Cornerstone In This issue Page Witness 1 Spiritual Advisor s Corner 2 Pilgrimage description 3 Our New Cursillistas 4 Lay Director s Corner 5 Precursillo Corner 5 Weekend Corner 6 Post Cursillo Corner 7 Why the School of Leaders 8 Ultreya Witness and Echo 9 Fund raising 10 Calendar of Events 10 Registration for Regional Encounter 11 Pilgrimage to OLG 12 Witness I attended the Cursillo weekend a couple of years ago. While I admit I have not attended a single follow-up meeting, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and I was impressed with the Catholic men who attended and organized the event. The speakers's stories of their spiritual journeys were inspiring. I found most helpful the notion of a balanced approach to the journey and struggle to, hopefully, sainthood - piety, study and action. I begin each day with 15 minutes to one-half hour of prayer time, reflection and spiritual reading; and, spend one hour weekly before the Blessed Sacrament at the Adoration Chapel at St. Augustine Church in Montpelier. During hour-long commutes to work I am blessed with the time to listen to books and courses and Catholic Radio; the highlights include a courses from The Great Courses Series including one on Augustine's Confessions coupled with reading the book (not while driving), another course on Dante's Divine Comedy while reading the book translated by Mark Musa (Divine Comedy recommended by Pope Francis during this Year of Mercy and the 750th anniversary of Dante's birth), and works by Chesterton, Thomas Merton and Fulton Sheen. There is so much great material available. I look forward to a novel by Umberto Eco called The Name of the Rose which is highly recommended. I am also blessed to be part of a bible study group at St. Monica Church; we utilize the Little Rock program - just finished The Book of Job; next up - Wisdom. I am able to make morning Mass two or three days per week and Confession about twice monthly. The Men of St. Joseph group at St. Monica offers men of the parish to serve our pastor and community; a good number of us help out monthly with a community breakfast at another local church. I join my wife and daughter in singing with the church choir on Sundays and at Christmas, Holy Week and Easter liturgy programs. I would highly recommend the Cursillo weekend and I am grateful for the work and devotion of the organizers. De Colores Tom Kelly
2 Spiritual Advisor s Corner Dear Cursillistas, As I was praying about a topic to discuss for our Cornerstone publication it was put on my heart to share about the importance of Eucharistic adoration. I was recently assigned as the director of the Catholic Center at UVM and I have the pleasure of working with five FOCUS missionaries. These are young men and women who have dedicated two years of their live following college to evangelizing on college campuses throughout the country. They commit to going to daily mass as well as making a daily holy hour! I was very impressed by this example they are setting for students on campus. I have the pleasure of praying with them every morning for an hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament. It is such a grace filled time spending this much needed time in the loving gaze of our Savior Jesus Christ! I promise you if you are able to spend time each day in adoration you will notice the graces being poured out in your life. How can one not be changed by spending this valuable time heart to heart with Jesus! I encourage all of you to try to spend a little more time with our Lord in adoration over these next few months. It will help us to live out our fourth day in a most vibrant fashion and on the road to ongoing conversion. p.s. I encourage all of you to consider going on the pilgrimage to visit the apparition site of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It will be a wonderful way to spend to spend time together as fellow Cursillistas and to to experience the love of Our Lady of Guadalupe in a tangible way. De Colores Fr. Dwight Baker Father Dwight Baker is Chaplin and Director of the Catholic Center at University of Vermont (St. Augustine s Chapel) and the Spiritual Advisor for the Vermont Cursillo Movement
3 Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe Mexico City April 24 29 2017 Spiritual Advisor Fr. Dwight Baker (Spiritual Advisor to Vermont Cursillo and UVM Chaplin) lo- Itinerary includes the following cations: Our Lady of Guadalupe/ Tepeyac Hill Our Lady of Ocotlaw/ site of burning oak Tlaxcala/ Apparition of St. Michael Tulpelac/ 5th apparition of Juan Diego Departure/Return Boston (Logan) Cost of Pilgrimage $1795 Registration form attached to this newsletter
4 Welcome Our New Cursillistas Meet our new Cursillistas and support them on the start of their 4th Day. Sharon McMullen, Pamela Argy, Amy Driscoll, Elizabeth Finnegan, Patricia Giroux, Kelly Leonard, Kathy Mason, Agnes Milne, Judy Morton, Bridget Mount, Sara Nevin, Michacle Roberts, Brenda Rousselle, Vickiann Scholl, Ann Marie Scott, Lara Seaberg, Laura Underhill, and Diana Whitney The Cursillo Team members wish to thank all of the Vermont Cursillo Community for their prayers and palanca for the success of this wonderful weekend at St. Anne s Shrine at Isle Lamotte, Rectora: Judy Kanya, Asst. Rectora: Pauline Sanville, Spirtual Advisor: Fr. Dwight Baker, Spiritual Advisor: Deacon Jerry Driscoll, Rollistas, Music and Kitchen team members : Kathy Bessette, Mary Ann Church, Anna Mikan, Kathy Nolan, Mary Patterson, Jeanne Penoyar, Doris Poirier, Fran Rawden, and Debbie Daigneault,
5 Lay Director s Corner There have been times when my study has been very exciting. And other times when it is a struggle to find any small thing that will hold my interest for more than a few minutes. The biggest difficulty for me is taking my time with the study and not rushing straight through, just to say it was done! Over the last few months I have been having a wonderful time with Revelations. Last quarter I shared how in the first three chapters I learned about the importance of community. It was a revelation to me that we are more likely to get to heaven if we help each other to get there! More recently, in chapter 5, I had a wonderful time imagining what might be in the scroll with the seven seals. What would I learn if I could read that scroll? What would it take to be worthy? The next chapter shattered that illusion! I was so disappointed when monsters and disasters came out instead of the wisdom and peace I wanted! I had my small group and Ultreya in stitches. I was so involved, so mad and laughing at myself for being disappointed that the story did not go as I wanted it to go. As much as I wanted to change my understanding I was and am cognizant of the warning in Revelations (22; 18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.) But I could moan that it did not go as I wanted, and I did. I could wish it would turn out differently, and I did. But in the end I was just grateful that the Holy Spirit is leading me in any small way and enjoying the ride. I hope you all are having as much fun as I am with your study. God Bless you Bonnie Precursillo Corner And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 2:42 Merriam-Webster defines a steadfast person as someone very devoted or loyal to a person, belief, or cause; not changing. Christian fellowship is rooted in our steadfast faith in Jesus Christ, and for those of us who follow the Cursillo method that means small grouping, attending Ultreya, and evangelizing by example. On August 7 th, I attended the Women s Weekend Closing at St. Anne s Shrine in Isle La Motte. It was a joyous celebration of the steadfast faith and fellowship that brought these eighteen women into the movement. As I listened to the new Cursillistas witnesses and spoke with some of them during the festivities, I wondered about a few things. What will their Fourth Day be like? Will their respective Ultreyas help them to find or form a small group? Will they be encouraged to attend Ultreya? Do they have an active Ultreya?
6 It is very important to be steadfast in your participation in small group and Ultreya. It is what our movement is all about faith in fellowship. At our last gathering, my Ultreya (in the southeastern corner of our state) welcomed three new Cursillistas. They brought with them vitality, evangelical fire, intelligence and a shared excellent sense of humor. Every Ultreya that welcomes new Cursillistas is strengthened and supported in a new way and on a deeper level. Please help our movement stay strong. Please join our newest Cursillistas at small group and Ultreya. An Open House Ultreya is a wonderful way to let people be they the far away or active parishioners see what our movement is about. Please consider holding at least one by year s end. De Colores and all my best, Carol Bemis Weekend Corner My husband and I were invited to make a Cursillo and words cannot express the love and joy and peace that I received that weekend when I committed my life to Jesus Christ. I came to know Jesus as my Personal Savior. He baptized me in His Holy Spirit and I know that Jesus Christ lives in me and His Holy Spirit dwells within me to give me His strength, courage, healing, wisdom, knowledge discernment and all the gifts that I need to live the life that God created for me. I know that I can count on Him to lead me for the rest of my life. My husband and I both had weekly Group Reunions where we shared our Study and Piety and Action with others and that was very important for us. We were very active in our Ultreya Meetings every month and I was chairman of the Barre Ultreya for years and we also would go to other Ultreya Meetings in the state to share with our brothers and sisters in Christ to grow deeper in our love of Jesus. We were both asked to serve as Team Leaders several times on Cursillo weekends and we were both honored to be Rectors for the Weekend. I attend Ultreya meetings once a month at St Monica Church to share and pray with my sisters and brothers in Christ and it is so uplifting. I started to read the Bible every day after I made my Cursillo and there I heard the Lord speak to me. To hear God's voice, I need to listen, to listen fully. completely and openly because when God speaks, He always has something very specific to say. Going to the Lord in prayer and sitting in His Presence is my most important and precious time each day...to spend time with Him and listen to Him to guide me in what He wants me to do to serve Him. To hear from God I had to be willing to listen and in Psalm 46-10"" Be still and know that I am God, AMEN Sometimes it is difficult because I have so much on my mind and so much to do and other voices are trying to get my attention. When I am in prayer and things come up for me to do, I keep a pad and pencil handy and write them down and let them go. I turn over my complete schedule of all that I have to do to the Lord. He is my Lord and my day belongs to Him. How much better my day goes with Him in control. I need to set the time aside as it won't just happen.
7 Then I receive His peace, joy, wisdom, discernment and understanding and all that I need to do are the things that need to be done. One of my daily Scriptures is Proverb 3:5-6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not lean on your own understanding in all ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. I know I hear from God through His Word to help me in every way and how to handle problems because God will meet my every need. When I face difficulties and heartache God wants me to seek Him first and go to His Word. Another way I hear the voice of God is through His Holy Spirit. God speaks to me through His Holy Spirit who lives, dwells and abides in me. That is why it is so important for me to have the quality time with God every day. As I spend time with Him, He equips and supplies us with everything I need to hear Him and follow His directions. He will direct us to walk in truth. There is absolutely nothing: no trouble, no tribulation, no circumstance, no uncertainty can take that wonderful peace and assurance of hearing God's voice. De Colores Margaret Guilmette Fitts Post Cursillo Corner As you probably know there was a glorious women s weekend held this past August at St Anne s shrine. There were 18 women who attended the 3 day Cursillo. We are all excited about this event. But now our duty is to get all these new Cursillistas in to a friendship group reunion and also an Ultreya. So here are some thoughts taken from the Cursillo Leader s manual. Many people leave the Cursillo with enthusiasm after having the opportunity to encounter self, Christ and others. That is the first step. The new Cursillistas should be motivated to take the second step: to freely use the method to persevere by seeking a group of friends to share the Christian way of life together. (pg 125) On the Cursillo weekend we discover that it is possible to live Christianity in the world to the fullest degree by means of the Cursillo method. The basic duty then after leaving the Cursillo must be to find such a group of friends. We can define the reunion as a group of individuals who are friends because they are Christians, and who wish to become better friends to be better Christians, and be better Christians to become better friends. (pg126) Now to also quote from the Structure of Ideas (pg 79); Everything that is lived as a Christian should be lived together. The Group reunion is only a means of living together the Christianity that each one lives or seeks to live. The deepest form of living together is friendship.
8 Therefore, the group reunion is friendship raised to a level of the Transcendental; friendship converted into permanent actual Grace. (Pg79) For the new, and old, Cursillistas, join a small friendship group and Ultreya to continue to encourage each other on their journey of Faith. De Colores Tom Kanya. South Burlington Ultreya Why the School of Leaders? Why should I go to the School of Leaders? In order to answer this question let s break down the title. First the word school. This to me calls to mind sitting in a classroom. This is part, a small part, of what occurs at the SOL meeting. We learn more about the Cursillo Movement, and our responsibilities of being a Catholic Christian. A second meaning of school, however, is the sense of a local gathering as in school of fish. The School of Leaders is also that: a gathering of a group of friends who want to help evangelize themselves, each other, the rest of the Cursillistas in our movement, and the people in our various environments. What does the School of Leaders do? First of all it is about being Christian, and then it is about doing. It helps all members of the school to learn more about the Cursillo Movement and to become better Christians. It also informs and helps the Ultreyas and the Group Reunions. Each Ultreya should have at least one member attending the School. It schedules and supports the Cursillo weekends, trains and prepares the teams for the weekends. It studies the environments and encourages evangelizing activities in those environments.. The Vermont School of Leaders generally meets the second Saturday of each month at St. John the Evangelist Church on Vine St in Northfield, Vermont. Some of the shortest drives I have had were coming to the School of Leaders with a friend or two in the car. Some of the longest were coming to the School alone. So bring a friend or two or three! Is God calling you to join the School of Leaders? If you have been curious enough to read this far, He just might be. The next word Leaders This word sometimes scares people because at first glance it is sometimes thought of as being in charge in the sense of being a boss or a supervisor. That is not what the word means. A leader is one who influences others around them. We all do this at times whether it is in our homes, our work locations, or our centers of creativity or recreation; it should be done with forethought and grace.
9 Ultreya Witness and Echo We have just completed a Women s Cursillo Weekend and our new Cursillistas will soon be asked to provide a witness at their Ultreyas. This is a vital part of Cursillo as we support each other in our journeys toward a closer relationship with Christ. The weekend does not provide much guidance in the way of what comprises a Witness Talk. The following article on how to give a Witness Talk was provided by the National Cursillo Center. This article is dated prior to 2000. Witness for the Ultreya To the lay speaker: Do not feel that you are unworthy of giving a talk. It is recognized that all of us are striving to be Christians. As such, we have many failures in our lives, but we do have some successes. As we live, there are moments and experiences in our lives that can be lifted for sharing with our friends. Please remember to keep it short, simple and enthusiastic! This is a guide to help you. What the talk should NOT be sensational - no Cecil B. demille production.... a sermon, nor instruction in Catholicism. longer than 5 to 10 minutes. too emotional - emotions will be affected by a simple, sincere talk - it need not be overstressed. a "Cursillo-oriented" sharing ("ever since I made my Cursillo, I've..."). a tale of an extraordinary event (people can better relate to God working in the ordinary circumstances of life). irrelevant to life (keep it down to earth), a propaganda message for your own favorite cause or organization. an outpouring of personal troubles that ends in a call for help. What the talk should be your life, a personal witness - growing union with Christ - growing knowledge of Christ - bringing others to know Christ or the changing of circumstances so that Christ is better known, loved and served.. concrete and practical, carried out in the normal flow of your life....should center on and be about Christ, how you were HIS instrument....mention HIS name (I did so and so, and because of this, so and so, or you and your family, many have been brought closer to Christ). centered in the present, not something that happened six months ago. (This is why you are asked to be a speaker only a week or two prior to the Ultreya so that you do not prepare too early in advance.) be descriptive - explaining who, how, why, what - the necessary details to make your witness clear. concentrate on one or two points rather than a series of examples. informal as if you are talking to a friend (you are!) and not giving a formal address to some group or club. INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE LAY RESPONSES (ECHOES) AT THE ULTREYA. When giving a Lay Response [Echo] to the witness speakers, your comments should be very brief [ 1½ to 2 minutes], the purpose of the response is to confirm and affirm the witness speaker. The following is a guide to help you keep this focus: Confirming: gives further substance to an approach to apostolic action. The responder reports having tried something similar to the lay witness and how it worked. Affirming: does just that - affirms the witness as having been helpful, perhaps providing food for thought. May also include a commitment to pray for the Lay Witness's apostolic endeavors. REFERENCES: The Group Reunion and the Ultreya - An American Understanding by Dr. A1 Blatnik. The Post Cursillo, Group Reunion and Ultreya by Gerry Hughes
10 Ultreyas Please visit our website at www.vtcursillo.org. Any changes to the time and location of the meetings should be sent to email address dad@svcable.net. From the Staff of the Cornerstone The next deadline is Nov. 15, 2016. 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 emailing them to dad@svcable.net May you all have a Blessed and Colorful Fall Fundraising Fundraising for Vermont Cursillo Movement Amazon will donate to charitable organizations based on the purchase price of items obtained through Amazon. The contribution does not increase the cost to the purchases made. To participate in this painless method of fundraising go to the following website and select Vermont Cursillo as your charity, then do your shopping from Amazon- Smile. https://smile.amazon.com/ Fundraising for the National Cursillo Movement Support for the National Cursillo Movement helps to provide for the Cursillo Literature, and Operations Support of the Movement. A contribution as small as Three Dollars per year from each Cursillista will help Christianize all of our environments. Donations may be made at the following website: https://www.natl-cursillo.org/donate-to-cursillo/ Cursillo Calendar of Events SCHOOL of LEADERS Meeting Second Saturday of the month 10;00 AM at St. John the Evangelist church in Northfield, VT. All are welcome, no previous notification or invitation is needed. REGIONAL ENCOUNTER October 15, 1916 one day only St. Thomas Seminary Bloomfield Ct. Registration form at the end of this newsletter
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