Mike Flach

It has been more than four years since I made my Cursillo weekend. I was part of the 95th Men’s Cursillo at Missionhurst in Arlington from Nov. 21-24, 1996. We were blessed with an outstanding leadership team, including Father Tuck Grinnell, Deacon Jim Bayne, Tom Silva, Stan Prochaska and Ed Dervan. Many others worked behind the scenes to assist our spiritual journey.

Growing up Catholic in Philadelphia, and now working for the Catholic paper here in Arlington for 18 years, I’ve always had the sense that God was moving my life, or guiding me, along a preordained path. Shortly before my grandmother’s death in 1982, she encouraged me to apply for a job with the Catholic Standard and Times in Philadelphia. There were no openings on their staff, but resume found its way to the editor in Arlington. I was hired in August 1982.

During the early part of my faith journey here at the Herald, I often thought I was reflecting the face of Christ, but was I really? Did I reach out with compassion and understanding to those I wrote about? Certainly since my marriage in 1985, and the arrival of my five children, the road has become clearer for me. It is more in focus. My wife and children have defined and shaped my life.

Christ no doubt guided my journey to Cursillo. In 1995, Bishop John Keating told me about the appointment of Bishop Anton Justs as head of a new diocese in Latvia. Bishop Justs was a priest of the Arlington Diocese. He was pastor of St. Mark Parish in Vienna when he was asked to teach at a seminary in Latvia following the collapse of Communism in 1989. Bishop Justs was scheduled to be ordained by Pope John Paul II at St. Peter’s Basilica on Jan. 6, 1996, the feast of the Epiphany.

My good friend Deacon Larry Ziemianski from St. Mark Parish called to see if I was interested in accompanying a group of 30 people from Arlington to Rome for the ordination. Larry put me in touch with Russ Stube, a Cursillista, whom I didn’t know at the time. We were supposed to room together in Rome. But Russ already had two other roommates, one of whom was Tom Ryan, another Cursillista. We spent a glorious four days together in the Eternal City. I got to know both Tom and Russ, who impressed me with their deep-seeded faith. They seemed to sense right away, almost instinctively, that I should make a Cursillo weekend. Through their encouragement and enthusiastic support, I wound up at Missionhurst in November 1996.

I journeyed far that weekend. I realized that despite my avocation with the paper and the Church, I didn’t always reflect the face of Christ in everything I did. It wasn’t from lack of effort. But something seemed to be missing. Prior to making my Cursillo, I found it harder to focus on my job. I was growing short and impatient with my family and co-workers. I was not acting as Jesus would act.

We were invited to take a “new direction” in our lives. As members of the lay faithful we are called to be ministers and witnesses of the faith. God never leaves us alone, but saying “yes” means taking risks. There are many traps along the path toward holiness, including fear, immaturity and selfishness. Calling ourselves “Christian” is not enough. We must exercise apostolic action by reflecting Christ in our words and actions. We often don’t seek out leadership roles. Sometimes they seek us out. To be a dedicated Christian leader means recognizing that evil exists in this world. We must not be afraid of doing something about it.

My life has not been perfect since 1996. The death of my father last year was spiritually and emotionally difficult. There have been many professional hurdles to face along the way. I need more discipline in my prayer life. But I’ve been able to face life’s challenges with certain peacefulness and calm. During that weekend in 1996, I heard Jesus call my name. “Michael,” he said, “come follow Me.”

— De Colores, Mike Flach

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