3/5/2007 DIOCESE OF SCRANTON CURSILLO NEWSLETTER October, 2006 Upcomming Events CURSILLO WEBPAGE All are reminded to check out the web page at: www.scrantonCursillo.com We plan to have all of our newsletters, events, secretariat information and other items of interest available on the page.  Please check it out! FROM THE  LAY DIRECTOR De Colores and may the peace of Christ be with one and all!!!  Again I apologize for not getting a newsletter together sooner.  It has been a crazy year.  We have had two women's weekends, one men's weekend, a women's and a men's team in formation and to date 9 School of Leader sessions and numerous Ultreyas throughout the diocese including two overnight Ultreyas.  In the past eight months we have welcomed 50 new cursillistas. It has been a glorious and Christ filled year.  I was able to attend two regional meetings as well as this year's National Encounter at Villanova University in Philadelphia.  It was a gathering of approximately 700 cursillistas including the Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean and Portuguese communities.  The theme was Speak Lord your servant is listening.  And the message that we are servants came through loud and clear.  The weekend was full of personal witnesses, talks on deviations from the Cursillo method and suggestions on how to correct them, changes in the weekend manual and some of the new and updated Cursillo publications and of course fellowship. The fellowship and celebration of the Spirit was wonderful.  Hearing De Colores in Spanish, and seeing this ethnically diverse group singing, dancing, praying and celebrating the Eucharist as one was an awesome experience.  Cef Aguillon from national Cursillo in Dallas has sent me some of the talks presented by the spiritual directors that week end and we are going to try to make them available on our website.   I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those cursillistas who have stepped up and hosted Ultreyas served on teams, attended School of Leaders and worked behind the scenes to keep Cursillo alive and well.  The Scranton Diocese secretariat members are dedicated, spiritual leaders that work very hard to get all the logistical and spiritual bases covered. I thank them all. And Father Phil Sladika, our spiritual director as well as the deacons and sisters and priests who take timeout of their extremely busy schedules to serve our community, I thank you from the entire Cursillo community; without your time and talents we would not be where we are today.  I ask all cursillistas to pray for the Cursillo movement.  Pray for the secretariat, the School of Leaders, the weekend teams, our Spiritual Director Father Phil and all the clergy who are so generous with their time, talent, compassion and support.  Pray for the national Cursillo movement and Cursillos and cursillistas throughout the world.  You are all in my thoughts and prayers.  De Colores, Maria. SCHOOL OF LEADERS School of Leaders is alive and well in the Scranton diocese. The School meets one Saturday each month from 9:30 to 11:30. Again, I remind you that the term "school" in this context does not in this case refer to an educational program as much as it refers to a group, similar to a school of fish.  As a part of the school of leaders we will as a group study church doctrine as well as the Cursillo method and talks.  The school of leaders is an integral part of team formation as well as our "Fourth Day".   The format is a short group reunion, a doctrinal presentation by a spiritual director, or technique presentation by a cursillista, based on one of the weekend talks or one of the three Cursillo sections, and finally breaking into the sections, Pre-Cursillo, The Weekend and Post Cursillo.  If you want to be on a weekend team or if you are on a weekend team come to school of leaders.  In 2007 the plan is that 50% of the weekend teams will come from school of leaders. Watch your email or the website for dates and locations. PALANCA We the Diocese of Scranton Cursillo Community do not only have an obligation to do Palanca (prayer and sacrifice) for our Cursillo weekends but are also obligated to do Palanca for other Cursillo Weekends throughout the world. Beginning at the September 30, 2006 School of Leaders, you will be given the opportunity to do Palanca for Cursillo weekends being held throughout the world. We will have a signup sheet, at each School of Leaders, which you may indicate your Palanca (i.e. Rosary, Mass, Adoration, Fasting, giving up snacks, etc.). The Palanca coordinator will insure that Cursillo weekends throughout the world requesting Palanca will receive our (Diocese of Scranton) Palanca for their Cursillo Weekends. De Colores, Ben Apolinaro There are various openings on the secretariat: Post Cursillo Coordinator Assistant Lay Director Current Secretariat members are; Spiritual Director Rev Phillip Sladika Lay Director  Maria Kocsis Treasurer Bob Blatz Secretary Wendy Sorace PreCursillo Coordinator Joe Alinoski Palanca Coordinators Ben Apolinaro and Sophia Novack Coordinator Ed Gallagher Contact info for all of the above can be found on the web page. If you are interested in serving on the secretariat or know someone who may be please contact one of the Secretariat members. Please keep the group in your prayers as they take on this challenge.  We will report our progress in the next newsletter. Ultreyas Anyone interested in hosting an Ultreya please contact any of the secretariat members.  Our goal is at least one Ultreya a month, two would be great. FINANCES AND FUNDRAISING Thanks to all who have responded to our past appeals for donations!  Thanks also to all of you who have paid more than the cost of the weekend you attended or served on team.  In order to keep ourselves in a position to continue our work, please consider regular contributions to the Movement.  This can be done by mail using the form below, or at any of our Ultreyas.  Simply fill in the appropriate blanks below, slip it into an envelope with your donation and send it to Bob Blatz at the address listed.  Thank you.  Until next time, Blessings and Peace!    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -   Send to: Bob Blatz 149 Timber Trail Greentown, PA  18426 Please make checks payable to "Scranton Cursillo" ___$5   ___$10   ___$15   ___$20   ___Other Name:_____________________________ Address:____________________________ Town:______________________  Zip:________                                                              ******************************************************************************************************************** What Is Cursillo?  WHAT IS CURSILLO? Cursillo (pronounced cur-see-yo) means "little course" in the fundamental teachings of Jesus as lived with other Christians.  It is Spanish in origin founded by Bishop Juan Hervas and father Eduardo Bonnin in 1947.  It made its first appearance in the United States in 1957 and has spread to every diocese in the United States.  The goal of the Cursillo Movement is to make Christ the prime influence in society. The Cursillo is often described as a retreat; however, it differs from the typical silent retreat.  While there is some quiet time and considerable time for prayer, there is more time for discussion with your peers than in most retreats.  The three day course begins on Thursday evening and ends on Sunday afternoon.  It is conducted by a team of priests, deacons, religious, and laypersons.  Cursillo is best described as an experience of living in a Christian community.  The experience of Cursillo enables one to sense more vividly the enthusiasm of the first Century Church as described in the Acts of the Apostles 2:44-47:  "They devoted themselves to the Apostles" instruction and the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and prayers…praising God and winning approval of all the people.  Day by day the Lord added to their number." IS THE CURSILLO A PART OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH? Yes.  Cursillo, similar to Marriage Encounter, Charismatic Renewal, The Christian Family Movement and other renewal programs is an official part of the Roman Catholic Church and is endorsed by the Vatican worldwide and the Diocese of Scranton. WHO MAY ATTEND CURSILLO? Cursillo is for Catholics who wish to strengthen their spiritual lives.  The Cursillo weekend is held separately for men and women,  Any person 18 years and over (including priest, deacons, and religious) of the Diocese may attend Cursillo. IS THE CURSILLO ANOTHER ORGANIZATION? There is no formal organization of Cursillo.  Activities for each Diocese are planned by a Lay Director, a priest Spiritual Director, and a group of Lay Leaders.  Those who attend Cursillo weekends are encouraged to return to their families, places of work, parishes, and other groups to which they belong and through example make Christ more present in those environments. WHAT IS CURSILLO LIKE? The weekend consists of spiritual talks, discussion, daily Mass, prayer time, and the availability of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  The "talk" part is built around 15 short presentations given by clergy, religious, and laypersons.  After each instruction small groups discuss the material presented.  WHAT HAPPENS AFTER CURSILLO? Your weekend only lasts three days, but you are invited to build on it for the rest of your life.  Those who attend Cursillo are encouraged following their weekend to expand their spiritual lives through prayer, study, and to become more active disciples of Christ. ARE YOU INTERESTED? We invite you to join in a special weekend spent meeting Jesus as He comes to you through other Catholics.