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CornerStone Cursillo Movement of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington In This issue Witness 1 Spiritual Advisor 2 Pre Cursillo Corner Weekend Corner 2 Post Cursillo Corner 4 From the SOL 4 Lay

1 CornerStone Cursillo Movement of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington In This issue Witness 1 Spiritual Advisor 2 Pre Cursillo Corner Weekend Corner 2 Post Cursillo Corner 4 From the SOL 4 Lay Directors Corner 5 It s Only a Nickel More 5 Oldies but Goodies 6 Cursillo Calendar 8 Prayer Requests 8 WHO ART THOU? It was a beautiful winter day, early March I've just visited St. Augustine church in Montpelier, continued on that street to my accountant's office, delivered my income tax info and was relieved. The visit was brief, no more than greeting the receptionist, she thanked me and knew to whom it should be sent to. Within the two minute period since I arrived I passed a rather disheveled man leaning on the walkway railing close to the sidewalk. He wasn't there two minutes ago and as I passed he seemed to let out a groan. I asked Are you okay?" He didn't reply. I stepped over the snow at the curb and as I turned to go into my car I stopped. I sensed that I should be engaging this man with a couple of questions and possibly he needed help. He had on an old red winter coat. Next I realized that his trousers were red plaid pajamas, adequate shoes and no socks. He was needy. If it wasn't the groan he would have been invisible. Surely, there is something that needs to be done here. He clutched a supermarket plastic bag which was on the step and was leaning on the railing at an awkward angle. Can I help you? No. was the reply. Are you okay? Yeh, I m okay. "Where are you going?" Just down the street was the reply. This went on for a couple of more questions and he finally agreed to allow me to drive him to his destination. I opened the rear door of the station wagon for him and he told me to go in the opposite direction. We traveled about 100 feet and he said "you're going to get mad when you see how close we are." I won't get mad, I have to go this way anyway. Another remark and he said turn here." It was a driveway going toward the river and he said "stop here." We both got out of the car, he said thank you and headed for a building that looked like a soup kitchen. I said goodbye and "God bless you" and headed home. On the interstate I began thinking about this "chance" meeting. He wasn't there when I arrived and there he was, half hanging onto the railing.

He also walked slowly. Was this really a chance meeting? Maybe I was being tested. He certainly appeared needy and I almost ignored him.

Are we making sure that we are making God the center of our lives and helping others to do the same? Are you making a friend, being a friend, and bringing that friend to Christ?

The more that I thought of that scenario the more it became a certainty in my mind. What if I didn't say God Bless You? I should have given him my name, Anthony.

We should have shook hands and during that handshake I should have put some cash in his hand. God blesses when we do.

barely made it out of Human Actions. This "chance" meeting 15 miles from home was probably not going to Make A Friend, Be A Friend, Bring A Friend to Christ sequence possible. I should have done more.

2 He also walked slowly. Was this really a chance meeting? Maybe I was being tested. He certainly appeared needy and I almost ignored him. I think needy people can become invisible to the fortunate ones, myself included and I'm glad I spoke to him. resolve to take our pilgrimage to God seriously. Are we making sure that we are making God the center of our lives and helping others to do the same? Are you making a friend, being a friend, and bringing that friend to Christ? As more time elapsed driving home the thought came to me that the Holy Spirit was responsible for his presence exactly as I left the office. The more that I thought of that scenario the more it became a certainty in my mind. What if I didn't say God Bless You? I should have given him my name, Anthony. Lots of religious and non-religious light up when I talk about Anthony, the Saint. Furthermore, it s what I didn't do that irked me. We should have shook hands and during that handshake I should have put some cash in his hand. God blesses when we do. A good example of this was witnessed at the last men's Cursillo weekend that I was blessed to be a part of in November As a Cursillista who is well versed in Human, Christian and Apostolic Actions I barely made it out of Human Actions. This "chance" meeting 15 miles from home was probably not going to Make A Friend, Be A Friend, Bring A Friend to Christ sequence possible. I should have done more. Next time I ll be prepared with Christian Action and I won t need a spiritual presence to awaken my inner compassion. Stay tuned. From Our Spiritual Advisor Dear Brothers and Sisters, Welcome to 2014! What will this year bring for us as individuals and as a Church? My hope is that it will bring each one of us closer to where God is calling us. Hopefully each one of us will renew our Our ten new Cursillistas showed on their faces the joy of being counted amongst those who God is counting on. Together and with God's Grace we can accomplish everything. DeColores, Fr. Yvon Royer Weekend Corner Have you heard? We are having a Cursillo de Cursillo! I m, guessing most of you reading this have lives that are so full it seems impossible to fit in one more thing. We have families, work, church,

duties and activities. So when you read in this Cornerstone there is an upcoming Cursillo event planned for later next summer, you are mentally listing the reasons why it will be impossible to attend.

3 duties and activities. So when you read in this Cornerstone there is an upcoming Cursillo event planned for later next summer, you are mentally listing the reasons why it will be impossible to attend. Such was my attitude this past February when I heard there would be a CDC (Cursillo de Cursillo) being held in Hookset, NH. I wondered; why should I go? I ve participated in Cursillo activities for years. I was sure there wasn t a thing that I hadn t heard before! Yet when a friend called with the offer to drive us down, that she was curious and did I want to go? It was as thou from heaven the Holy Spirit dropped a pin and in the stillness of my heart I heard it fall and I stooped to pick it up! I said to my friend Why not? I was more than surprised at what was presented to us by the Regional team! The weekend itself follows the format of an actual Cursillo weekend, we arrived in NH Thurs evening, and with that familiar feeling of what am I in for and I don t know these people!, to settle down to the preliminary talk. We were seated at named tables with people from VT and NH all with a common love, namely for Jesus and the Cursillo movement. and I don t know these people!, to settle down to the preliminary talk. We were seated at named tables with people from VT and NH all with a common love, namely for Jesus and the Cursillo movement. We studied the origin of the movement to understand the actual foundational charism given to Eduardo Bonin. I never realized the Cursillo movement is really a gift, a charism from the Holy Spirit. We were taught the Definition, Essence & Purpose of the movement. We were reminded that the primary basis of the method is friendship and common sense. The talks outlined the hows and whys of the PreCursillo, the 3-day Cursillo, and the Post-Cursillo. So far, there is nothing new, right? WRONG! What are presented in all of these talks are the bare bones, the reasons we do things. Also the pitfalls Cursillo has taken through the years. It allows the attendees opportunities to discuss with others the wonders of this amazing charism, to examine where our diocesan Cursillo is strong and where we need to work. The talks presented new enthusiasm to lead others to a friendship with Christ. It led me further along in my own metanoia, giving me the desire to make a total choice for Christ and a stronger decision to use the method to strengthen my faith and help others come to know and love Jesus. So when you read the announcement for the 2014 Cursillo de Cursillo don t think same old thing, think new fresh understanding and listen in the stillness of your heart for that little pin drop from heaven. You will not be sorry you attended. See you there! De Colores Judi Hussey

Cursillo Weekends 2014 Women s Weekend The 104 th Women s Cursillo Weekend in Vermont was held in Killington from Oct 24-27 There were six new candidates.

4 Cursillo Weekends 2014 Women s Weekend The 104 th Women s Cursillo Weekend in Vermont was held in Killington from Oct There were six new candidates. We are planning a Reunion of the weekend team in the upcoming weeks. Thanks be to God for with His help, we are building His Kingdom. DeColores, Diane Geoffroy, Rectora Post Cursillo Corner We have just completed two weekends and I hope you were able to make it to the closings to meet the wonderfully spiritual people that made the weekend. As we know our job is not over we have to continue to support these new Cursillistas with palanca and to make sure they are welcomed into small group and ultreya. You may not be these Cursillistas official sponsor but we all have the duty of sponsorship as a Cursillistas ourselves. Men s Weekend The Men's Cursillo Weekend in Vermont was held in Killington from October 31st to November 3rd, 2013 involving 10 new candidates. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, a sense of brotherhood and community developed. The team was well prepared and each one gave superb Rollos. These men quickly bonded with each other. The music ministry was out of this world, supplemented by other men who brought their musical instruments and participated. We planned a follow-up meeting in January of 2014 to stay connected and monitor the perseverance of the men in the Cursillo methods of friendship groups and Ultreyas. Thanks be to God for with His help, we are building His Kingdom. DeColores, Fred Letourneau, Rector Also now is the time to begin making a friend, being a friend, and bring a friend to Christ for the next weekends. Don t put it off! If you don t have a candidate now, do palanca for the Cursillistas that do have candidates. Palanca! Palanca! Palanca! Vermont movement strong. will help make the SOL/ Sec Corner Study of books PreCursillo Section Current Items School of Leaders Structure of Ideas Cursillo Manual Modifications to Cursillo applications Assistance to Ultreyas Increasing participation in Section meetings Weekend Section Assisting in Weekend Team formation Discussion with A. Gonyeau re: younger people attending Ultreya and weekend. Increasing participation at Section meetings

Post Cursillo Section Secretariat Offering assistance and info to Ultreyas Encouraging formation of Small Groups Planning of CdC in August 2014 Improvement of VT Cursillo Website Increasing

accomplish this goal the Secretariat is conducting a fund raising campaign ( selling flower bulbs, pizzas, holding a raffle etc.

Our goal is to raise $5000 so that the cost of the weekend will be about (plus or minus) $100 per individual registration.

5 Post Cursillo Section Secretariat Offering assistance and info to Ultreyas Encouraging formation of Small Groups Planning of CdC in August 2014 Improvement of VT Cursillo Website Increasing participation of Section meetings Planning and funding of next Cursillo Weekends Planning and funding of CdC in 8/14 Investigation of Green Mountain College as location for CdC Funding raising To accomplish this goal the Secretariat is conducting a fund raising campaign ( selling flower bulbs, pizzas, holding a raffle etc.) to allow attendance by as many members of the Vermont Cursillo Movement as possible. Our goal is to raise $5000 so that the cost of the weekend will be about (plus or minus) $100 per individual registration. I, the Secretariat, and the School of Leaders, hope to see you all at the workshop. We hope that you had a happy and Blessed Christmas season. DeColores, Dan Lay Directors Corner As you have probably heard, hopefully several times, we are going to hold a Cursillo de Cursillos next August 7-10th. When we each lived our weekends (mine in Oct 1998) we learned about the Cursillo Method and what we should do to live our lives in holiness. The Cursillo de Cursillos workshop tells us why we do what we do. It also tells us the purposes of PreCursillo, the Weekend, Post-Cursillo, the School of Leaders, and the Secretariat. The workshop also discusses the mentality of the movement and Dangers and deviations to the movement. When the Secretariat heard about the workshop they felt that every Cursillista in Vermont would want to go and should go the workshop. It is only a Nickel More When I was in service my Battalion Commander would say that most people will do 98% of a task, and then he would go on to say it only costs a Nickel more to do 100% of the task. For $3 per year donation (about 5 a week) to the National Cursillo movement from each Cursillista miraculous things can happen. The National Cursillo Center (NCC) will achieve its financial and operational stability. The NCC will have the budget to revive dormant diocesan movements and help establish Cursillo in areas where it is needed The NCC will have the budget to translate good books for each language and establish effective communication channels by means of audio and video technology. The annual encounter will become more affordable for every Cursillista (cost could

6 be reduced by as much as half. Think of it a National Encounter with a registration fee of $200 instead of $400. It will be possible to have scholarships distributed at the diocesan level to allow people to attend the National Encounter. Is Cursillo and its purpose of getting souls to heaven worth A Nickel more per week to you? It is to me! Come join me in donating $3 per year to the National Cursillo Center, by going to the National Cursillo Web-site at donate/ or by sending a check to the National Cursillo Center, PO Box 799, Jarrell, TX The National Cursillo Movement is a 501(c)(3) entity and as such donors may deduct contributions for federal income tax purposes. Oldies but Goodies I was going through several files I have on Cursillo and found one file that had documents from the early days of the Cursillo Movement in the US. These documents often provide reasons and explanations for why we do things, or detailed descriptions of what we are supposed to be doing. With the exception of updating the terminology to what is currently used, they are unchanged from the original document. The following is one on Witnessing in Cursillo. Definition: The Ultreya is a community which makes itself visible in a gathering. It is a community of those who, in an attitude of progressive conversion, are united in one faith, one Lord, and one Baptism. Because of this, they feel the need for coming together to share and mutually give power to each other s living of what is fundamental for being a Christian and they feel a conscious commitment to discover and make concrete their style of living it, in accord with their personal vocation The Ultreya is a supplement to the ecclesial community as an instrument of perseverance and growth in the Christian Life. - Fundamental Ideas. WHY A WITNESS TALK To give witness to a person s growth in their living union with Christ so that others may be encouraged to go and do likewise. To expose others to the innumerable apostolic life styles being lived within the Christian community by a variety of witnesses so that they may encounter a broad range of possibilities for Christian growth and action. To offer concrete examples of how to live what is fundamental for being a Christian in one s family, neighborhood, place of work, or with ones friends. To share in a practical way, so it may be imitated, how one is evangelizing his or her environment. HOW IS A WITNESS TALK GIVEN? In a vivencial way, in other words the living experience of what one is or believes, as in all cursillo talks, a truth is presented (e.g. God is Love), and then a living experience from the live of the speaker is witnessed to (e.g. a recent example from the person s life to make the point of the truth.) By preparing beforehand through prayer and palanca for discernment as to what to share so that the witness will be natural, sincere, normal, and personal. Scripture should be used to relate the truth to life and to the experience itself so the community may penetrate more deeply into the word of GOD.

7 The witness should not be an instruction nor an intellectual exercise but something that is a personal sharing of one s PIETY: Growing in union with Christ. STUDY: Growing in the knowledge of Christ. ACTION: Bringing others to know Him or the changing of circumstances so that He is better known, loved, and served. WHAT IS A WITNESS TALK? A relation A sharing and explanation A short and sincere relating of a natural occurrence in daily life A sharing of personal moments and experiences with one s friends It is not a sermon, lecture, formal address or instruction in catechetics. WHY IS A WITNESS TALK GIVEN AT AN UL- TREYA To give witness to Christ in one s life To share our lives in Christ and thus unite all in a spirit of love To help others grow by sharing how one has grown in Christ. To share how one is Christianizing one s environment It is not given to amuse, instruct or impose on others. WHO CAN GIVE A WITNESS TALK One interested in sanctity One who is willing to share One who lives the truth and is going to speak One who lives the truth and is going to speak about that WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A WITNESS TALK? Rooted in prayer Starts with scripture Personal (involves us and Christ) Concrete (shows how we are living Christianity in our environment) Helpful to others Built around living experience Centered in the present (avoid, Since my Cursillo weekend. ) Descriptive (explaining who, how, why, what) Informal, as if talking to friends; natural Short; not more than 10 minutes; one point clearly made. WHAT CONSTITUTES A WITNESS TALK? Christ is a living person, who is real, important and living in our lives A living experience something that has happened to us (as individuals or to others (because of our influence as a result of our growth in Christ) The talk should relate how we live with Christ or are trying to live in our environment so as to bring others to know Him. Christ s name should be mentioned to show that He is the most important person in our lives. A witness talk is about life, about how we are living with Christ. We will help others if we can show them something that they can do to live a better Christian life. By sharing what we are doing, others will be encouraged to live more for Christ. We do not know how what we say will affect those who

beginning of the Ultreya, if not before. This will helpful to them in preparing their response.

Please mark your calendar and send us your Ultreya news, prayer requests, and articles by this date.

net For a list of Ultreyas, please visit our website at www.vtcursillo.org.

net Cursillo Calendar of Events SCHOOL of LEADERS Meeting Second Sunday of the month 1;30 pm at ST.

8 hear us. The living experience which we share should be one from our present daily life and not from the experience of the three days. SUGGESTION: Try to give the theme of your witness talk to the echo and Spiritual Director at the beginning of the Ultreya, if not before. This will helpful to them in preparing their response. From the Staff of the Cornerstone The next deadline is January 15, Please mark your calendar and send us your Ultreya news, prayer requests, and articles by this date. We invite you to share your Ultreya witness talks by ing them to For a list of Ultreyas, please visit our website at Request for Prayers Please send prayer requests to dad@svcable.net Cursillo Calendar of Events SCHOOL of LEADERS Meeting Second Sunday of the month 1;30 pm at ST. Andrews church in Waterbury, VT REGIONAL ENCOUNTER (SPRING) May 16 th 18 th 2014 St. Thomas Seminary Bloomfield, CT Note Change in Date NATIONAL ENCOUNTER July 31st Aug 3rd 2014 Chapman University Anaheim, CA VT Cursillo de Cursillos Aug 7 10 th 2014 Green Mountain College, Poultney, VT For information on any of the above events Dan Daigler Phone dad@svcable.net

By-Laws for The Cursillo Secretariat Of The Diocese of Scranton

By-Laws for The Cursillo Secretariat Of The Diocese of Scranton PREAMBLE The Cursillo Movement pursues two purposes or objectives: an immediate purpose: to provide a channel for living what is fundamental