School of Leaders

During section work at the November School of Leaders, attendees were asked to brainstorm a list of ways that we can improve the School of Leaders.

Here are some of the suggestions: send out an agenda/schedule of talks with the monthly reminder, fol-low the agenda in the Leaders’ Manual, reinstate the visit to the Blessed Sacrament, summarize the school in an article for the newsletter, use action plan list, make time for section work, follow the times outlined in the manual, have a suggestion box for further comments on improving the school, have a time keeper to keep us on track, create a snack assignment list, provide babysitting, have time for introductions or provide nametags…

This list has been uploaded to the blog (link pro-vided above) so that the community can add to the list or submit comments. Bill Peters will work to prioritize and implement suggestions for future schools.

Advent Ultreya

Join the entire Cursillo community of the Diocese of St. Augustine for our annual Advent Ultreya at the Basilica.

This year we will be meeting to pray the Rosary at 6:20 pm on Friday, December 11, 2009. Mass will again be celebrated by the Bishop beginning at 6:30 pm.

During the Mass the 2010 Cursillo Secretariat will receive their assignments and be charged with their responsibilities by the Bishop.
Immediately following the Mass, we will have our December Ultreya. The evening will end with a Fiesta in the School Cafeteria.

Everyone is invited to attend and parking is available at the School. Please bring a dish or drinks to share with others in accordance with the below sugges-tions:

Last Name Please Bring

A - D Main Course
E - H Appetizers
I - M Salads
N - S Desserts
T - Z Drinks

The Advent Ultreya is the only Cursillo event at which we take a collection. Our Treasury can pay for next year’s weekends but there is not enough for our dues to the National organization, to fund a retreat or a 4th Day seminar, etc. Your Secretariat requests that you please contribute according to your ability when the baskets are passed.

Region VII Fall Encounter

REGION VII FALL ENCOUNTER
October 16-17, 2009, Fort Walton Beach, FL
St. Mary Catholic Church
“United in Christ, Reflecting God’s Love”

SCHEDULE - Please note all times are Central Standard Time
FRIDAY:
6:00 - 7:00 pm Registration/Meet & greet
7:00 - 7:15 Welcome – Nicholas Fanella, Lay Director / Rolando Angulo RVII C/P
7:15 - 7:30 Bible Enthronement
7:30 - 8:00 “Cursillo: An Encounter with Christ” Rev. David Smith, Region VII Spiritual Advisor
8:00 - 8:20 Discussion of Talk
8:20 - 8:30 BREAK
8:30 - 8:45 Night Prayer (Liturgy of Hour)
8:45 - 9:00 Bible Dethronement
9:00 - 9:10 pm Announcements (Adoration available in Chapel all night - Good night)
SATURDAY:
7:15 - Registration table open in Parish Life Center
7:30 - 8:10 Adoration - Benediction at 7:55 in St. Mary Church (Small Chapel)
8:15 - 9:15 MASS in St. Mary Church - Fr. Sean Knox: homily on the Eucharist
9:15 - 10:15 BREAKFAST - Parish Life Center
10:15 - 10:30 Bible Enthronement
10:30 - 11:00 Doctrinal Talk – “United in Christ” Rev. David Smith
11:00 - 11:20 Discussion of the Talk
11:20 - 11:35 Large Group Sharing
11:35 - 11:50 BREAK
11:50 - 12:10 Talk – “Evangelizing in the Cursillo Movement” – Victor Lugo
12:10 - 12:30 Discussion
12:30 - 12:50 Large Group Sharing
12:50 - 1:50 pm LUNCH
1:50 - 2:50 ULTREYA - Leader, Woodie Perkins, LD
2:50 - 3:05 BREAK
3:05 - 3:25 Talk – “Reflecting God’s Love” Deacon Ken Hutnick, SA
3:25 - 3:45 Discussion of the Talk
3:45 - 4:00 Large Group Sharing
4:00 - 4:15 BREAK
4:15 - 4:35 Talk – “Developing New Leaders” Kevin Kisbey-Green
4:35 - 4:55 Discussion of the Talk
4:55 - 5:15 Large Group Sharing
5:15 - 5:30 BREAK and Prepare for Mass, move to Church
5:30 - 6:30 MASS (Sunday Vigil, St. Mary Catholic Church)
6:30 - 7:30 DINNER
7:30 - 7:45 Bible Dethronement
7:45 - Announcements, Close and thank you FIESTA

Visit from National

There will be a special meeting for all Cursillistas on Tuesday, September 15th at 6:30 PM at St. Catherine's in Orange Park. Our guest speaker serves on the National Secretariat and will deliver a special message from the National Cursillo. He will also "take the pulse" of the movement in our diocese.

Message from the Pope (English)

In the temporary absence of the Apostolic Nuncio and at the request of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, I have the honor to transmit the following message for the participants in the World Ultreya ofthe Cursillo Movement, taking place in Anaheim, California this coming August 1:
The Holy Father sends cordial greetings and good wishes to all assembled in Anaheim, California, for the Fourth World Ultreya of Cursillo de Cristiandad. He joins Cursillistas from throughout the world in giving thanks to God for all that the Movement has done to enrich the lives of the faithful, stirring in them the fire of love which becomes the energy of mission. At the same time he invites this great international assembly to seek the light and strength of the Holy Spirit in order to respond ever more effectively to the urgent challenge of the new evangelization by offering sound catechesis and continuing formation in the faith to young Catholics who long to know ever more fully Jesus Christ and the power of his risen life (cf. Phil 3:10). Conscious of the immense contribution which the Cursillo Movement has made to the Church's renewal by its promotion of the universal. call to holiness and the prophetic witness incumbent upon all the baptized, His Holiness pl'ays that the World Ultreya will inspire in Cursillistas young and old a renewed commitment to Christ and his Church and a more active commitment to the extension of God's Kingdom of truth, justice and peace. With these sentiments, and with great affection in the Lord the Holy Father willingly imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of the Spirit's gifts of wisdom, joy and peace.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone
Secretary of State

Message from the Pope (Spanish)

Mensaje del Santo Padre Benedicto XVI, enviado a través de la carta del Cardenal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretario de Estado del Vaticano
El Santo Padre envía sus saludos cordiales y buenos deseos a todos los reunidos en Anaheim, California, para la IV Ultreya Mundial de Cursillos de Cristiandad.
Él se une a cursillistas de todo el mundo en dar gracias a Dios por todo lo que el movimiento ha hecho para enriquecer las vidas de los fieles, avivando en ellos el fuego de amor que se convierte en la energía de la misión.
Al mismo tiempo, el Santo Padre invita a esta gran asamblea internacional a buscar la luz y la fuerza del Espíritu Santo para poder responder aún más efectivamente al desafío urgente de la nueva evangelización, ofreciendo una correcta catequesis y continua formación en la fe a aquellos jóvenes católicos que anhelan conocer aún más completamente a Jesucristo y el poder de su resurrección.
Consciente de la inmensa contribución que el movimiento de Cursillos ha hecho en la renovación de la iglesia, promoviendo el llamado universal a la santidad y el testimonio profético que incumbe a todos los bautizados, Su Santidad ora por que la Ultreya Mundial inspire en los Cursillistas jóvenes y mayores un renovado compromiso con Cristo y su iglesia, y un compromiso más activo, para la extensión del reino de Dios, de Verdad, Justicia y Paz.
Con estos sentimientos y con gran afecto en el Señor, el Santo Padre gustosamente imparte su Bendición Apostólica como una promesa de los dones del Espíritu, Sabiduría, Alegría, y Paz.

CARDENAL TARCISIO BERTONE
Secretario de Estado

Community Feedback

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Several people have engaged me in conversation over the past few weeks. They have asked me to bring these items to the Secretariat. I don’t trust my memory, so I want to relay the information while it is still fresh in my mind. I have tried to condense comments as much as possible so that this is not so long. Please note: Comments are from attendees of the Jacksonville Ultreya and School of Leaders. They may or may not pertain to other Ultreyas and SOLs taking place throughout the diocese.

• We have drifted away from authentic Ultreya and School of Leaders (see Leaders’ Manual).
• Authentic Ultreyas and Schools of Leaders will increase attendance.
• We need to train/coach our facilitators/speakers so that we are authentic. (Add to Action Plans for post-Cursillo and School of Leaders?)
• Technique talks should be critiqued. Lately the talks have not been well prepared or authentic to the movement. (Add to SOL Action Plan?)
• What are we doing to increase attendance at the SOL? (Add to SOL Action Plan?)
• If we don’t break up into smaller groups of 3 or 4 during section work at the SOL, everyone’s voice cannot be heard. (Add to SOL Action Plan?)
• What do we have to do to get childcare at the Jacksonville Ultreya? (Add to post-Cursillo Action Plan?)
• If we don’t have enough qualified people, we should not have a weekend.
• Maybe we should swap weekends with the Spanish for 2010 to give ourselves more time to prepare.
• We shouldn’t lower our standards or make exceptions to the requirements just to fill a team.
• Members of the Secretariat should be held to the same standard that we are setting for rollo room speakers. They must group regularly, and attend Ultreya and SOL 50% of the time.
• If someone cannot commit to attend SOL and Ultreya, can they commit to attending team meetings?
• If someone is not active in Group Reunion and Ultreya, for whatever reason, they are not living their Cursillo fully and should not be teaching others about the movement.
• Why do we keep talking about the same things?
• Why are we right back where we were before we took a year off to regroup?
  

Please take a few moments to reflect and add your comments below.

Your sister in Christ,

Cheryl