April/May 2007 Hamilton Diocese Cursillo Communique/Newsletter

Welcome to the fourth edition of the monthly communique/newsletter for the Hamilton Diocese Cursillo community.

Weekend update

Welcome to our new Cursillistas:

69th Women’s Weekend – April 26 – 29, 2007 “Step Out In Faith” Song – “Lord, You Have Come”

Back Row – Left to Right: Nancy deGooyer, Dianne Rovers, Connie Gittens Webber, Ljubica Novakovic, Ann Jaques, Fr. Bob Bulbrook, Susan Janssens, Deacon Pat Morin, Marjo Kinsella, Linda Barretto-Burns

Next Row Indented: Josie Vuksan, Gloria Bagley, Catherine Coffin-Hannah, Sylvia Wilvert, Janet McKiernan, Marilyn Trudell, Marla Maher, Ana Maria Bell

Next Row Indented: Bonnie Lynn Frizzell, Olinda Amaral, Maxine Rybka, Shelley Trocki

Next Row Forward: Dianne Hubbel, Mary Jaroszynski, Joyce Puckerin, Dawn Noble, Audry Vollick, Laura Conibear, Marcie Fauteux, Elvira Verdecchia, Angie Rankin, Mary Flynn-Carey

Next Row: Jo:Anne Guay, Adrianna Vivas, Kim Jones, Goretti Raposo, Aurora DiPasquale, Barb Fox, Claire Rancourt

Sitting: Vera Vath, Tove Schmidt, Louisa Rossi, Anne McKellar, Alice Rancourt, Wendy Ashcroft, Kathy Krstulic

Ultreya happenings

Good News.....A new Ultreya has been started at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Stoney Creek. At the initial meeting on Saturday April 21st, there were 17 in attendance. The general consensus from those in attendance was to have a weekly ultreya, to keep up momentum and continuity. Leadership will be shared weekly among participants and the contact person for this Ultreya will be Louise Kunkel at 905-664-1871 or e-mail lkunkel@cogeco.ca. Louise did a fantastic job in setting up and advertising for this meeting. For those interested, the parish Mass is at 8:30 with Ultreya to follow in the meeting room, lasting for one hour. Please continue to pray for this and all aspects of the ongoing Cursillo endeavors.

Floating Ultreya

This month’s ultreya is being held in Goderich at St. Peter’s church hall on Sunday , May 27th at 7 p.m. As you are coming in to Goderich on highway 21 you are going on the big bridge. Highway 21 turns into Victoria Street. Go to the Shell station and turn right there turning onto Anglesea Street. Go to the end of that block and there you are at St. Peter’s church. It is on the corner of Anglesea and North Street. The door to the hall is on Anglesea Street .

If you can please bring a little snack for afterwards.

Hope to see you all on the 27th..............De Colores.....Eileen

General Ultreya

Spring General Ultreya will be held Friday, May 25th at St. Agnes Church, 75 Bluevale St. N., Waterloo. Parish Mass at 7 with General Ultreya to follow in the parish centre. See http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?email=1&mapdat for a map to St. Agnes.

Canadian National Conference

This year's National Conference is being held in Barrie, Ontario from June 21st to 24th at Georgian College. This is a perfect opportunity for us to attend a nearby national conference. Visit www.cursillo-canada.org for all the details but do it soon. The early registration discount expires on April 15th. Just in case you can't find the information on the Cursillo Canada website here's a link to the Info Sheet www.cursillo-canada.org/InfoSheet2007.pdf.

Secretariat sharing

Each month a member of the Secretariat will share his or her thoughts on their Secretariat role. For the complete list of Secretariat members and their roles click here.

This month's sharing is from Sandi Farwell:

Dear Cursillistas,

    We would like to recognize Remo Del Col, as our Past Lay Director on the Secretariat. Remo has served on the Secretariat of our Diocese for many years and has given our Cursillo movement endless hours. He has given us a vision for Cursillo, he has given us direction in Cursillo and he has been very dedicated in his positions on the Secretariat. Remo, on behalf of all the Cursillistas in our diocese, we thank you and we ask our loving Lord to bless you and your family.

    As your new Lay Director, I am excited to fill this role. My promise is that I will do the best that I can as your Lay Director over the next three years. I intend to visit all of our active Ultreyas in 2007. I hope to get to know you better, hear your concerns and answer your questions. We want to continue to create enthusiasm in Cursillo. Cursillo closings always do that, so plan to attend the men’s closing on Sunday, Oct. 14th. More details will follow about the men’s but please mark your calendar. We want to keep you up to date on what is happening and I hope the communiqué/newsletter is doing that. To continue the enthusiasm, a General Ultreya will be held in May. You can find the details on the General Ultreya in this newsletter.

We are the face of God to others. Let’s make sure that others see us as Cursillistas. Please remember that we are the walking and talking example of what Cursillo is all about. I would like to see Cursillistas walk in Christ’s footsteps. It’s our opportunity to put a face on Christianity.

Please feel free to contact me at anytime at sandwalt@sympatico.ca or call me at 519-894-5081. De Colores.

Sandi Farwell
Lay Director

Witness talk

This month's witness comes from the new Cursillistas:

Not been to reconciliation for a long time thanks that I went - I dream that a beautiful man - hugged me so tightly - did not speak to me - next day I went to Palanca Chapel - picture of Jesus holding a child - it was not a dream

Overwhelmed by the Palanca from all over the world - look forward to be able to share with my husband

I was crying so much - had so much fun - I have been looking - and this was right in front of me Jesus is now coming from my heart - but this would not have happened if it wasn't for reconciliation. Thanks for Fr. Bob - Christ is in my heart to stay

Your presence here adds to this weekend.

I'm really touched - I am going to give up fighting with my husband - I have realized he is a good man

I thank Jesus for sending all of you.

Wanted husband to share how his weekend went - he would only smile and then say you have to experience it

Absence in my life - there never seems time and the right place to talk about God - this was the place

Sponsor did not tell me that I was going to cry so much - I would have brought special lotion tissues

The best thing that happened to me is that I am standing up here now - I had a change of heart in the Palanca chapel and also when I saw my palanca letter.

Had many obstacles and not open to going - received e-mail and I said I will pray about it - good friend from London phoned - I gave her excuses. All of a sudden all obstacles are removed - asked many people - what is Cursillo - they answer with a smile

I love rainbows and we had one here this weekend - Why can't I drive there - I think I have to be dragged down there no wheels so you cannot leave - huge gates - can't get out of here in a hurry. Everything is mysterious - no schedules to share just crazy bells - if you stand up here you have to be honest

Fr. Bob is the most real priest I have ever talked to - he is a real human being - thank God for this experience

Asked priest tell me about cursillo - he just smiled - Fr. Bob with reconciliation - we talked about everything and finished up with politics

My battery was empty and now - thank you to Jesus

Husband did not give info - smiled - thought at first that this was not my comfort zone - but stepping out in faith - you do not do it willingly

Awesome people touched my life - I was strong in my faith before I came but I need to let you know that I grew in the love that was shared.

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.

The Fifth Day

One of our Cursillistas has passed away. Jean Groh was in a nursing home in Goderich. She made the 61st Women's Weekend, November 7th to 11th, 2001. The funeral home visitation is at Falconer Funeral Home "Bluewater Chapel", 201 Suncoast Drive East in Goderich on Thursday May 17th from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Private family viewing will be at 1 p.m. and Cursillistas will gather at 1:45 for a Cursillo Prayer Service. The funeral takes place on Friday at 11:00 a.m. at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Goderich. Please keep Jean's husband Eldon and her family in your prayers.

I need your help with this section of the newsletter. Unless you tell me about a Cursillista's death I can't publish the news here. So please, pass on word of any deaths either to me (drmilne@sympatico.ca) or to any other member of the Secretariat. Thanks.

The last word

As I walk about my neighbourhood these days I am surrounded by the fresh green of Spring and by daffodils, tulips and lilacs. Enjoy God's spring beauty while you can.