Welcome to the fifth edition of the communique for the Hamilton Diocese Cursillo community.
Aurora Di Pasquale shared the following with Secretariat and we decided to share it with you:
I listened to Fr Frank's words at the closing about selling Cursillo and Sandi's thoughts about how we should take the mystery out of it without spoiling the little surprises. I want to share some thoughts that were inspired by one of the candidates. I don't remember who she was, I just heard her voice quite honestly, but as we came out of the Palanca chapel on Friday one woman said - "well first it was a retreat, then a workshop and now it's pilgrimage". It rang in my ears and as I walked today after work I started to think about it more and realized that this is how we can describe Cursillo without revealing the little mysteries.
Cursillo is physical, mental and spiritual (action, study, piety!!)
A retreat (Physical)
- time away from the responsibilities of everyday
- no worries of cooking or cleaning
- people to serve you, feed you, lots of good food
- no planning
- no concern about the time
- a place for loving, meeting new friends
- rest (not sleep:-))) from the stresses of every day
A workshop (Mind)
- teachings
- questions
- discussion
- speaking
- learning
- sharing, understanding
- talents in motion - courage
A pilgrimage (Spiritual)
- prayer
- meditation
- Sacraments - Eucharist, Reconciliation
- relationship with Jesus
- relationships with new friends
- gift of tears
- realizations about self and others
- beginning with a new vision of how our spirit / faith can grow.
When I reflect on my weekend and the 2 weekends that I have been on team, these are the fruits that come to mind. I have often found myself tongue tied not sure what to say. But now I think I know. It's been a good day. Hugs Aurora:-))
Thanks for sharing that with us Aurora.
Marg Weber attended the recent National Conference and has kindly prepared the following report:
SCHOOL OF LEADERS, ONE MIND, ONE HEART
The 2007 Canadian Conference of Catholic Cursillo was held at Georgian College in Barrie. Approximately 150 attended and 23 were from the Hamilton Diocese. It was 3 days filled with an incredible amount of love, laughter and shared learning with participants from across Canada, the USA Cursillo movement as well as a member from the Anglican faith. Many ethnic groups were represented which brought an immense diversity of shared knowledge from other movements within our Country. Bishop Hundt’s address during the opening ceremony confirmed that Prayer is essential for all we do. If we are people of prayer, when others look at us, they should see Christ in us. Father Gaston Rioux, National Spiritual Director’s message left us with this question “Are we Leaders, Our way or Christ’s Way?” and that nothing is impossible with God if we let the Holy Spirit lead us.
I think we all came away from the weekend knowing that as leaders in Cursillo we are responsible for taking the charism given to Eduardo and to do our best to keep the movement authentic. If we have authentic group reunions and ultreyas, we are sharing this gift. Enthusiastically confirming that Jesus loves us unconditionally which will in turn spread to our families, workplaces and communities.
What is a School of Leaders? A group of friends coming together to unpack the gift - in shared learning experiences, building friendships and learning together, waiting to be surprised by the slant of seeing things through someone else’s eyes.
Why do we need a School of Leaders? We need a school to unpack the gift! Our 4th day is a perpetual Cursillo, in friendship with conviction and normality. We need to learn to “BE” and not always to “BE DOING”. Are we BEING Christian or are we too busy DOING Christian things? In other words, focus on the Why instead of the How, thus giving Christ a chance to live in us.
The whole weekend was run like a School of Leaders, Mallorcan style. We gathered in groups for shared learning. Those attending were overwhelmed with enthusiasm and a desire to learn more about this wonderful gift of the Spirit of the Cursillo movement, a special gift given to us through Eduardo. By letting the Spirit lead us, we in turn will enthuse others to come along with us on our spiritual journey homeward.
Again the importance of small group and ultreya was reinforced. Group and ultreya is the meeting with our Lord in a loved, supported, inspired and encouraged environment. The Fourth Day is so important - the weekend is only the launching pad.
The Job ahead….we cannot be Cursillo leaders until we are Christian Leaders with an inner joy and authenticity… Cursillo is the bridge between the door of the church and the world. Cursillo does not need to be decorated like a Christmas tree.
We have not had a School of Leaders in the Hamilton Diocese for many years, and if we are to continue to remain authentic, we need to come together to learn more about the “Gift”. We are proud of our National officers who have worked so hard in conjunction with Eduardo and the Mallorcan leaders to preserve this gift of Cursillo.
In closing, join me in this prayer:
Christ must increase, I must decrease. Here I am Lord, send me!
Marg Weber
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 Marg Weber:
My name is Marg Weber and I am the Post Cursillo and School of Leaders coordinator on Secretariat. I lived my Cursillo in l985 and the movement has been a very important part of my spiritual journey ever since that time. I am excited to be able to minister and serve in this capacity.
Many exciting things are happening in our Diocese in the post Cursillo phase of our movement. A new ultreya was started in Stoney Creek in May and assistance was given to get a new ultreya started in Goderich which is actually in the London Diocese. Jean Groh’s dying wish was to have an ultreya in her hometown. There are now 10 active ultreyas in Hamilton diocese and there is hope for ultreyas in some of the inactive areas as well.
Bishop Gerard Bergie at a recent meeting has indicated that the work done by Cursillistas is very good and worthwhile. He also indicated that Cursillo is a solid, well grounded movement and a faith filled means of adult Christian formation.
I was very blessed to attend the National Conference of the CCCC in Barrie and the fruits of this conference were many. The theme for the conference was “School of Leaders, One Mind One Heart”. 20 participants from Hamilton Diocese attended. With this core group now grounded in what School of Leaders is all about, I look forward with great joy to initiate this in September of this year. With God’s graces and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the first meeting “School of Leaders, Cursillo Enrichment” will be held at St. Joseph’s Church in Guelph, September 15th from 10a.m.-12 noon. This coming together in friendship and shared learning is open to each and every Cursillista who desires to deepen their understanding of the Cursillo movement.
For those of you who may not realize, we now have in place a 5th Day Cursillo Prayer Service for our deceased friends. The initial service was held last September for Father Steve Stinson and there have been 4 services since, Catherine Chivers, Jean Groh, Keith Migliarini and Joan Crawley. If you know of a Cursillista who has passed away, please contact a member of the secretariat. At the discretion of the family and the funeral director, the pertinent information will be sent out either by email or phone and someone will lead the Prayer Service at the funeral home. As many as possible should try to attend the service to show support for the family of the deceased Cursillista.
I am also eagerly looking forward to the Pilgrimage to Mallorca, October 27-November 7th along with 20 others from the Hamilton Diocese. What a blessing to be in the presence of Eduardo Bonin, now 90 years of age, and to experience a 3 day “Cursillo of Cursillos” in English in the birthplace of this wonderful movement which has brought so many of us to a closer walk with Christ. It is an outstanding opportunity to experience Cursillo as it is lived in the land of its birth. Please keep all of us in your prayers during that time.
I am open to your comments and questions at any time, please feel free to contact me.
I am Your Servant in Christ….
Marg Weber
519-747-5937 or marg.weber@sympatico.ca
There is no witness this month.
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.
Please keep Joan's husband Bernard and their 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.
It has been a wonderful summer for me this year. Back in June my wife Sandy and I went to London England for eight days to visit our son John. As you read this we are in the midst of a journey to Victoria, Vancouver, Prince George, Jasper and Edmonton to visit our other two children and some of Sandy's family. We feel very blessed to have the resources to make these trips and to have the freedom to travel about the world and about our country. Many, many people don't have either the financial, physical or political freedom to move around like we do. I invite you to pray for them.