DeColores, Y all! T H E N E W S L E T T E R F O R M I S S I S S I P P I C U R S I L L O S P R I N G 2 0 1 2 U P COM ING M A R C H 31 EVENTS S T A F F T R A I N I N G A P R I L 21 S T A F F T R A I N I N G M A Y 3-6 C U R S I L L O # 1 2 2 M A Y 19 S E C R E T A R I A T A N D S E R V A N T C O M M U N I T Y J O I N T M E E T I N G J U N E 2 F O UR T H D A Y J U N E 23 L E A D E R S H I P T R A I N I N G S E P T 2 7-30 A Message from our Chairman Behold I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? Isaiah: 43:19 We are doing a new thing, and hope you notice. The newsletter is resurrected, and we have new organization. Spring is coming, and with it new life, and so with Cursillo. Some exciting things have already happened, beginning with Council. We had 100 or so Cursillistas come to the Sing-A-Long, and visitation at our booth was encouraging. The host Churches of Vicksburg were well stocked with Cursillistas, and because of this, I had the opportunity to address the Council. It was a privilege for me, and a great opportunity to tell people about Cursillo. Time will tell if the address bears fruit Cursillo 122 is soon, so please begin praying for the staff and participant, and to consider sponsoring someone. Also, now is a good time for you to become active. We need Ultreyas. I know, you ve heard me say this time after time, but it is still true. Small group reunions (grouping) and Ultreyas are the life blood of Cursillo. If you are not currently grouping, please start. Grouping keeps you connected and accountable to God, and man. Ultreya, Nick Spring is here, and so is Cursillo. C U R S I L L O # 1 2 3 Tell us about your upcoming Ultreya events.. Deadline for next newsletter is May 30. Send information to elizabethjbush@yahoo.com As we prepare for the empty tomb. take time to pray about sponsoring someone for Cursillo #122, May 3-6.
P A G E 2 You can find us under Mississippi Cursillo. Thank you, Chris Allan Baker, for creating this group page. Hello and ultreya everyone! The Servant Community is getting organized and energized! When the Secretariat invited various people from the Cursillo movement to come to a joint meeting with servant community members and the Mississippi Cursillo Secretariat on January 21, 2012, I was more than happy to attend. In fact, Cindy Aucoin and I had been regularly attending Secretariat meetings and assisting the Secretariat in various ways for the past couple of years. We had a robust turnout of about ten folks who are dedicated Cursillo supporters and ready to serve on the committee. What I hadn't counted on was that God sent me out of the room during the middle of the meeting with intestinal difficulties. Then while I was out recovering, He called for an election to select a chairman. With all obstacles out of His way, it was a simple matter for Him to have me elected chairman of the Servant Community in Mississippi (I hear the vote was unanimous, so I guess He made His will clearly known to the other committee members). So, the first question for our group of committed leaders was, "what is it that the servant community is supposed to do, and how are we supposed to do it?" With a little bit of thought and prayerful consideration (and consultation of guidance from the National Episcopal Cursillo "Library") we discerned that we are the leaders of the support network that assists the Secretariat in carrying out the implementation and mission of Cursillo in Mississippi. There are only a handful of people who serve on the Secretariat, the governing board of the Mississippi Cursillo. However, there are lots of volunteers who participate in various activities necessary to plan and implement each Cursillo and Fourth Day. These people serve on staff, provide palanca, provide supplies, provide food, assist with logistics, pray for Cursillo, attend key parts of the Cursillo events, attend ultreya meetings, and the list goes on and on. In order to make all of this work, the Secretariat needs some depth on the bench to be able to step up and help out in whatever way is needed. That's where the Servant Community comes in. We as a Servant Community elected members from among our ranks to lead certain key functions: Chair - Ken Ruckstuhl Secretary - Jean Roser Newsletter Co-Editors - Cindy Aucoin and Elizabeth Bush Prayer Chain - Garrett Wallace Music - Marilyn Swingle Member Database and Website Content Coordinator - Howard Roser Other members of the Servant Community leadership include Jonnie Schoenrock and Jan Brackett. If you think that Cursillo is a worthy cause and you would like to offer your time or talents to help multiply its blessings throughout the Diocese of Mississippi, contact us, care of Ken Ruckstuhl at kruckstuhl@bellsouth.net or call Ken at (601) 832-6509. Ultreya, Ken As we are well aware, prayers are a vital part of the Cursillo movement. So here are dates of Cursillo accruing in other dioceses. Please add them to your prayer list. D E C O L O R E S, Y A L L! March 22 25: Diocese of Florida (Women) April 12 15: Diocese of Alabama April 19-22: Durham, United Kingdom April 21 22: Arkansas ECLW April 26 29: Dioceses of Western New York, San Diego, New York, Oregon, and Fond de Lac May 3-6: Dioceses of Western Michigan, West Texas, Southeast Florida (Women), San Joaquin/Santa Clara, and MISSISSIPPI. May 17-20: Dioceses of Southeast Florida (Men), North Carolina, Dallas/Fort Worth (Hispanic) May 31 June 3: Diocese of Dallas/Fort Worth June 7-10: Diocese of Alabama June 14-17 Diocese of Texas
P A G E 3 From the Eyes of From the Eyes of A Cursillista A Staff Member We had wonderful and experienced Rector, Head Cha-cha In the spring of 2011, I had the opportunity to experience Cursillo 120. Since returning, I have been inundated with questions: How was it? ; What did you do? ; What did you like best? To be honest, I haven t had a lot of answers for people. Explaining a Cursillo experience is like trying to explain the experience of joy or happiness. Words just are not enough. The best comparison I can make comes from my experience backpacking. My Cursillo weekend was like a break on a long hike: a chance to take off the pack, drink some water, and look at the map. For that weekend, I put aside the heavy burdens that I had been carrying in my day to day life. Cursillo provided me with nourishment for my mind, body, and soul. The weekend filled me with energy and passion, and more candy than can possibly be good for a person. Finally, Cursillo focused my attention on the next stage of my spiritual journey. Where am I going? How do I get there? Do I have the tools that I need? Am I ready? Am I willing? Taking a break is all well and good, but eventually a hiker has to get back on the trail. So, the retreat ended; Monday morning rolled around; the trek continued. After Cursillo, though, the burden is easier to carry and I am filled with a new enthusiasm for the journey ahead. Ultreya, Kimberly L. #120 St. Andrew s Cathedral When I attended the Cursillo week-end I marveled at the Staff. Their dedication, hard work, helping disposition, knowledge and inspirational delivery of the rollos. I confess I felt inferior to them in so many respects. So, when I was asked if I wanted to be on Staff for a week-end, it took about 1(one) nanosecond before I said No, thanks. Too much work, I am busy, I am old, yada, yada, yada. Of course, I did not admit to being afraid, which was probably the real problem. I didn t think I could measure up. The response I got was Frank, pray on it. So I did. After vacillating for 3 or 4 days, it was finally clear that this was an opportunity that I could not miss and I accepted. A feeling of relief immediately followed the decision. I clearly remembered the words of the song Here I am Lord / Is it I Lord?. And the great adventure started! Praying started immediately. Not only my prayers, but many others praying for me. The knowledge that this was going on was inspiring. I would not have been able to get done all I needed to do without this spiritual support. Yes, there was a lot of work. But, somehow, it got done, almost without much effort. And the rewards were overwhelming! and Spiritual Advisors. They really led us to understand the system, the expectations and, above all, what a privilege it is to serve and guide others in their journey towards a closer relationship with God. During the week-end there were a few hiccups (very few!) but here is where teamwork and preparation from our two staff training sessions came in and all was handled well. Suddenly it s Sunday. And then Clausura and Eucharist! I don t cry often, but I have to admit that I did. I was privileged to help serve Communion and all I could see were beaming faces, some with tears of joy! Farewells (with lots of hugs!) to everyone, and then head for the valley (home)! Truly I was less tired then, and much more energetic, than the day I arrived at Gray Center. It had been a tremendous mountain experience! I will be on Staff again, God willing. Ultreya, Frank C. #117, #120 St. Thomas, Diamonhead Hear what are people taking away from a weekend of attending a Cursillo Weekend. Application process has become easier. Go to www.cursillo.dioms.org for new participant and staff application forms.
The Importance of Being Involved With Cursillo Even When Not On Staff As a matter of fact, you can be just as involved as someone on staff through all the opportunities for action. First and foremost is talking-up Cursillo at every chance you get and encouraging potential pilgrims to attend the weekend. There s not a one of us who doesn t want to know our creator and God on a deeper level. There is so much to be prepared before the actual weekend think of us as the behind- the-scenes support staff, like the technical folks in the production of a play! (They never set foot on the stage, but they are oh-so-important!) There are placemats to be drawn, palanca to be written, and prayer chain to be completed. We all remember how awe-struck we were to be told that people who did not know us AT ALL had been praying for us for weeks prior to and throughout the weekend! Praying can be done by anyone no special talent required! Another ah-hah moment is wake-up to realize that your sponsor and other cursillistas from your parish have arisen really early and are standing there before you as a way of showing the importance of the Cursillo movement to them. Many, many pilgrims say that wake-up is the most special moment of the entire weekend. There really shouldn t be any excuse for cursillistas within an hour s distance from Gray Center to not be there for wake-up and for Clausura! For those who live a far piece from Gray Center, there is always the Big House to stay in on Saturday night! The potluck supper and fellowship are awesome and it s a wonderful opportunity to get to know fellow Cursillistas from around our Diocese. (It also benefits Gray Center with income from having the space occupied!) For more information about staying Saturday night at the Big house, contact Elizabeth Bush at elizabethjbush@yahoo.com Those chosen to serve on staff have their specific duties for the weekend, whether they are the Rector or Decuria Leader or Kitchen cha-cha. The back-home support staff (anyone who has attended a Cursillo weekend meaning the rest of us!) also have specific duties placemats, palanca, prayer, and presence at wake-up and Clausura! It is the response to the commitment we made at the time of our weekend make a friend, be a friend, bring a friend to Christ. Ultreya, Dorothy M. Holy Trinity, Vicksburg Meet Jennet Lacey, upcoming Rector for Cursillo #122 which will take place at Gray Center May 3-6, 2012. Jennet is from Columbus, MS and attends St. Paul s Episcopal Church where she is active in EFM, ECW and Daughters of the King and spearheaded the Little Dresses for Africa program. She is a graduate of MUW in Columbus with a degree and Master s in elementary education and has taught first grade at Franklin Academy for many years. She is married to Bruce, a retired professor from MUW and mother to Elisabeth, an architect in Chicago. Also, she is mother to her four-legged daughter, Dharma. Her hobbies are sewing, quilting, knitting and reading and she is a zealous fan of the Chicago Cubs Baseball Team. Jennet has also served faithfully on the Secretariat for the last few years. When asked why I have agreed to serve on four back to back Cursillo Weekends, the answer is simple. My mother, who is deceased, introduced me to Jennet when my now 31 year old son, Josh, was 6 months old. Our friendship has grown over the years and when she asked me to be her Head Cha-Cha I was honored and thrilled! Jennet has an awesome Staff in place. Please prayerfully consider Sponsorship and get those applications in for Cursillo #122!! It will be here before you know it! Ultreya and Peace Shaula Hailey, Head Cha-Cha of #122
St. Philip s Episcopal Church Secretariat and Servant Community Joint Committee Meeting January 21, 2012 Front row: Jennet Lacey, Jan Brackett, Mary Berry, Jonnie Schoenrock, Shaula Hailey Second Row: Marilyn Swingle, Ken Ruckstuhl, Sam Godfrey, Nick Nichols, Garrett Wallace Nancy Walsh, Howard Roser, Jean Roser, Back Row: Cindy Aucoin, Mariamne Young, Elizabeth Bush, Julie Goforth, Vicky Lunardini We are on the web Cursillo.dioms.org Mississippi Cursillo s Secretariat Position Name Email Chairman Nick Nichols hughljrnichols@bellsouth.net Vice Chairman Dave Benway davben@bellsouth.net Treasurer Julie Breland Goforth Julie.goforth@ergon.com Secretary Jennet Lacey jennet656@yahoo.com 3 Day Weekend Rep Nancy Walsh nswalsh@hotmail.com Registrar/Pre Cursillo Rep Shaula Hailey shaula-cursillo@comcast.net 4th Day Rep Foley Ranson omybird@aol.com Spiritual Director The Rev. Sam Godfrey sambgodfrey@hotmail.com Spiritual Director The Rev. Mary Berry maryberryrev@bellsouth.net