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IMPORTANT NEWS!
Two New Secretariat Members Named!
The Secretariat is pleased to announce two new members of the Secretariat.
Joe Pickett is our new Pre-Cursillo Chairperson, succeeding Gary Gordon. Under Gary’s great leadership and hard work, Cursillo has become much more familiar to and respected by many, many Diocesan parishioners as well as our Pastors and Clergy. In addition, Cursillistas have been more active than ever in “Making a Friend, Being a Friend, and Bringing a Friend to Christ!” Recent Cursillo weekends are very well attended with waiting lists now becoming the norm. Joe has assisted in this work in a significant way, and now he will head the effort. Thank you Joe for stepping up to the challenge of building on Gary’s good work!
Debbie Blashaw is our new School of Leaders Chairperson. She succeeds our longtime Chairperson Bill Lynn and more recently Mike Gilmore. Bill – in his long tenure – worked especially hard and effectively in making the SOL so welcoming and inspirational to all Cursillistas that took the advantage of attending. We have a wonderful Cursillo movement here in Orange, and SOL is a big reason why. Debbie will be assisted in an important way by Sue Hamrock. We welcome the Servite influence!
The Deacon’s Beacon
February 2010
Sponsoring candidates is one of the main aspects of the Pre-Cursillo, and the most important factor that contributes to the success of the Cursillo weekend. An invitation to attend the Cursillo should be personal so that the relationship may last a long time as we are advised to make a friend, to be a friend and to bring that friend to Christ. According to the Fundamental Ideas, "the Cursillo Weekend is not something theoretical, but a lived experienced that is oriented toward the Church, toward community, toward real life." We find Total Security by coming to understand that God loves us unconditionally, but this does not mean that life is now free of worries or problems. Therefore as sponsors we need to realize that our responsibilities do not end with the three day weekend, but must continue throughout their Fourth Day. Therefore we must do all we can do to insert them into a friendship group reunion. Remember, "Christ is counting on you".
De Colores,
Deacon Doug
Calling All Cursillistas!
February 2010
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE FOURTH DAY!
It is always so exhilarating to see and hear the personal testimony of brand new Cursillistas at Clausura. As I enjoyed hearing the words of thanks and praise to God spoken so eloquently by the new Cursillistas of Cursillos #509 and #510, I couldn’t help but reflect on how great the impact of my Cursillo has been on my life. Also, I thought of just how profoundly Cursillo might impact the lives of the 36 men and 44 women having just experienced the magnificent 3 Days of Cursillo. My primary thought: IT’S ALL ABOUT THE FOURTH DAY! Will they persevere, and will we help them?
On Monday, January 25, 2010, we celebrated the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul. Before my Cursillo, I thought Saints were examples of Christians living a faith way beyond the reach of the rest of us - just ordinary lay persons. After my Cursillo, I learned something different. I learned: Who is the Church? That’s right! We are the Church! And we are ALL called to be saints -- here and now -- by virtue of our Baptism. SO in hearing the scripture account of St. Paul’s conversion, I couldn’t help but think of my own conversion, and of your conversion, since we ALL have experienced a METANOIA by living those 3 magnificent Days of Cursillo. A metanoia that is unique -- but at the same time universally profound -- bringing about a conversion of mind and heart to Jesus Christ! Saint Paul’s conversion was deep, authentic, and everlasting. The question is: will mine be -- will yours be? The answer lies in just how we live our Fourth Day!
A very important message of the 3 Day Cursillo is that our faith is not to be lived in isolation but in Christian community. Indeed, Jesus began our Church for the holy and divine purpose that we Catholics live together in harmony and in support of one another. This precise point is emphasized in the writing of Pope Paul VI titled "On Evangelization in the Modern World." I quote:
"God did not create man for life in isolation, but for the formation of social unity. So also it has pleased God to make men holy and save them, not merely as individuals, but by making them into a single people, a people which acknowledge him in truth and serve him in holiness. So, from the beginning of salvation history He has chosen men not just as individuals but as members of a certain community." (emphasis added)
Toward the end of this wonderful book, the author offers a personal sharing and relates it to another wonderful Saint, Teresa of Avila.
Each Cursillista has received the great gift of Cursillo! However it happened in your particular life’s circumstance, God did indeed call you to Cursillo! You experienced a metanoia that brought your heart and mind ever so closer to Christ. For your metanoia to be everlasting, you need Christian, Catholic community! As experienced Cursillistas, you know this. You know that Group Reunion and Ultreya are the tools essential to living a Life in Grace. To truly help our newest Cursillistas to persevere on their Fourth Days, we must augment the great work of the 3 days with more work by encouraging -- in all ways possible -- Group Reunions and Ultreyas.
SO I request, please get more involved in our Cursillo community. Foster Group Reunion and Ultreya, in all ways possible, among our newer Cursillistas. Go to your Cursillo Parish Rep and offer your support in the area of greatest importance to ALL Cursillistas: OUR FOURTH DAY!
DeColores!
Mike Blasi
Cursillo Schedule 2010
2010 ORANGE COUNTY TRI-CULTURAL CURSILLO SCHEDULE
