Welcome to the second 2010 edition of the Communique for the Hamilton, Ontario Diocese Cursillo community. For more information about the Hamilton Diocese Cursillo Movement visit www.4thday.ca.
Due to other commitments Jim Schramek has asked that the weekend be re-scheduled for some time in October. So, there will be no Men's weekend on April 15th to April 18th but there will be one sometime in October. Contact David Milne at 519-894-0657 or weekenddirector@4thday.ca with any questions, comments or candidates. Application forms are available by clicking here.
Margaret Carreiro has accepted the call to be Rectora for the 71st Women's weekend on September 30th to October 3rd at Deemerton. Thank you Margaret. Margaret is currently looking for team members. If you are interested on being on team please fill out a “Want to be on Team” form.
Contact David Milne at 519-894-0657 or weekenddirector@4thday.ca with any questions, comments or candidates. Application forms are available by clicking here.
On Saturday February 27th the School of Leaders was held at Holy Rosary Parish hall in Guelph. Even through it was a snowy day 12 Cursillistas from across our Diocese including Fr Frank braved the elements as we came together to deepen our understanding of the topic for the day Christianity in Action.
In the afternoon we explored and shared ideas to consider if our gatherings should continue as is on Saturday on a bi monthly basis or more frequently perhaps gathering on a week night so as not to compete with or interrupt the Ultreyas who also meet on Saturdays. This would also help out those people who work on weekends like students or young adults and not disrupt those who are preparing to serve on a team weekends. It might help not disrupt a valuable family day. Car pooling could be done for those who do not have rides or who do not drive at night.
More thoughts were shared on how the benefits of meeting more often might further help us to strengthen our relationships with one other. To shorten the drive it was suggested if we still considered keeping one school but having a team or teams be willing to facilitate the gatherings on the same topic in 2 or 3 locations that would have to be found where the stronger Ultreyas meet. We brainstormed and discussed ideas such as how to practically accomplish this.
Concerns were shared that for Cursillo to grow would some people in our Diocese still be committed enough to want to help out and be willing to learn and take turns witnessing and sharing, in presenting their understanding of topics and questions pertaining to elements of Cursillo? There was good discussion in exploring how to accomplishing the goals of making our School of Leaders better. Other ideas are still welcomed.
It is so important that those who have the desire to serve this movement have ample opportunity to continue to grow, and deepen their understanding of the truth and knowledge of Cursillo. Just like it is good to continue to study the life of Christ in the Gospel it is only by our loving witnesses as friends to one another that this method of our movement and its purpose is passed on to others.
On Feb 27 the challenges of weather and other commitments kept some away. Kudos go out to those who phoned ahead to express their thoughts to be shared with all because they could not attend.
With the smaller group, there was more time for personal sharing at table groups as well as the larger group discussion that followed. It was a good experience for those that chose to come together from different parts of our diocese. All felt at ease and seemed comfortable, to freely speak and contribute to generate a deeper united understanding of the subject matter relating directly to an aspect of the mentality of Cursillo.
I was humbled when asked to serve on Secretariat last spring and to be the contact for School of Leaders. I do not have all the answers or the years of experience as some of you may have and am just another Christian on the Journey.
I am looking for individuals who would be willing to help me out to better serve in this role with this School of Leaders from different Ultreya areas that gather.
I understand that Cursillo has been around for over 40 yrs in our Diocese with many serving this movement very well. I so want to learn from your experiences and have the desire to serve but need some of your gifts and talents. I am just one part of this body. I would like to have a team of friends to help serve our Diocese better.
On Friday evening April 23rd and the full day of Saturday April 24th planning is underway for a special workshop being offered to us on aspects of better understanding elements of the School of Leaders. This will be presented by a few friends from our Canadian Conference of Catholic Cursillos otherwise known as the CCCC. The workshop will be held at St. Michael's Church in Waterloo, across the street from Wilfrid Laurier University. We are looking to billet those who would be coming from farther away. More information will follow when I have some.
In May it would be great to have the School of Leaders in the North part of our Diocese I will need to get some help in finding a good location to host this.
I can be reached at 519-748-1711 or sharonpenlington@gmail.com
Your companion on the Journey,
Sharon Penlington contact person for the School of Leaders.
Dear Cursillistas,
It is time for me to say thank you to everyone in our movement who has so often helped me, supported me and prayed for me over the past years.
It has been an honour to serve you on the Secretariat and now it is time for Kim Jones to take over.
I ask that you please continue to support her and pray for her like you have me.
I pray that our movement continues to grow in all of the areas of Cursillo. I pray that the Holy Spirit continues to lead all of you with your involvement in Cursillo.
May all of you have a Lent full of sacrifice and a very blessed Easter. God bless you all.
De Colores
Sandi Farwell
2010 CCCC Conference
Conference 2010 will be held on the campus of St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, from June 24 to 27, 2010 at the Keating Millennium Centre. You may register on-line to attend the 2010 CCCC Conference. Registrations will begin the early part of the New Year. Click here to visit the CCCC web site for the latest information.
Holy Land with Father Ken
Have you always wanted to travel the roads where Jesus walked, seen the Holy shrines and Churches built in honour of Jesus’ life? Now is the time!
Travel with Father Ken Miskiewicz and Ron Ertel, Parish Minister, St. Anthony Daniel Church, Kitchener on a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land October 19-28, 2010. Contact Maria at Bullas Travel at 519 578-7740x217 before you complete your registration form or if you need more information. Space is limited and there are only a few seats left. Book Today!!
Last summer in August 2009 over 4 days I had the amazing opportunity to attend the USA National Conference and the IV World Ultreya in California. This was thanks to the Holy Spirit and an incredible airline seat sale! I wanted to learn more about Cursillo and its successes and challenges and thought this was too good of an experience to miss.
You can read the key note address in the new addition of Fully Alive put out by our Canadian Conference of Catholic Cursillos.
Attending these incredible back to back events allowed me to meet some people who were truly living the method of friendship of Cursillo from across the world. I met new friends and people who led ordinary lives. They had families and went to church on Sunday. They participate in a regular weekly Ultreya and small group Reunion. Those who want to deepen the knowledge and understanding of living Cursillo and or serve the movement also come together for a School of Leaders on a regular weekly or bi weekly basis. They hold down jobs and have children and socialize with friends. I was impressed to meet people living the experience of Cursillo as such an everyday natural part of their lives.
I saw how simple it was for people who shared their witnesses to me from across different parts of the world who live the method of Cursillo in friendship with others.
They radiated by just being themselves the joy that they have in their hearts in knowing how much God loves them. They demonstrated to me how they live the Gospel in today’s world. They were witnesses for Christ. When I asked some people questions about their time, commitments and distances they had to travel, it seemed as if these were not big concerns. Most traveled less than 1 hour and on average 35 minutes to gatherings but all said it was worth that to be with friends to strengthen and grow as persons. It was like being with family at a meal together. Others took turns helping out with children, car pooling etc.
An older gentleman who picked me up at the Airport stated his boss give him time off from work to help with this event, and that trusted he would finish his tasks later.
I met some younger Korean Cursillistas who gather as a few parishes joined together in an Ultreya because their Diocese is so large. I also met people from other countries. Like Australia and Ireland.
The highlight for me was when we were asked to find a small group of strangers we did not know from different countries and to share our piety study and action together. In my group of 3 women was a lady who used to live in New York who married a Spanish fellow and now lives in Mallorca Spain raising their family. She was interested in learning how the rest of the world lives Cursillo. The other lady I met was from Korea she had such joy in her heart in sharing how God was so good.
I was made to feel at home as one of the few Canadians who attended.
It became apparent to me that locations across the world that gather on a monthly basis or less for Ultreya and School of Leaders or who were not participating in the company of friends in a group reunion of some fashion were more often than not the ones struggling for newer Cursillistas or people willing to persevere in this movement. Their members all had graying hair.
I was in awe at witnessing how what I have seen as obstacles to the movement in some parts of Canada and the world were not even a bother to those who had a deep conviction to persevere in company of friends from other Countries.
Since experiencing my Cursillo weekend in 2004 I have been most privileged to be able to participate in our Canadian conferences and also travel to Mallorca Spain in 2007 where I was fortunate enough to have lunch with Eduardo at my table. Meeting him was like sitting with a living saint like Mother Theresa who was an ordinary person living her faith touching the hearts of human beings one heart at a time. I saw how Cursillo is lived out by the actions and witnesses of others who made us feel welcomed. I do not even speak Spanish.
I witnessed the rest of this island being beautiful and is just like any tourist destination, but people who we had opportunity to meet at their Ultreya that have been living Cursillo and passing on the method of friendship onto others were living examples of Christ's love for one another.
Our tour guide by sharing in our experiences began to ask questions about what she saw in our joy and enthusiasm and wanted to come and see for herself what this thing Cursillo was all about.
As I reflect I realize that not everyone can travel for many different reasons, or have had opportunities like me and others have had. I would not have dreamed it possible for even for me to have had these experiences many years ago.
Our Canadian Conference of Catholic Cursillo, are ordinary people like you and I that serve and work hard to provide up to date information and work closely with the founders in Mallorca.
It is possible to learn with the resources available to us on how simple this Gift of Cursillo can be lived. There are even a few videos created that are the excellent if you want see them. For those who have internet they have a catalogue and all items can be purchased for fees that just cover the cost of producing the materials. The Fully Alive national newsletters are a wealth of information. Perhaps Ultreya could place group orders.
I have seen and understand that living Cursillo is truly a choice. It’s a gift free for the taking if one decides that it is for them. It is one of many paths that can be taken to help a person grow in their relationship with God and be a disciple of Christ.
My personal observations that I hope is supported by the truth of the Gospel and experiences from people I have listened to is that the more affluent and distracted a person or community is with so many choices in life the more difficult it is and more obstacles seem to be in the way of being committed to persevering. Just like those in the bible who have lots of faith but too many possessions it was hard for them.
I have listened to individuals who are exhausted in bearing the burdens of leadership roles. I have met those who isolate themselves and live their faith alone. They deceive themselves that they are fine just the way they are. I have met others who go to Cursillo gatherings to socialize which is good but, are more interested in filling their own personal needs and are reluctant to reach out to others.
It is a challenge to keep sticking at something where there is no one to help along the journey or encourage you to grow and persevere in the tough times of life. I hope this does not sound too judgmental but our Patron Saint Paul of Cursillo is one whom I have learned the most from. His experiences have helped me to keep my gaze on Christ.
As some of you may be aware my mother died suddenly at 81 yrs from a sudden major stroke at the end of September. Despite a few health issues, she lived independently on her own after my father died 7 yrs ago in a four bedroom home in London Ontario. In the 4 months that followed her death there was much to do as my two brothers and I sold the family home of 50 yrs and settled her affairs. I then after all was said and done had a bit of a post traumatic stress reaction just before Christmas. After 29 yrs of serving as a front line paramedic, this was a new and unsettling experience for me.
It is my faith, lessons learned from Cursillo on how much God loves me and placing my loss and burdens at the foot of Jesus Cross and seeking out the guidance of a professional and some spiritual guidance that helped me quickly get back on my feet again. A few boxes of Kleenex too! I had to come to terms with the natural part of the grieving process and that I was human and needed the help of others too. I still do but am hopefully progressing.
There are no words to describe how so very grateful I am for the friendships that I have made through Cursillo. My husband who has not yet chosen to experience a Cursillo weekend was so moved and impressed by the basket of cards and outpouring of support and prayers for me and my family from many of you from across the diocese, country and world. It helped him to realize how important Cursillo is to me. This was such a witness of love.
My faith continues to grow deeper still. I am grateful to God for the hope that I have by what his son Christ did for me by choosing to die on that cross and conquer death by his resurrection. I know that God loves me just as I am. Jesus is my best friend who is my life and strength. I have learned that when I call on him in my ups and down in life he does answer my prayers. Mary points me in the right direction and keeps me on track too. Through the Holy Spirit, the grace that keeps flowing my way has helped to renew my conviction to tackle tomorrow’s challenges from what I have learned in the past. I am so human with my flaws and imperfections but I can laugh at myself and pulling on the talents that God gave me will continue to serve Christ the best I can by just being me one day at a time with the help of you my friends.
Decolores, Sharon Penlington.
Please send me (drmilne@sympatico.ca) any talks you think should be published so we can publish a witness talk every month. Please realize that I will have to use my judgment on whether or not a talk is published so it's possible that not every talk will get published.
This is my last issue as editor of the Communique. Thank you to Sandi Farwell for taking on the role of Communique editor. And thanks to all of you for your support and feedback.
De Colores,
David Milne