Bishop's Message
A Letter from Bishop De Angelis
To the members of the Peterborough Cursillo Movement
Dear Cursillistas,
There are many niches for the various charisms, methods of formation and forms of service present in the various lay-groups to be found in the Church. The Cursillo Movement has its own special gift to offer to the Church. Like all movements, there are times of great enthusiasm and at other moments the hard plugging away at something that is worth doing. It is the latter that proves our mettle as committed, determined and courageous messengers of the Gospel and witnesses to the Risen Christ.
Eduardo Bonnin, your founder, who passed away Feb. 6, 2008, in Mallorca, knew this. I am sure when he and others began the movement in the 1940's, they never dreamt of the success that it would achieve. His was a desire to enlighten laymen and women to the fact, that in virtue of the sacraments of baptism and confirmation, they too were called, in fact mandated, to perform an active role in evangelization.
Recalling the press release upon the death of Bonnin, the spokesperson stated: "Eduardo has always been for us someone important, but beginning now, in our prayers we can ask him to intercede for us before the Father, so that we can continue with his work of evangelizing the world and making as many as possible have the joy of knowing that God loves them. If he did everything that he did on earth, what won't he do now that he's in heaven?"
I encourage you to remain faithful to the Cursillo commitment. Bring people to Christ, and in doing so you will find him as well.
I wish you a holy and safe summer.
With prayerful best wishes and regards, I remain,
Sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend Nicola De Angelis, c.f.i.c.
Bishop of Peterborough
Message From Your Spiritual Director
Father Jochaim Nnanna
A SHORT REFLECTION ON "OUR LORD'S PRAYER"
The "Our Father" is a very popular prayer among Christians. This is because this prayer was taught by our Lord himself as a model of all prayers. This prayer from my understanding demands a lot from us Christians, and by this I mean that there are conditions for praying the "Our Father"
Let us begin by pointing out that this prayer opens by giving all praise to God to whom all glory and adoration belongs. We pray that God's kingdom may come so that his reign may extend to all facets of human activity. The praise and adoration part of this prayer is a pointer that every form of prayer must begin this way. Sometimes in prayer, it is necessary to suspend all forms of petition and focus on praise and adoration. We do not pray to God just because we need something. Even we as humans are annoyed with friends who only visit or call us only when they need something, and let's face it, even when we call or visit friends just because we need something, we do not go straight to the point. We first of all exchange pleasantries with them so as to dispose them to listen to us.
From praise and adoration, we than move to petition and I have to say that this is where certain conditions apply for saying this prayer. We pray that our heavenly Father may give us our daily bread. This demands that we provide bread also to those who depend on us for theirs. There are so many people who wake up in the morning hoping that we provide them with means for daily sustenance. Many of these people abound in almost every street comer. We pray that God may not lead us into temptation. This means that we too are ready to avoid every occasion of sin. By this I mean those places, peoples and circumstances that lead us to sin. As long as we remain attached to, or are willing to hang around these, we have no right to pray not to be led into temptation. The final petition in this prayer is that we be delivered from all evil. This is related to the previous petition Nvhere we pray not to be led into temptation. Evil tendencies begin in the heart and like a fertile garden-, the human heart grows whatever is cultivated in it. If we pray to be delivered from all evil, we are simply pledging to nip from the bud evil desires and tendencies before they germinate and grow into trees which may be difficult to uproot. Our Father is always willing to listen to our prayer only if we are willing to co-operate with him. So when next we say the "Our Father" let us be sure we know what we are praying for.
DE COLORES!!
DeColores!
Father Joachim
Lay Directors Message - Summer 2008
To my fellow Cursillistas,
Once more I find myself tying up the loose ends of the Cursillo's year. It was an eventful year. We experienced a Ladies and a Men's Weekend and we welcomed new Cursillistas into our Movement.
We were especially blessed this year as four young men from the VEYO seminary lived their weekend. We are very encouraged that if it is God's will these men will be ordained into the priesthood and become glowing advocates for the Cursillo Movement. Please pray for them as they discern their vocation.
Father Nnanna, Nancy Bath and I attended the National Conference in Kelowna, British Columbia this past June. The theme this year was on "The Three Phases of Cursillo" the Pre-Cursillo, the Weekend and the Post-Cursillo. The speakers certainly enlightened by the Holy Spirit and brought me to an understanding of how important this movement "lived" really is. Not to downplay the Weekend, but it is the least critical of the three. It is my inter-action and my love, for those having made the weekend or the pre and the post that really speak volumes. As your Secretariat we will be elaborating on these subjects in an upcoming Leader School.
Father Nnanna's first year as our Spiritual Director was truly a blessing. Those who made their weekends and the leaders of the weekends we encouraged by his wisdom and his wit. I pray that he will be able to continue his good work for the Movement.
Our long time member of the Secretariat, David Gray, retired after twelve years service. Many thanks, David, for your invaluable dedication. I would like to thank the other members of the Secretariat, Alan Baylis, John VanderSanden and Nancy Bath without their help I would be at a loss. We could use another member on the Secretariat and if you feel God is calling you to serve please do not hesitate to come to any one of us.
On a very sad note we experienced the deaths of two dear Cursillistas Eduardo Bonnin the founder of the Cursillo Movement and our own Harry Lynch. . Harry will long be remembered as a smiling face, diligent worker and faithful man. These two men truly lived the Cursillo charism.
DeColores!
Pamela
News from the Vatican
The bishops were gathered near Rome to invoke the Holy Spirit's aid in welcoming movements and communities into the fabric of local Churches.
That is how Cardinal Stankslaw Rylko explained one of the keys motivating the Pontifical Council for Laity to gather some 100 bishops for a three day seminar.
A key for these days, he said, is the common invoking of the Holy Spirit to "better know and understand the project of God in these new charisms, correctly discern their genuine character and ordered use in the bosom of the Christian communities, welcome them with trust and gratitude into the fabric of the Churches entrusted to the pastoral care and offer them support in their mission with an authentic spirit of spiritual fatherhood."
Rylko went on to say, "It is undeniable, that movements and new communities have become for millions of the baptized in every comer of the planet, true laboratories of faith, authentic schools of sanctity and mission," ... "The movements launch the challenge of a missionary Church courageously projected toward new frontiers. In our times, the Church has a great need of opening itself to this novelty generated by the Holy Spirit."
Rylko said pastors should be the first in taking note of these "new things," but we know that this is not always the case."
"Pastors--- and this has to be forcefully emphasized---should not see movements and new communities as another problem they have to deal with, but rather as a providential gift that the Church should receive with gratitude and a sense of responsibility, so as not to waste the resource they represent."
Discernment
This gift implies duties for laypeople as well as for bishops, Rylko affirmed. He noted how Pope John Paul 11 insisted, "that these new realities are caned to insert themselves into the dioceses and parishes with humility - at the service of the mission of the Church and avoiding any type of exclusiveness or attitudes of superiority regarding others."
The president of the pontifical council notes criteria offered by Poe John Paul 11 and by then Cardinal Ratzinger for discerning the life of the movements in the Church.
Cardinal Ratzinger, as the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, highlighted that, "in the Church there is no contrast and contraposition between the institutional dimension and the charismatic dimension, of which the movements are a significant expression," Rylko recalled.
And Cardinal Ratzinger affirmed that, "integration can never mean homologation because ecclesial communion is not an absolute uniformity, but rather unity in diversity," Rylko added. He continued, "As Pope, (Ratzinger) continues insisting on the importance of the criteria of docility to the action of the Spirit in the bosom of the ecclesial communion."
One and Many
Regarding Church-movement relationship, Rylko stated, "the current Pope has given priority to Pauline rule, "do not snuff out the charisms." And as second criteria, "the Church is one." He synthesizes both guidelines in the word "gratitude, patience and also acceptance of the sufferings that are inevitable."
Following the magisterium of Benedict XVI the pontifical council president affirmed, "It is not enough to welcome a movement: it is necessary to follow it with due pastoral solicitude." This task, he acknowledged, implies, "an adequate knowledge of the unique realities present and active in the diocese."
In this task, the Cardinal said, "the pastor can count on the Pontifical Council for Laity, a common house for the ecclesial movement and the new communities, and the direct expression, regarding these groups of the paternity of the Successor of Peter."
Sponsoring
- Sponsoring is misunderstood. We use it as a means to fill scheduled weekends.
- If we live the pre-cursillo authentically, the term sponsoring will be replaced by the fact of 'bringing a friend' to the Cursillo weekend.
- In an authentic pre-cursillo we make friends with people, we share with them what we believe, we show them that we have found something that helps us to live a happy life as a Christian.
- If we do this well, they see something in us that is attractive and they want to share it too. n We invite them to the Cursillo weekend when we believe that they are ready to receive the benefits. We do not pressure them because we are looking for candidates.
- It must be that we want the best thing for our friend and that is to allow them to encounter themselves, God, and the community by finding out that God loves them.
- IT IS THE BEST THTNG, BY THE BEST MEANS, (FRIENDSHIP) TO THE BEST THAT IS IN A PERSON
- Because you are their friend and not just their 'sponsor' you will help them to make the weekend. Take them there, help with their family, and go to the closure.
- After the weekend, because you are still their friend, you will take them to Ultreya, you will help them to get into a group reunion, you will still be their friend.
- The role of the 'sponsor' is not just one of responsibility but of caring enough about the friend to do what is best for them. The team. because they are the ones who give the message on the weekend, should be just as responsible for the new candidate. If they don't live the message that they presented on the weekend, where they told the candidates about the method of friendship and perseverance, then they should not have been on the team.
- If they cared about the candidates on the weekend, then they should continue to care about what happens to them after the weekend.
- If the friend who brought them to the Cursillo weekend fails to bring them to the Ultreya or to continue to journey with them, then the team must continue to be there for them until they can stand on their own two feet and persevere.
- In Mallorca the team meets regularly after each weekend (before the Ultreya for about 45 minutes) to talk about how the candidates are doing and how they can help them. They do this for several weeks. It is like the evening team meetings that are held on the weekends. The sponsors are not involved in the meeting, this is the team still making sure that the candidates are doing ok.
A Guide for Sponsoring
If your stomach gets tied in knots every time you hear the word "evangelization" let the gospel of Matthew 10:16-23 encourage you. Jesus promises his disciples that whenever they opened their mouths, it would not be just them speaking but the Holy Spirit speaking through them. How great is that?
One way to ease into evangelization is to develop a plan of action. And that plan should always begin with prayer. Sit down with a sheet of paper and ask the Holy Spirit to bring to your mind a few people you know who might benefit from hearing about Jesus. These could be family co-workers friends or neighbours. Next, make it a point to pray for these people everyday. Ask the Lord to bless them, heal them, and more importantly to open their hearts and minds to hear his word.
Once you have laid the ground work with prayer and intersession, all it takes is patience and alertness for the right moment to share your faith. When the time is right you will know, because the Holy Spirit will give you a nudge and let you know that an opening has presented itself. Plus, since you have been praying regularly, you will be more open to the Spirit's promptings. What to say when the big moment arrives? Tell the person that Jesus loves them and that he can help them. Share how a personal relationship with Jesus has helped in your life. Promise to support them with prayer. Then watch how the Spirit works.
"Jesus, as you sent the apostles out to preach the good news, I ask you to send me also. I want everyone to have the same relationship with you that I have, Holy Spirit, embolden me to push through my fears, so that others may come to know your great love."
A Reminder
Do you have issues with your parish priest? Has a Sister said or done something that you did not like? Well we have the cure! Pray ! pray! pray! for them.
Remember they are just like the lay of our parishes, they make mistakes. Instead of changing parishes looking for Nirvana or stopping
going to Church all together, do what Jesus would do, pray about it.
Here is a little pray that you could include in your daily prayers.
Daily Prayer for our Clergy.
0 Lord, may you find shelter and rest gently within the hearts of your Pope, Benedict IV, your bishop, Nicola de Angelis and your priests Fathers Joachim Nnanna, And your Sisters, Therese Roddy Make them into Pope, Bishop, Priests and Sisters according to your heart: meek, humble, and zealous, so that all they do will be for your glory. Mold them into men and women of prayer and labour insensible to earthly things and sensible only to your love and to the graces of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING
First come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses.
Plant three rows of Peas
Peace of mind
Peace of heart
Peace of soul
Plant four rows of Lettuce
Lettuce us be faithful
Lettuce be kind
Lettuce be patient
Lettuce really love one another
Plant four rows of Squash
Squash gossip
Squash indifference
Squash grumbling
Squash selfishness
No garden is without Turnip
Turnip for meetings
Turnip for service
Turnip to help one another
To conclude we must have Thyme
Thyme for each other
Thyme for family
Thyme for friends
FYI - Year Of St. Paul
Pope Benedict XVI announced that beginning in June of 2008 he will dedicate a year to St. Paul who is the patron saint of Cursillo (given to Cursillo as our patron by Pope Paul VI)
In the first Christian community, St. Paul received a precise mission from God: to preach the risen Christ to pagans. To accomplish this he knew how to be in full communion with Peter and the other "pillars" of the church, but at the same time put fonh his own interpretation to separate Christianity from the practices of Judaism. He could be a model for bringing unity out of the multiple lives of faith, among the Christian confessions, but also within the Catholic ecclesial community. After St. Paul, the age of the Fathers of the Church confirmed this variety of insights. In the Church too, history is life's teacher: from the past one can find answers for the present.
Indulgence For The Poor Souls
Current regulations in force by Pope Benedict XVI
- On All Souls day a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls is granted to those who visit any parish church Of public oratory and there recite one Our Father and one Credo.
- On all days from November 1 through November 8 inclusive, a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit a cemetery and pray, even if only mentally, for the departed.
Conditions For Both Indulgences
- Only one plenary indulgence can be gained per day.
- It is necessary to be in a state of grace, at least by completion of work.
- Freedom from attachment to sin, even venial sin, is necessary; otherwise the indulgence is only partial.
(By this is meant attachment to a particular sin, not sin in general.)
- Holy Communion must be received each time the indulgence is sought...
- Prayers must be cited for the intention of the Holy Father on each day the indulgence is sought.
No particular prayers are specified)
- A sacramental confession must be made within a week of completion of the prescribed work.
(One confession made during the week, made with the intention of gaining all the indulgences, suffices.)
Send Your Angel To Holy Mass
O holy Angel at my side
Go to Mass for me,
Kneel in my place at Holy Mass
Where I desire to be.
At Offertory, in my stead
Take all I am and own,
And place it as a sacrifice,
Upon the altar throne.
At holy Consecration's bell
Adore the seraph's love
My Jesus hidden in the How,
Then pray for those I dearly love,
And those who cause me grief,
That Jesus' Blood may cleanse all hearts
And suffering souls relieve.
And when the priest Communion takes,
Oh! Bring my Lord to me,
That His sweet heart may rest on mine,
And I His temple be.
Pray that this sacrifice
Divine May mankind's sons efface;
Then bring me Jesus' blessing home,
The pledge of every grace.
|
While Praying One Day A Girl Asked, "Who Are You, Lord?"
He Answered, "I Am" "But, Who Is I Am?" She Said.
And He Replied..."! Am Love, I Am Peace,
I Am Grace, I Am Joy,
I Am The Way, Truth, And The Light...
I Am The Comforter,
I Am Strength, I am Safety,
I Am Shelter, I Am Power, I Am The Creator,
I Am The Beginning And The End,
I Am The Most High."
The Girl With Tears In Her Eyes Looked
Toward Heaven And Said,
"Now I Understand. But Lord, Who Am I?"
Then God Tenderly Wiped The Tears
From Her Eyes And Whispered,
You Are Mine."
|
