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Words of Wisdom Joan Brown After prayer and discernment of the community over the past five months, and with all of us sharing in the readings as the steering committee met for the final discernment, I am pleased to say our new lay director is Tom Silva. This, in our day of email and having already announced it at the last closing, is “old news” but gives me the opportunity to welcome Tom for the record. I have had the opportunity on many occasions to work with him on the Retreat for those facing Serious Illness, and it was then I began to know the deeply caring and gentle man called Tom, obviously a man of deep faith. He has been a dedicated Cursillista for more than twenty years and has served our community well, having most recently served along with his wife, Esther, as PreCursillo Chair. His music ministry is well-known, yet he has worked in every capacity in this Movement. His quiet sense of humor and listening heart will serve him well. Please pray for him as he begins this new venture of serving the Lord – it is truly a journey. I look forward to the June closing when Tom will be commissioned by Bishop Loverde at St. Mary’s, Fairfax. Let this be a time of affirmation for him from all of us. My heartfelt thanks to each of you for giving me the opportunity to serve the past four years as your lay director. Your prayers and encouragement have been thoroughly appreciated. This has been a rich experience for me; one in which I have had a unique opportunity to get to know this community in a deeper way. It has afforded me new ways in which to greet those I may not have had the privilege to know. Jesus is alive in you and in your generous efforts! Thank you. Congressman John Lewis, one of the important leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, writes in his book, Walking with the Wind of his vision of what he calls, “ the beloved community”, one in which we all care deeply about one another, and one in which our differences are cause for joy, not separation. I think of this community as that beloved community; one in which we are brothers and sisters. We are committed to Christ and making him known, and in that way, we are having an impact on the world around us; and yet we must continually make the commitment to evangelize. Like Pope John Paul II, those efforts never end – how wonderful as he spoke for our church in his conciliatory efforts with the Church in Greece. With God’s Spirit, and our trust in that Spirit, we will continue our mission. Our literature says to strive to be Christ-like. If you have taken an effective living course, it would be good to say – I am Christ-like and as you say and believe, so shall you be! DeColores! Peace and love, Joan Brown “Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted and wait for the Lord.” -- Psalm 27:14 My daughter, Maureen, who is my youngest, has been very much in my prayer today. She is expecting her first child and several days ago heard her baby’s heartbeat for the first time. She was so in awe! I vividly remember that first sound of life with my first child. It was awesome for me, just as it was for her, to recognize that I was participating in the creation of new life. Another awakening to the wonder of our God! A baby permeates one’s being; there is hardly a moment when an expectant mother is unaware of the life she carries. The woman is filled with the sense of well-being as she journeys through months of waiting just as we are filled with that anticipation of Easter as we journey through Lent, and ultimately our own resurrection as we allow Christ to permeate us in our daily lives. Awakening and StretchingThe Cursillo has awakened us to the newness in our life – to a greater awareness of our need to know Christ on a more intimate level. Yet, Cursillo also challenges us to take responsibility for bearing Christ to the world; it calls us to know him more deeply and to love him more fully. In our group reunions and ultreyas, we speak of accountability. At our last meeting of the secretariat, each shared his/her vision. We applauded the work of the Cursillo being done by groups as well as individuals and the need to believe in a holy trust – the trust that God is acting through us in our efforts to transform those seeking him, and those who do not know what it is they are seeking. We are making a difference in our environments simply because we have chosen to – because we are on the road. Generosity of spirit affirms the efforts that are being made and allows for the creativity that is always needed – and always will be. Our work of evangelization never ends – we need only look at society as a whole and we know that we must renew our efforts. Again, this is where we need that holy trust. Cursillo challenges us to become more than we thought we could be! It challenges us to become more selfless in our efforts –to meld our diverse backgrounds and talents to achieve our mission of evangelization. We must work diligently at our efforts of inclusiveness of all in regard to culture, age and gifts. To stretch and grow into an ever more vibrant community, it is important that we see the value of each of us being more fully invested in the carrying out of the Cursillo. The more involved we are, the more we will be nourished to go out and work at our evangelistic efforts. The more connected we are with each other, the more we will become energized in reaching out. Have you thought about combining your group reunion with another group reunion for a day or evening? Has your ultreya thought about inviting another ultreya to join yours? Why? It is possible to become too comfortable in our own environments. It’s just like that new baby. The baby will be stretched as she/he encounters newness in other people and new experiences. ServeAbove all we must serve. Many of us were inspired by John F. Kennedy’s remarks back in 1961 on Inauguration Day when he said, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” I think this also applies in Cursillo – ask not what your Cursillo community can do for you – ask what you can do for your Cursillo community. As you read this, we will probably have a new lay director Elect (like Bill Clinton, I am not going away Yet) and my suggestion is to ask him how you can help. A number of people have asked me that over the past four years and they usually end up with new responsibility. Please offer your prayers for the new lay director, also. Celebrate!As Christians, we are a people of celebration! We have every reason to be. God calls us his own and sent his Son to die for us. As announced at the closing of the Women’s 112th Cursillo, the secretariat, through prayer and discernment over the past year, has decided to once again include Mass at the clausura. We think it is very fitting that the weekend community and “outside” community join together in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist as the new cursillistas begin their 4th Day Journey. They have been learning about this greater community all through the three days. What better way to come together for the first time to share in the great prayer of the church! May your Lenten season be a time of new awakening and challenge and may your Easter be filled with the joy of proclaiming Christ Risen! May your Lenten season be a time of new awakening and challenge and may your Easter be filled with the Joy of the Resurrection! Peace and love, Joan Brown Recently, I attended a Mass to celebrate the birthday of Emelda August.
Emelda had told her parish priest that she wanted to have a Mass to offer her
gratitude to God for the gift of her life and its many blessings. Her thanks to
her family and friends, she said, was to praise God. Emelda’s life is fully
directed at making Jesus Christ known to everyone that she encounters. Not only
did she have the vision to start a Gospel choir at her church, and the
creativity to establish a full and rich Black History Celebration there, among
many other endeavors, but her energetic follow through encourages numerous
others to join with her in her mission. Many of us have been enlightened by her
educational efforts. Ask her about the Saints and their efforts, like Katherine
Drexel and Josephine Bakhita, and she will not only tell you their stories, but
she may also mention having gathered a few friends and trekking off to Rome to
see them canonized last October. She and the Holy Spirit always have a plan –
she is never without an Apostolic Plan! Remembering Our Apostolic Plan
An Apostolic Plan is, of course, a plan of evangelization – and shared at
group reunion - to Christianize our environments. It is ongoing – with
short-term and long-range goals. A plan may take months, even years. It is
formed by praying and studying our environments. Vision, effort and periodic
review are needed to perfect our plans. An interview by a Father Sal Rosa from
the Cursillo literature states that this is the area that most needs
improvement, and that most of our plans are ineffective. He says, “The
Apostolic Plan is usually done on an individual basis, and is a short-term
one-time thing. It’s uncoordinated, a hit or miss affair.” For those of us
without a concise plan, it is important that we put a greater emphasis on making
our Apostolic action a group effort. Our ultreyas can act together to achieve
our goals. Our Pastoral Plan is a good reference to see what needs to be done
and how to proceed. (Click
to go to the Pastoral Plan.) The Reunion of Leaders is a rich source of our
community formation to assist us in carrying out our mission to manifest Christ
in the world. How Do You Envision Cursillo?
Apparently, we have truly arrived in the new millennium! What better time to
contemplate our vision for the future in Cursillo! Periodically, I review and
update the vision statement I made as I began as your lay director. As we review
our goals, we see the strengths of our community and we see our need for
improvement. I have asked each member of the secretariat to think about their
vision and then share it at our next meeting. The vision for this movement is a
shared responsibility. The future and the vibrancy – the very life of Cursillo
– that which will make us better Christians –depends on each of us. What is
your vision for our community? I would like very much for as many of you as
possible to write to the secretariat with your thoughts. Certainly a Day of
Envisioning is once again on the horizon – perhaps your ideas will help
formulate the structure of that day. Please write to me at 6102 Rivanna Dr.,
Springfield, Va., 22150 of email to jmbrown2587@aol.com. In the Midst of Discernment
Thanks to all of you who gathered at Bristow on the 15th of January for an evening of prayer for discernment of candidates for the new lay director. Many thanks to those of you who, though unable to be there, called or wrote to say you would be praying – either while sitting with a sick friend, attending a community gathering, or for some while frolicking about in Hawaii. It was a truly prayerful and wonderful evening and the Spirit was palpable. Please come and join us on Feb. 5 at 7:30 PM again at Bristow. May the Spirit of God enlighten us to serve our God in great generosity! Peace and love, Joan Brown God's mercy is from age to age on those who fear him." Luke 1:50 In skimming the
readings for Advent, I was especially touched by the above scripture for
December 22. From the commentary on this scripture from Share the Word
published by the Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association, I read,
"this is not a fear causing us to hide in terror because of God's power.
Rather, it's a life-giving fear creating in us a desire to draw even closer to
God. It is a reverential awe. Such 'fear of the Lord' enables us to see God as
God is, to break open our lives - even and especially in our imperfection -
before God so that God can pour his mercy into us. Such fear draws us into
friendship with God and leads us to recount these wondrous gifts to
others." In Cursillo - we
break open our lives in our stories - so God can show us his love and mercy, all
of which fills us with wonder. I hear this wonder when the new cursillistas
speak at the closing. They speak of this God of ours who loves them so
intimately, perhaps recognizing that for the first time. Throughout the
formation of the Women's 111th Cursillo, I have reflected on the poem
by St. Augustine that Duffy Kiko used for formation. "People travel to
wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, etc....And
They Pass by Themselves Without Wondering." We do need to be in
awe of the sea and the stars, but how very important that we recognize the fact
that being made in the image and likeness of God, we are gifted because God's
love for us is limitless (I listened to Sr. Anne at the retreat). As a gifted
community we all share in this ministry of walking with Christ and sharing our
gifts and God's love with others. On that note, please continue to pray for our
new cursillistas, men of the 102nd Cursillo as well as the Women of
the 111th and encourage them in their Fourth Day. In this Advent
season of preparation, a new women's team has begun their formation on Dec. 3.
Please keep Carol Stim, Rectora, and her team in prayer and remember palanca for
them. Prayer & Discernment of New Lay DirectorThe term of office
for the Lay Director is three years with a one-year option. I am now in the
middle of my fourth year. It has truly been a great honor and privilege to serve
in this manner. I am most appreciative of your prayers and support. The new Lay
Director will be commissioned by July 1. I consider the selection of my
successor to be very important so I urge you to spend some time in discernment
personally and in community. The secretariat has decided it would be of value to
have the community come and pray together. We have chosen two dates for this
community prayer. They will be on January 15 and February 5 at Bristow at 7:30
PM. Sr. Denise Mosier will lead us in the lectio divina. This will be a
time of hearing God's word, praying and sharing. I hope that many of you will
come to one of these evenings - each of us is very much a part of this process. Qualifications for the Lay Director
The Secretariat
welcomes all community input. We are not looking for "votes" but a
truly thoughtful process behind each name put forth. Please send a letter to my
address, 6102 Rivanna Drive, Springfield, 22150 with your candidate's name
including enough particulars to support the conclusion that the above
qualifications are met. Your letters need to be received by March 1. This will
give the secretariat time to have a prayerful discussion at our March meeting.
The candidate will then be required to submit a vision statement by April 1. A
decision will be reached in mid-April, which will allow for a transition period
of a few months. I thank you for your
attention to this request. Hope to see you at Bristow in January. I hope this
Christmas season is truly a time for all of us to relax in the wonder of God's
love. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. With peace and joy
in our God, Joan Brown
As I prayed about writing this article, the slogan, make a friend, be a friend and bring that friend to Christ dominated my thoughts. Many of you have heard me speak of my Godmother who has been such a strong influence in my life. I'm sure this is why the phrase of being a friend was uppermost in my mind because Lena Nasca, my Godmother and friend of 50 years, died last Saturday. On Monday, we celebrated the Eucharist and her life. She was a great evangelizer because she was a great friend. In Cursillo we have a wonderful method which encourages us to study and help Christianize our environments. We look for leaders who we challenge to come forward and do the same. Some refer to that as "targeting", others as "focusing" on key environments, always with the hope of being present to God and others in our life situations. Our group reunions call us to holiness and raise our awareness weekly, if not daily, to seek God in all things; our formation encourages us to know God and to grow in our relationship with God. Evangelization is a natural outgrowth of being a Christian and in wanting others to have the fullness of life in Christ. In the diverse ways we go about evangelizing, the key word is friendship - friendship with God, with ourselves and with one another. Make a friend, be a friend, and bring that friend to Christ! All of which brings me back to my Godmother. Fifty years ago as a young teenager I was very touched by the person of Lena Nasca. She was a neighbor and she took an interest in everyone and everything around her. She was the first to bring chicken soup to a sick neighbor, to visit a wake, or to express her delight about the joy in another's life. I was a rather shy young person and Mrs. Nasca drew me out and took a genuine interest in me. Later, she was to suggest that I become a nurse, a thought that had never occurred to me. Her recommendation convinced the director of nursing to accept me into their program despite my poor high school record. Making friends, for Mrs. Nasca, was as natural as breathing because of her outgoing, friendly ways. Being a friend takes more time and effort because it means being there for the other in times of need and in times of joy and celebration. It means being genuinely interested in the other and loving them. It calls for listening, discerning, evaluating. Mrs. Nasca was very generous in being a friend, giving of her time freely while living a very active life with her own family. The new 3 Day Manual expresses the art of being a friend well. "Truly listen to what the other person is saying. Be who you are, but add joy and optimism; sanctify ourselves for others. Think of them and their needs before our own. Love them spiritually as God loves us. Live for the truth. It is important to be authentic, and honestly and sincerely share our lives with others." As Mrs. Nasca and I became friends, she began to share what her faith meant in her life, her love of God and devotion to Mary. No doubt, she had already begun speaking to God about me, before she spoke to me about God, this being one of the key points that Cursillo makes. I was not without a faith, having grown up Lutheran, but I was searching and she apparently sensed it. On bringing our friends to Christ, this is "accomplished only when done for Christ, with Christ, in Christ, and like Christ. We must act for Christ because of our love of God. We are acting with Christ when we understand we are not alone. Jesus is beside us. We are acting in Christ when we know that Jesus is already inside each person that we try to evangelize. Our role is to be a friend. We are acting like Christ when we act with the qualities of Jesus. We must give witness to our lives in Christ and believe what we are proclaiming." (From the 3 Day Manual). Lena Nasca continued to be interested in others until she died at age 94 - she was not a cursillista, but she had lived for, with, in and like Christ and she was friend. This is evangelizing. Sometimes we wonder if we are evangelizing in our lives. I suspect my Godmother didn't realize how great an impact she made on so many. I did tell her on many occasions what a significant influence she had had on my life, that her friendship had been a great gift, and that I loved her. I was particularly blessed in her love for me and her challenge to me to live my faith. At the Mass on Monday, I had the honor of doing the 2nd reading. From Romans, I was able to proclaim, "If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him." What a joy to know that friendship which leads us to God lives on! Peace and love, Joan Brown Such is the
people that seeks him, Yesterday, as I thought about the beginning of formation for the men's team, I began my palanca for them by visiting the Blessed Sacrament. I thought of my reading that morning from the Rule of Benedict. St. Benedict had counseled that day to treat the things of the monastery well. In the commentary following, Sr. Joan Chittister interprets that Benedict is pointing out to us that the spiritual life is not to ignore the things of the world but to integrate them. Benedictine spirituality sees the care of the earth and the integration of prayer and work, body and soul, as essential parts of the journey to wholeness that answers the emptiness in each of us. Cursillo deepens our awareness so we become increasingly conscious of performing our daily routines with prayer, in being more open and available to those we see and meet in our ventures. In one of my present, ever-changing environments (temporary, if you consider 8-10 years temporary), I notice the construction workers at the very busy juncture of 395 and 495. With their varied and often dangerous jobs, or so it seems to me, I observe and enter into prayer for them. I haven't met any of them yet, but I am sure I will. On another plane, I recently read an article about Tipper Gore which said that she had been out every Friday in a van, until the campaign intensified, to help deliver health care to the homeless. These homeless men and women are often invited to parties at her home; she calls them friends. Who was it, who said, " A stranger is merely a friend I haven't met yet?" St. Benedict and Cursillo challenge us to seek God's presence in each person, and in everything. Jubilee Mass - A Celebration and a BeginningWhat a great evening at St. Anthony's on June 20 with Bishop Loverde celebrating our Jubilee Mass with us! Thanks to our cursillista priests, Frs. Tuck Grinnell, Ben Faneye, Joe McCloskey, and Bill Schopps for concelebrating and for their commitment to our community. Thanks also to Deacon Bill Korpi, who graciously donned his robes unexpectedly due to the prompting of Fr. Tuck. Bishop Loverde's homily reaffirmed us in the importance of living out the tripod of holiness, formation and evangelization, and he spoke of the impact of the Cursillo on his life. His warmth and obvious pleasure at spending this time with us was very much appreciated. One of our cursillistas even presented him with the opportunity to pray over her. Maria, incidentally, is recovering nicely. In a letter of thanks to Bishop Loverde, I repeated my invitation to him to be a part of any of our weekends, whether that be to share in a discussion at a table, hear confessions, participate in a closing, or something of his own choosing. Then we could really say, the Bishop is coming! It is our intention to have other Eucharistic celebrations this year, especially as the Holy Father has suggested that this be an "intensely Eucharistic year." In a homily given on the Feast of Corpus Christi, at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More, Bishop Loverde said, "The Eucharist is the summary of our daily living…Our daily lives must reflect the Eucharist we celebrate. Each day we must give of ourselves, pour out our lives in service and in love of others." As you all know, "the Eucharist is the center of life throughout the 3 days of the Cursillo." (Fundamental Ideas of the Cursillo Movement.) The Jubilee Mass initiates a year of reflecting on the themes of the Jubilee as cited in the scripture reading from Leviticus. Our diocesan ultreya following the Men's Weekend in September will begin with the theme of unity. We hope to have our parish ultreyas follow these themes, also. Invitation to the Reunion of LeadersWe will begin our fall program for the Reunion of Leaders(School of Leaders) on Saturday, Sept. 9. I'm happy to say it will be focused on the young of our community. In fact, they are making the presentation, Young Adults Evangelizing. Mary Pat Patton will lead the presentation. The ROL or School "gave birth to the movement, nurtured it, made it strong enough to survive and branch out into a full-fledged movement of the Church." In its dimensions, the ROL is a school of holiness, community, and a school of formation. I particularly like this from the Fundamentals of the Cursillo Movement: In the ROL, "men and women united by an experience they all have in common, that of having made a Cursillo, discover the roots and requirements of their apostolate in and through the Movement. They learn to put into practice what Pope John Paul II calls, 'the prime and fundamental vocation,' the vocation to holiness, and thus they become living witnesses of the dignity conferred on us by Christ." Though all are not called to work in the movement, those who are on team and in leadership roles need to be participating in the Reunion of Leaders. The more people that are invested in the ROL, the better it will be, so I urge you to come. We are open to ideas, speakers, and modes of presentation. We are also very interested in having people on this very important committee. On October 7, a Region II meeting will take the place of ROL and will be held at St. Ann's in Arlington from 9 AM to 3:30 PM. This is a unique opportunity to meet and share with other cursillistas from Richmond to New Jersey. For more information, email Jim August at jdasha@erols.com or call him at 703-524-6317. Please remember palanca not only for Harry Hardin and the men's team in formation, but for Duffy Kiko, Rectora for the Women's Weekend in November as she awaits the members of her team, for all those being called to Cursillo, and for the Movement as a whole. I hope that you are finding the wonder of God in all that you do this summer, and may every stranger you meet become a friend. Peace and love, Joan Brown “I am the vine, you are the
branches. At church this past Sunday with my entire family in attendance, I experienced the joy of togetherness. My son, his wife and 3 daughters had come from St. Louis to gather with the rest of us, and to search for a new home in Charlottesville. The priest spoke of connectedness, not just with Jesus and our families, but with the entire world – the reality that we all belong to one another – and that we needed to leave church taking Jesus with us wherever we ventured and to whomever we met. The way to do this, he said, was to put ourselves in his hands. I thought of what that means to each member of my family. We are all called to serve Christ in different ways as a result of living in friendship. Within our Cursillo Movement, that is also true. In the last His Banner, I quoted from the Leaders’ Manual: The “emphasis” in the Movement should be to “offer to cursillistas the method of living in friendship that is shared in a Christian and human way so that as a consequence of being Christian together our apostolic life overflows into our life situations.” Cursillo is, therefore, a most natural way to serve Christ. Glancing through back issues of Ultreya magazine, I came across a very good article on Post-Cursillo. It is taken from the Aug./Sept. 1995 issue and is entitled Why a Post-Cursillo? The author is Chris Bunnenberg, of Canton, Ohio. Part of his article is quoted here. Why a Post-Cursillo? “ We must all remember that the objective of the Cursillo Movement is to transform the world for Christ, not to build up the Movement. The primary objective of each individual is to find his or her own unique place in the Church and in the world and for the Post-Cursillo to provide individuals with the means to persevere in living the Christian life there. It is ‘not’ the purpose of the Post-Cursillo to have people attend group reunion and ultreya in order to prove they are cursillistas. The purpose is to help cursillistas be the Church, to live in and as the Church in the structures of the world.At church this past Sunday with my entire family in attendance, I experienced the joy of togetherness. My son, his wife and 3 daughters had come from St. Louis to gather with the rest of us, and to search for a new home in Charlottesville. The priest spoke of connectedness, not just with Jesus and our families, but with the entire world – the reality that we all belong to one another – and that we needed to leave church taking Jesus with us wherever we ventured and to whomever we met. The way to do this, he said, was to put ourselves in his hands. I thought of what that means to each member of my family. We are all called to serve Christ in different ways as a result of living in friendship. Within our Cursillo Movement, that is also true. In the last His Banner, I quoted from the Leaders’ Manual: The “emphasis” in the Movement should be to “offer to cursillistas the method of living in friendship that is shared in a Christian and human way so that as a consequence of being Christian together our apostolic life overflows into our life situations.” Cursillo is, therefore, a most natural way to serve Christ. Glancing through back issues of Ultreya magazine, I came across a very good article on Post-Cursillo. It is taken from the Aug./Sept. 1995 issue and is entitled Why a Post-Cursillo? The author is Chris Bunnenberg, of Canton, Ohio. Part of his article is quoted here. Why a Post-Cursillo? “ We must all remember that the objective of the Cursillo Movement is to transform the world for Christ, not to build up the Movement. The primary objective of each individual is to find his or her own unique place in the Church and in the world and for the Post-Cursillo to provide individuals with the means to persevere in living the Christian life there. It is ‘not’ the purpose of the Post-Cursillo to have people attend group reunion and ultreya in order to prove they are cursillistas. The purpose is to help cursillistas be the Church, to live in and as the Church in the structures of the world. Some people may be disappointed in the Post-Cursillo program because they believe that it is meant to maintain the “high” they may have experienced on the Cursillo weekend. Group reunions and ultreyas only have the degree of life that each person contributes to them. This is multiplied by the Lord as members try to become more and more a Christian Community. The value of Post-Cursillo is that all things being equal, it guarantees progress in living the Christian life and in spreading it. Thus the Cursillo Movement fulfills that promise made on the weekend to give us a tool to live the IDEAL. All the Cursillo Movement tries to do is give people a method to live out their vocations as saints and apostles. It is “not” the Cursillo Movement’s function to produce leaders for the Cursillo Movement. Its function is to produce leaders for the Church in the environments of the world. Not everyone who has lived the experience of a Cursillo weekend is called to be a leader in the Cursillo Movement. (Those who feel called are always welcome.) There are many ways to find God by serving the Church and other people. To be a Cursillo leader is a particular and specific vocation; however, no Christians are exempt from the responsibility of being a Christian Leader in the life and environment in which God has placed him or her. Our perseverance depends on two things: our contact with Christ and contact with our brothers and sisters. For those cursillistas committing to use the Cursillo Method, the first test in perseverance is his/her willingness to attend ultreyas. We come to ultreyas to unite with our brothers and sisters – and to share with them. Hopefully the ultreya can be a place for cursillistas to meet and make friends as a preliminary step to forming their own friendship group. And so, the ultreya, though it is a function of the Cursillo Movement, should draw people more directly toward the Church and toward the world than toward the Cursillo Movement, as such. The important thing is not to persevere in the Cursillo Movement, but to live an authentic Christian life, so as to build up the Church and construct a better world. So remember…You are not all expected to be Cursillo leaders. You do not need to serve the movement to be part of the Christian Community. The Cursillo Movement is here to serve you! (WELCOME.)” I invite you now to read the witness by Pat Gerkin. This is an excellent example of the living out of an authentic life in God, one which flows from living in friendship in a Christian and human way, a natural way. Once again, Pat is a wonderful reminder of how this community takes Jesus to wherever they venture and with whomever they meet. As we look ahead to Pentecost, I pray that we may all become increasingly connected in the Oneness that is ours. Peace and love, Joan "Jesus took Peter, James, and John off by themselves with him and led them up a high mountain. He was transfigured before their eyes…" Mark 9:2 At the St. Lawrence Ultreya recently at the home of Bob and Pat Gerkin, Andy Mastic witnessed, and then led us in the stations of the cross. The experience of meditating on Christ's passion and death with this small community that I know well is a good one. I am with friends who are seeking to know Christ better and want to imitate him. Many of these friends have shared in my sorrows and my joys, just as Veronica and Simon, and, of course, Mary were there for Jesus. In the Christian community talk on the Cursillo Weekend , we try to show, thru living experience that we neither make the pilgrimage alone nor should we. "God did not create man for life in isolation, but for the formation of social unity…it has pleased God to make men holy and save them, not merely as individuals, but by making them into a single people which acknowledges him in truth and serves him in holiness." (Vatican II: The Church in the Modern World). The Lenten season is a time not only of repentance and reconciliation, but one of great hope as we anticipate the Resurrection. How special it is that we have a loving and vibrant community to strengthen us with love and encouragement along the way. A Time of Hope - On the MountaintopAfter reading scripture about the Transfiguration, Bob asked us to reflect in our small groups on what gives us hope and then to share a mountaintop experience. Evelyn Santone finds her hope in Jesus, especially in the last few years when her beloved husband died after 47 years of marriage, and she, after having surgery for cancer. When one hears her story of faith, it is easier to deepen one's own trust - it gives us hope. John Dean said that some years back in asking for forgiveness, he clearly felt God's presence telling him to let go of the past - that he had been forgiven. John, a new cursillista, trusts fully that God will never back away from him, that he will always be there for him. Mark Krause has known the faithfulness of God in his past, so he looks to the future with hope. I shared a mountaintop experience of many years ago. My father, long afflicted with Parkinson's Disease, was barely able to walk; his speech muffled and slurred. His balance and facial expressions were long gone. Many weeks after neurosurgery for Parkinson's, as my father bounded down the street, smiling broadly, I stood in awe at what I call resurrection. I believe we have many more "mountaintop" experiences than we realize, though most are not so "transfiguring." Kathy Scott and Pat Gerkin spoke of "ordinary moments" in our living when they are able to know God better thru these "small" encounters. Cursillo, through sharing our closest moments, helps us to have hope by attentiveness to our daily living. William Channing, the writer, says, "Listen to stars and birds and sages with open heart…in a word, let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious grow up through the common." We are called to community through Cursillo, and that community raises our level of consciousness - our desire then is to form ourselves in Christ; a natural outgrowth of this is evangelization. The naturalness of evangelization is clearly recognizable in Bill Eager's witness. Silence Helps to Build CommunityRecently, Deacon Jim Bayne led us in a prayer workshop based on the temperaments of the Myers-Briggs Personality Types. We began by singing the Liturgy of the Hours, first Morning Prayer and ending with Evening Prayer. Jim allowed for long moments of silence, after reflecting on certain readings that related specifically to our own personality types. The power and bonding that take place as we sit in silence with one another is amazing. My own friendship group begins with silence and yet, in the larger group, it seems even more powerful. This time of quiet with Christ - with each other - is yet another expression of community. We meet one another in our stories and we deepen our bond in silence. Community is necessary in reaching out to those who have yet to meet Christ or to have a personal relationship with him. Our groups offer us a way to know ourselves, but our reunions are precisely "offered as an instrument of perseverance in being in Christian community in one's environment. The groups are a valid expression of Christian community since they are complementary to the Eucharistic Community or other communities established by the Church. They offer an expression of Christian community more in the terms of the situations in which the members are immersed, namely their families, neighborhoods, places of work and other associations." (From the Leaders' Manual) Continuing from the latter, "If the Cursillo weekends produce groups which are authentic Christian communities and they persevere afterwards, then the movement will achieve its purpose to build up the Church in the world. Therefore, our emphasis is not so much on the end result, which is to change the world, but to offer to cursillistas the method of living in friendship that is shared in a Christian and human way so that as a consequence of their being Christian together, their apostolic life overflows into their life situations." I hope during this special season that we will all dedicate - and rededicate ourselves to becoming missionaries of Christ. Spring is always the time for new beginnings. At the prayer workshop, fellow cursillista, Peter Thompkins challenged us all to be the "salt for the world," to retain the flavor of Christ. He said when Christ touches anyone they are changed. Are we like Christ? “You shall hallow the fiftieth year; and you shall proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. For it is a jubilee; it shall be holy to you.” Leviticus:25:10 After much prayerful consideration, I have decided to extend my time as lay director to include the optional year. The term of office for the lay director is 3 years, with the possibility of an option year. As I did at the beginning of my term, I ask your recommitment to prayer for the Cursillo Movement. I am grateful for the opportunity in continuing to serve this community and for the support you have given me these past 2&1/2 years. I am anticipating this next year with excitement as we continue planning for the celebration of the jubilee year. Marie Kordes, Sr. Denise Mosier, John Rausch, Sr. Annette Mattle, JoAnn Bisone and I have been meeting in prayer for nearly 2 years in preparation of this celebration. A Jubilee Mass, celebrated by Bishop Loverde on June 20, will initiate our honoring of this special year. All of the clergy who have made a Cursillo will be invited to concelebrate with him. During this year of jubilee, we thought it would be a good idea if our ultreyas would reflect on the themes as presented in the fuller reading from Leviticus. We intend to begin with – the hallowing of the Sabbath, and the proclaiming of freedom. Cursillo is a Living, Dynamic RealityI made my Cursillo in January of 1980; 20 years later living the Cursillo method is no less important to me. It is a unique method and a wonderful way of calling us to accountability and to a deeper Christianity. What is so special, too, is that “The Cursillo Movement is something living and dynamic, and thus subject to change and improvement. It has been evolving throughout its existence, adapting itself to various situations in the Church, and in the World.”(from The Fundamental Ideas of the Cursillo Movement), while at the same time it “maintains its core identity.” I refer to the essence, or “that which makes the being to be what it is.” Even with changes, the Cursillo Movement continues to be true to its essence. The purpose of Cursillo, since it is a movement of the Church, is the same as the Church. Pope Paul VI told us, “The Church exists to evangelize.” In Cursillo we live this out by attempting to manifest Christ’s presence in our neighborhoods, our parishes, our work situations, and any other places where people live the greater part of their lives. The Cursillo method teaches us a greater awareness of God’s presence in our lives; in this awareness, we are called to respond. I think we all become much more conscious of the fact that we are all brothers and sisters. The Joy of CommunityEach time our community gathers for the clausura, I am touched by the greetings of my fellow cursillistas to one another. It is truly family. The closing at St. Charles on January 23 was no exception. We have come to welcome the new cursillistas, but we also come to greet our friends and to make new ones. To share our stories of our journey with Christ, perhaps to ask for prayers for a loved one, and just to be with one another. It is always full of joy! I think it is important to remember that even though our focus needs to be on the new cursillistas, we also come to support and encourage one another. No one outgrows their need for love and community. I find this to be an exciting time in Cursillo, in the Church, and in the world. We have entered a new millenium with great hope for peace among all peoples – of all races, nationalities, and cultures. When we remember that Christ is counting on us and that we are counting on Christ, we have a good chance of achieving that peace. I believe our community is a very special one – you live your fourth day well. Besides those of you who are leaders in the Cursillo ministry, there are many who are working with S.O.M.E., Kairos, the disabled and mentally ill, the homeless, with those in jail and hospice, to mention a few. Walking into any church in this diocese, cursillistas abound as lectors, musicians, and eucharistic ministers. Cursillo has definitely deepened our call to living out our Christianity. One of the new cursillistas from the 101st Men’s Cursillo said at Sunday’s closing that he realized thru this weekend experience that whoever he met, wherever he goes from now on, he needs to make Christ alive to that person. Obviously, he got the message! Wecome to our new brothers Gary, Randy, Wilfred, Paul, Roland, John, Mark, Charlie, Ed, Joe, Mike, Raul, Bill, Harry, Fr. Mark, Charles, Frank, Tony, and Charlie. Christ is counting on you! De Colores! Joan Brown
My favorite aunt died last week at age 83, and God provided me with many grace-filled moments through sharing stories with her friends, former co-workers and people of her church. My aunt was the last of 8 children and sadly, the last of that generation for me. She belonged to a small, Lutheran church and the members of that community were very caring and attentive to her. Just like in the movie, Steel Magnolias, she was one of a unique group of women who gathered regularly in the beauty parlor to visit. These women shared their lives and frequently shared their meals. Most of the women are much younger than my aunt was. Those of the group who were well and able looked after the others who were elderly, sick or needed assistance in some way. I was touched by the devotion of these women to each other. They simply saw their service to one another as natural and essential. How good it was to see that my aunt, who had always been one to reach out to others, was being cared for by this close circle of friends as she completed her rich and full life on earth. As we look to the millennium, I have heard and read of many concerns and worries of what all that means. As the people of God, it is reassuring for us to know that we have nothing to fear because our God is with us. Just as my aunt, who had battled alcoholism and many deep personal crises, was able to find peace and hope through her faith in later years, we can be sure because of our faith in a Living God that all will be well. In anticipation of Christmas – that remembrance of the incredible event of the incarnation – and of how our God loves us, I thought I would close the year with some thoughts of gratitude. Thoughts of GratitudeFor the great gift of God in our lives – in the gift the Father has sent us in his Son, and for the continuous presence of God’s Spirit in our lives, I am grateful. For the Church, who nourishes and guides us here on earth and brings us into community, I am grateful. For the gift of the Eucharist – that awesome gift that allows us to touch God and receive him into our hearts and bodies daily while providing healing, I am grateful. For God’s Holy Word in scripture, a love letter from God to enlighten us, I am grateful. For Mary, the Mother of God, whose yes to God inspires us to humility and courage, I am grateful. For the wondrous gift of the Cursillo Movement – that raises our awareness that God is in each moment – and as we grow in that awareness, we are able to make his presence known to others, I am grateful. For the many cursillistas, both living and dead, who have helped to change the world in their own particular environments. If we could imagine the depth of their impact on others, I think we would be amazed. For all who have made the Cursillo, I am grateful. For all who minister in the Cursillo Movement – clergy, religious, laity – and for the dedication of each, I am grateful. For all the friendship group reunions, environmental group reunions, and ultreyas which provide encouragement and nourishment for us to go out and leaven our environments with the Gospel, I am grateful. For the Cursillo Movement, across the nation and around the world, in providing a way to reach thousands of people who may never have had a deeply personal relationship with Christ otherwise, I am grateful. For my family, friends and neighbors, for having loved, nurtured and mentored me, I am grateful. The way one lives one’s life in faith clearly makes a difference in the world – they have been witnesses to me; in this, they call me forward to witness to others. For all of you, in your name, I offer gratitude for your family, friends and neighbors. For diversity that challenges us to deeper unity, and is a call for us to grow in our love for God and one another, I am grateful. For God’s great generosity in gifting us, I offer this as but a small sampling for which we need to be grateful. Wishing you a most joyous Christmas and a blessed millennium, I look forward with great hope. Our God is with us! Peace and love, Joan Brown “
Serve the Lord with gladness; As I participate in the Mass, I know that I am drawn into the life of the community. Over the past few months, I have observed a woman of my church whose health has declined in some way that she now uses a wheelchair. She continues to sing in the choir as well as take in foster children. In this outreach to others, it is obvious that she does not focus on herself, but continues her ministry and caring for others. Her witness to God in her life, which includes the shepherding of some of her tiny brothers and sisters, is before my eyes and others. I find her faith and love a call to me to deepen my own outreach. Visit
with Bishop Loverde
A few members of the secretariat visited with Bishop Loverde on August 26. We found him to be very warm and welcoming. The Bishop made his Cursillo weekend some years ago in Connecticut. When asked what he found most significant during that time, he unhesitatingly mentioned palanca and the closing, which he said was memorable. As he spoke enthusiastically of palanca, he found it incredible that people wrote telling him of the various prayers and sacrifices they (many that he didn’t know) were doing for him. He was very touched by this. Bishop Loverde is very appreciative, also, of the palanca he has received from this community since his arrival. He is most supportive of our movement, and recognizes the impact that it has. Previously, we had sent him an agenda, which included our pastoral plan and our plans for the jubilee year celebrating the new millennium. Bishop Loverde found our pastoral plan to be thorough and ambitious, with a large vision; he cautioned us not to become discouraged in not being able to do everything. He urged us to have patience in our evangelization efforts because “it takes time.” He seemed pleased with our emphasis on prayer in the introduction. Our third item was to establish an ongoing dialogue with him. From Cursillo literature we learn that it is essential that the diocesan secretariat be linked with their bishop. He needs to have “a thorough understanding of the purpose, spirit and method of the movement.” We asked for his help in encouraging the clergy to know more about Cursillo. He asked for our help in fostering unity, and he asked our continued prayers for himself as he shepherds this diocese. He touched on reconciliation as we dialogue with one another; to remember to respect the diversity of each other. The Bishop loves being shepherd of the people, that being his priority, and he considers it a great joy. He described himself as “a people person.” Though he says he would like to come to many more events with the different movements and organizations within the church, he knows he must curtail some of this due to the size of the Arlington Diocese. Because of this, he hopes to attend one event with each group, but when it is an anniversary or it is on a diocesan level. We are hoping that he will be the main celebrant for our Jubilee Mass which we plan to have in the year 2000. I came away with the impression that our Bishop is a willing listener, a man of great warmth who loves people and who manages to appear unrushed. I look forward to having him celebrate with us.
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