these programs willbe evaluated over the course of the next year.The same challenge, I suspect, is facing mostCursillo movements – perhaps this could be atopic for a future Canadian Conference ofCatholic Cursillos General Meeting.

The School of Leaders has continued under theinspired leadership of the school’s rector, MaryRessler, and attendance at the Saturday morningevents continues to escalate. Congratulations toall the leaders and our heartfelt thanks for all ofyour efforts.

Perhaps most indicative of the health of ourmovement is the succession of secretariatmembers. Our slate of officers is fully bookedfor 2010. Mary Lou Keyes will succeed me asLay Director on September 1, while Bill Resslerwill be taking over as co Lay Director. OtherCursillisatas have agreed to fill secretariatpositions in the near future.

All in all, the London Area Catholic CursilloMovement is “Lookin’ Good!!!”

Wayne ColeLay DirectorLondon Area Catholic Cursillo Movement

CHATHAM/KENT

This has been a very exciting year for us here inChatham Kent. We were blessed to be called toassist the Essex Cursillo Movement inpresenting their first Cursillo Weekend inaround 15 years. The weekends were held inlate October and early November of 2008 withRectors and Co-Rectors from the KentMovement and most of the team from the EssexMovement and both weekends were a hugesuccess with 40 new men and womenCursillistas. The Holy Spirit was very much inevidence there in Amherstburg at the House ofShalom. Back-up in the kitchen and financialassistance was also offered by the KentMovement. More weekends are planned thisFall.

The Kent Movement is thriving with largeattendance at the monthly Ultreyas which areheld in various parishes throughout the county.A joint Ultreya with the Essex Movement isplanned for June. Ultreyas begin with Massfollowed by a program usually consisting of aFourth Day speaker or video. Members ofSecretariat give short reports on what ishappening in their jurisdiction to keep theCursillistas informed. Our lending library ispresent whenever possible. This is followed bya short social with goodies supplied by the hostParish.

Kent Cursillo held two Weekends in 2009, theMen’s Weekend was January 22-25 and theWomen’s Weekend was February 5-8. Wewelcome 37 new Cursillistas to Kent Cursillo.

Our secretariat welcomed new members in Maywith all positions filled except for the assistantMaterials. This will hopefully be in placeshortly. Secretariat meetings are held the lastMonday of every month except for July and arevery well attended. We begin with the CursilloLeader’s Prayer followed by a meditation andsharing. Officer’s reports are given and themeeting closes with prayer.


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We here in Kent Cursillo thank God for theopportunity to share His love with othersthrough the Cursillo Movement.

Virginia Hoste, Lay DirectorKent Cursillo

THUNDER BAY

This past year has been one of ongoingdevelopment and growth in the Diocese ofThunder Bay Cursillo.

We had a very successful Grand Ultreya in Sept’08 in Nipigon, with about 40 in attendance. Fr.Milton McWatch and the Cursillistas fromaround Nipigon were most welcoming and, as aresult, the Grand Ultreya was a blessing to allwho attended..

The Men’s and Women’s Leader Teams spentthe winter and spring preparing for the theCursillo Weekends in May & June 2009. Ourmeetings, as always, produced much fruit andwere a joy and a privilege to attend. Due to thelack of candidates, we had to cancel bothweekends, but that in no way diminished theblessings and benefits of our team preparation.Though the weekends were cancelled, weproceeded to hold a retreat for the Leader Teamsat the beginning of May. The retreat wasfacilitated by Fr. Larry Kroker SJ, and all whoattended thoroughly enjoyed the day on theshores of Lake Superior.

The continued formation of the Leader Teamsand the cancellation of the weekends led ourSecretariat to re-assess our movement in termsof the Charism of Cursillo.

Influenced by the talks from the CCCC 2008Annual Conference in Kelowna, “Pre-Cursillo –Witness to the Good News”, it is our aim to holdwhat we will call a “Cursillo for Cursillistas” forthe Cursillistas in our Diocese. It is our intentionto present the talks from the 2008 AnnualConference. It is our hope that this plannedCursillo for Cursillistas will aid all who attend,to walk and live the true Charism of Cursillo.Our Secretariat this past year was:

Spiritual Director Rev. Mr. Howard McEachernAss’t Spiritual Director Rev. Mr. DennisMcDermottLay Director Randy MakarenkoSecretary Stewart RathjeTreasurer Steve ScalzoPre-Cursillo Chair Giles Boisvert3 Day Chair Suzanne Dubois4th Day Chair Mary McLeanPalanca Chair Oliver PiccininNewsletter Editor Don Tribe

Randy MakarenkoLay Director

WESTERNEDMONTON

Blessings to all:The Edmonton Cursillo Community continuesto journey in Faith. The Post and Pre Cursillocontinue to be a topic of discussion at ourSecretariat meetings. We are still in a learningcurve and as a Cursillo Community we strivetogether to understand the importance anddependence of the two.

January of this year we had a Cursillo reflectionday, “Listening To Soul Pain” Reflection Day:“Listening to Soul Pain” facilitated andorganized by Joan Porter set for Jan 24 at 9:00am. Sessions, group sharing, team building-finishing with gift discernment.

The reflection day was well received and it wasindicated that this is what we need at least acouple of times a year.

In the Archdiocese of Edmonton, Cursillo,among other renewal groups was asked to beinvolved with the ‘Nothing More Beautiful’process. Our involvement would be for feedbackon the process and spreading the word in ourown communities.

What is Nothing More Beautiful?A five-year process of reflection and spiritualrenewal in which everyone in the archdiocesewill be given an opportunity to rediscover the


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beauty of knowing Jesus Christ and thetreasury of our faith.Year one is dedicated to ‘The Beauty of theHuman Person’, created by God and saved inJesus Christ. Between Dec.12, 2008, and theend of May 2009, there will be four events tohelp explore this theme.

1. IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OFGOD – Dec.12,2008.

2. THE HUMAN BODY IN GOD’SCREATIVE DESIGN – Feb. 12, 2009

3. OUR NEW LIFE IN JESUS CHRIST –April 30, 2009

4. TOWARDS A CULTURE OF LIFE –May 21, 2009

From these encounters we have received, CD’sand literature to share with Cursillistas on anongoing basis. Another help to get to knowChrist better and to deepen our relationshipwith Him.

We have Men’s and Ladies weekends plannedfor this year. The men’s was to take place May14-17, but had to be postponed to October 29 –November 1, 2009. The Ladies weekend is fulland scheduled to go June 18 – 21, 2009. Mencandidates seem to take longer to get there (gofigure). The Men’s Team is ready and all Rollo’shave been critiqued. Some adjustments nodoubt will be made by the fall weekend.

Our men’s and ladies groups are meeting on aregular basis and we continue to deepen ourrelationship with each other and with Christ.Our Ultreya’s happen each month on the lastWednesday. Our last Ultreya for the summerwill be just after the Women’s weekend on June24, and we will celebrate Summer with ourAnnual Pot Luck Pic Nic / BBQ on July 13,2009.

By God’s Graces and the prayers and supportof all Cursillistas everywhere, we journey closerto Christ Jesus.

DeColoresDennis GelascoLay Director

VANCOUVER

Goals: To continue spreading the good news of

God’s love to everyone, especially thosewho are “far away” by following themission of Cursillo: make a friend, be afriend, bring your friend to Christ.

To learn more about the Cursillomovement by studying in-depth thewritings of Eduardo Bonnin and theresults of the meetings at Cala Figuera.

To continually educate cursillistas byde-emphasizing the Weekend andemphasizing Group Reunion, Ultreya,and School of Leaders as the maincomponents of Cursillo.

Secretariat: With very few exceptions, Secretariat

met regularly every second Saturday ofthe month, and although many times weagreed/complained more people wereneeded, still the members persevered intheir attendance and in performing theirtasks seriously. Collectively andindividually, though, we prayed for theLord to send more labourers into Hisvineyard in the shape of volunteers toserve in Secretariat – and our prayerswere answered at Annual GeneralMeeting on March 20, 2009.

Weekends: We were blessed with two great

Weekends both at Our Lady of FatimaParish. Peggy Maas was the Rectora forthe Ladies in May 2008 at which timewe welcomed 20 new womenCursillistas. Larry Bowen was Rectorfor the Men’s in October and althoughnot as numerous, it was also wellattended with 7 new men receiving theCursillo Cross. Later, through thereports of Rector and Rectora in post-weekend meetings and Ultreyas, weonce more appreciated and gave thanksfor the power of God at work inpeople’s lives. Secretariat congratulatedboth Peggy and Larry for a great job, aswell as their Front and Kitchen teams,


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and prayed for God’s blessings on themand their loved ones.

Ultreyas: We continue to hold Ultreyas at St.

Bernadette’s on the first and thirdFridays, and when the month has a fifthFriday, we also have Ultreya at St.Paul’s Mission in North Vancouver. It isalways a joy to see Cursillistas comingto Ultreyas, many times braving theweather which this year created havocin our city. Although Ultreyas are wellattended still we wish we could seemore fellow Cursillistas coming throughthe doors.

We are exploring the possibility ofhaving Ultreyas in other areas in thelower mainland that would be moreaccessible for people driving. We arealso trying to promote car-pooling toUltreyas. Ultimately we are praying alot while bouncing ideas.

School of Leaders: We continue to meet on the second

Wednesday of the month. The actualgroup attending is quite small but wethink it’s because of lack of information.We are trying to make peopleunderstand how School of Leaders is ofparamount importance in the formationof Cursillistas, since it’s here that westudy the fundamentals of Cursillo andEduardo Bonnin’s intentions for theMovement.

Fourth Day: Workshop: We had a very well

attended workshop in August. TheRollos were well presented and thegroup’s interaction was animated andinstructive. We have already plannedthe next one, which will take place onJune 20/09.

Prayer Line: Has been very active andsuccessful. More and more we rely on itto know about the prayer needs of ourbrothers and sisters.

Newsletter: It is not published asregularly as he would like it to, but SidBilsky does it all by himself and has

many other things (Cursillo and private)to attend to – and still he publishes it!

Parties: Picnic: Our annual picnic took place

during the 2008 Labour Day weekend inthe grounds of St. Bernadette’s. Goodfood, good fellowship.

Christmas: Despite the bad weather weheld our potluck in the great hall at St.Bernadette’s. It was well attended, withmany children present.

Deceased: Mass for the repose of the soul of

deceased Cursillistas was celebrated byFr. Patrick Chisholm on November 21,2008.

Annual General Meeting: Our AGM took place at St. Bernadette’s

hall on March 20, 2009 and was wellattended.

The new elected Secretariat is formedby: Odete Redondo, Lay Director;Sidney Bilsky, Treasurer and FourthDay Newsletter Editor; Karen Morris,Pre-Cursillo; Jude Maddalozzo, Cursillo;Sharon and Roger LaFleche, Post-Cursillo; Doris Lirondelle, First NationsLiaison; Shalin Watkins, Secretary. Wecontinue to be graced and inspired bythe presence of Fr. Patrick Chisholm asSpiritual Director, and Debborah O’Sheaas our Liaison to the National.

Note: We have a new Website! Please check usout at www.decolores.ca.

Odete RedondoLay DirectorArchdiocese of Vancouver Cursillo Movement

www.decolores.ca


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MATTERS

SPIRITUAL

TOPIC: THE MEDITATIONS ON THE WEEKEND

How they are structured.How they fit into the three encounters

Father Syd Mifflen, CCCC Spiritual Advisor

It was a shock to me to learn a few years ago that on some Cursilloweekends in Canada, the meditations that make up part of theCursillo were not being offered. I was also aware that in somecases the meditations were being offered on the first and seconddays, but often skipped on the third day 'because we are rushed fortime.' Elsewhere, meditations were being offered, but not along thelines or on the topics that were originally intended.

It may seem that I'm pushing my own thing to say that themeditations constitute a very important part of the weekend, but Ibelieve that you will find that most Cursillistas will agree with me.This is not to say that they are more, or less, important than the layrollos or the other spiritual rollos; rather, they have their ownpurpose in helping to provide a context for all the rollos.

The weekend involves three Encounters: with self, with Christ,with others. Each encounter provides the context for one of thethree days. In each case, one or more meditations lay(s) thespiritual groundwork for the rollos that are presented.

The first three meditations, Know Yourself, The Prodigal Son, and TheThree Glances of Christ precede the rollos of the first day. Theyconstitute the 'retreat' that begins the weekend. Their purpose is tohave each candidate look closely at himself/herself as a humanbeing, as a sinner in need of forgiveness, and as one whom Christseeks. The emphasis is not on the state of being a sinner, but ratheron the Father's desire to forgive and Christ's openness to the onewho might follow him. In the meditation on the Prodigal Son,attention is paid not only to the Prodigal, but also to the elder son,with whom some candidates may sympathize. He has remainedphysically close to his father, but fails to see the depth of his father'slove for him. It is as if he sees his father as one who owes him adebt of gratitude, rather than one with whom he enjoys a freeexchange of love. The father tries to help him see the difference.All three meditations are meant to dispose the candidate to bepositively open to the rollos of the first day. These rollos are meantto help the candidate see himself/herself as a human being who isbeing offered the opportunity to live on a higher level (that ofgrace) and to develop a habit of piety appropriate for life at thishigher level. Freedom to respond to that offer is emphasized.


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The next meditation, The Figure of Christ, opensthe candidate to an encounter with Jesus ChristHimself. It attempts to describe Christ as He isseen in the events depicted in the Gospels – theOne who loves each person with human anddivine love and invites each person to followHim. The candidate will learn to meet Christ inthe Scriptures and other books, persons andevents; he/she will learn to meet Christ in theSacraments; and having learned these things,will see that Christ calls him/her to act as afollower of Christ and to lead others to suchaction.

In the last meditation, The Message of Christ tothe Cursillista, the candidate prepares to focuson the Encounter with Others, and beginshis/her preparation for living as a Christianafter the weekend. The rollos of the Third Daywill point out that it is in the Post-Cursillowhere he/she will live with others who may ormay not be Christian in their outlook or theirbehaviour, and will bring to this environmentthe conviction that he/she has developed on theweekend. This will require great inner strength

which is difficult to sustain if one acts alone. Forthis reason, the candidate will be encouraged touse the means to personal sanctification,including prayer, the Sacraments and spiritualdirection, and will be introduced to the meansthat Cursillo provides, living in friendshipthrough Group Reunion and Ultreya, that givesCursillistas security in their attempts to live thelife of grace. The meditation emphasizes that'Christ is counting on you,' that is, on theCursillista, to continue His mission in the world.Having been offered the 'life of grace,' theCursillista is challenged to live that life in anever more intense fashion, always rememberingthat Christ is at his/her side and the Holy Spiritis there as well to inspire and strengthenhim/her.

Without the meditations, the candidate wouldmiss much of the 'why' of the rollos, theconnection between how one is expected to liveas a Christian and why he/she should want todo so.

Q. Will there be a booklet produced as in otheryears containing the rollos from the Cursillo ofCursillos?

A. The rollos from the Cursillo of Cursilloswill not be published in booklet form. Not all ofthe rollos that were given have full written textas some of the rollistas gave their rollos from apoint form outline. To publish only an outlinewould be incomprehensible and as such mighttend to dissuade a person from attending aCursillo of Cursillos in the future or may tend tobe confusing.

CCCC plans to offer the Cursillo of Cursillos inthe months and years to come in the differentregions beginning this fall in the Atlantic.

A very important part of the dynamic of theCursillo of Cursillos, in addition to the rollos, isthe discussion that takes place in the tablegroups, during the breaks, and especially duringthe large group meetings where the rollistas areavailable to clarify anything that was not clearand to bring forward any points that may needfurther explanation. This cannot happen just byreading a rollo.

If anyone who attended the C of C has questionsarising from what they heard please do nothesitate to contact the Resource Centre or anyone of the Officers.


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Continued from page 19

I see him with his happy face as one of thebrightest beacons of my life and I do notexaggerate when I say that hardly a day goes bythat I don't thank God for having given him tom brightest beacons of my life and I do notexaggerate when I say that hardly a day goes bythat I don't thank God for having given him tome.

So.....it sounds as if I am coping well all on myown, doesn't it? Well, I always thought that IWAS doing that and in the best way I could. Ihad an intrinsic strength. If I could still manageto sing happily and feel safe and secure in myfamily setting, wasn't that everything? I did apretty good job. But I began to feel restlessnessin me and it grew and seemed to culminate withthe event of a car accident that took the lives of 2young children close to where I live. Also, Iknew some of the extended family of one ofthose children. I was SAD, RESENTFUL andANGRY.....with God. I either doubted hisexistence or saw him as a far-off entity---someone completely on the 'outside' of ourworld. He gives, he takes away and checks inwith us once in a while to dole out what wedeserve. I still don't understand his plan (likeeveryone else) but I am viewing him in adifferent way. During that intense 3-day

weekend I became aware that God knows mepersonally--truly knows me. He is always thereand always aware, of my joys and of mysorrows. Through him, I am able to open mymind to appreciate the music and open my heartto love the people with whom I come intocontact. He has given me the ability to tolerateand to have patience in this life I live. He hasput truly caring people on this earth. I don'tthink I ever really thought that other peoplecould genuinely care and to the extent that Iwitnessed at the Cursillo. My weekend showedme that I was wrong in thinking otherwise. Ihave to trust God and my real friends. I know Ihave to ACTIVELY let God in more. One way todo that is to make a confession and after 35years, I did just that. I won't let another 35 yearsgo by.

I have no scripture reading for today but, inlight of my talk, I thought I'd play a song from acd by 4/4 the Lord. This cd materialized as aresult of the 4 musicians who were on Cursillo.It is a l'Arche hymn and speaks clearly to us,encouraging us to begin a journey and not tofalter-knowing that footprints show that we arenot travelling alone.

De Colores

The prayer chapel at the Cursillo of Cursillos


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De Colores



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De Colores



CHAIRPERSONSPIRITUAL ADVISOR

George Henry (902) 678-7947 Fr. Syd Mifflen (902) 867 393776 Elizabeth Drive [email protected] Box 5000, [email protected] Kentville, NS Francis Xavier UniversityB4N 3V8 Antigonish, NS

B2G 2W5Debborah O’Shea (604) 274-76109391 Piermond Rd [email protected] ASSISTANT SP.ADV.Richmond, BC Fr Pat O’Meara (902) 875-2448V7E 1N1 Boc 99

Shelburne, [email protected]

B0T 1W0Nancy Bath (705) 696 3126160 Park Lane, Box 331 [email protected], ONK0L 1Y0

Marg Weber (519) 747-5937482 Anndale Road [email protected], ONN2K 2S3

For address changes, subscriptions to Fully Alive, or to submit questions or articles, please forward to:

S. Winston, Editor. CCCC, Resource CentreC/O Joyful Noise Books and Gifts

957 Brunette Avenue, Coquitlam, BC.V3K 1E1Ph.(514) 713 0349. (514) 227-5221 e-mail [email protected]


Fully Alive is published three times per year by the National Secretariat of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Cursilloswho is solely responsible for its contents. No article or any part of it may be reproduced without the written permissionofCCCC © CCCC 2009 all rights reserved









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