Lift
them up in prayer …
PRAYER/ADORATION
HOURS (by Ultreya
Center) for the January 2007 David City
Weekends
Thursday,
7:00pm - Friday, 1:00am Hastings/Holdrege/Minden
Friday,
1:00am - 7:00am Beatrice/Crete/Hebron
Friday,
7:00am - 1:00pm Lincoln
Friday,
1:00pm - 7:00pm Southwestern Nebraska (McCook/Imperial/Grant)
Friday,
7:00pm - Saturday 1:00am Nebraska
City/Plattsmouth/Offutt
Saturday,
1:00am - 7:00am Hastings/Holdrege/Minden
Saturday,
7:00am - 1:00pm Beatrice/Crete/Hebron
Saturday,
1:00pm - 7:00pm Southwestern
Nebraska (McCook/Imperial/Grant)
Saturday,
7:00pm - Sunday 1:00am Lincoln
Sunday,
1:00am - Sunday, 7:00am Nebraska
City/Plattsmouth/Offutt
Sunday,
7:00am - 5:00pm David
City/Shelby/Wahoo
Candidates for January Weekends (St.
Mary School, David City) -- Please be
praying for these candidates (as of 1/10/07) for the Cursillo Weekends in David City (please encourage candidates
to get their applications in ASAP):
Men:
- Barger, Brendon – Imperial
- Breuer, Dave – Auburn
- Dalton, Mike – David City
- Hilger, Dan – Bellwood
- Juranek, Dale – David City
- Kobza, Ray –
David City
- Oborny, Charlie – Bellwood
Women:
- Barger, Bonnie – Imperial
- Coufal, Maureen – David City
- Dalton, Camille – David City
- Else, Jeanette – Hebron
- Gilliam, Amber
– Lincoln
- Hein, Marlene – David City
- Hilger, Mary Jane
– Bellwood
- Hottovy, Rose – David City
- Jakub, Roni – Abie
/ Bruno
- Kobza, Cherie –
David City
- Maurin, Mary –
Crete
- Matulka, Marianne
– David City
- Oborny, Dorothy
– Bellwood
- Prochazka, Diana
– Wilber
From the
Secretariat …
· New Secretariat Members … At the December Secretariat meeting, Mark Pribyl was
elected Lay Director and Kathy Springer was elected Treasurer. John Springer was appointed Three Day
Chairperson to complete the remaining year of Mark Pribyl’s three-year
term. A few days after the December
Secretariat meeting, Chuck and Joyce Micek regretfully submitted resignations
from their positions on the Secretariat due to work and family
commitments. They indicated, however,
that they intend to stay on as Ultreya Center Representatives for the David
City-Shelby-Wahoo Ultreya Center. Kathy
Rowell (Holdrege, NE)
was appointed to fill the remaining year of Chuck Micek’s three-year term
as Precursillo Chair, and Monica Buster (Hebron,
NE) was appointed to fill the
remaining year of Joyce Micek’s three-year term as Secretary. We thank Chuck and Joyce for ALL the work
they did to foster to the work of Cursillo in our Diocese.
· New Cursillo Website … The Lincoln Diocese has a
new Cursillo web address. It is
www.catholic-church.org/cursillolincoln/
until that web address is up and running, we
will be using this temporary address (where you currently are): http://www.gpcom.net/stpatrickschurch/cursillolincoln.html
Please
book mark this home page as your Lincoln Diocese Cursillo Website.
· Cursillo Application Forms Enclosed … Sponsor
Sheet Updated …
With the January Weekends right around the corner, we are
including with this mailing, a packet of application materials to be given to
prospective candidates (however, do not give the blue Sponsor Sheet to the
candidate). The packet includes:
1) Goldenrod
Sheet – Recently re-written to
explain Cursillo in a simpler way (by better defining some of the Cursillo
terminology). Still contains the
endorsement of Bishop Bruskewitz and Popes John Paul II and Paul VI.
2) White Sheet
– Application form … this
is what the candidate should complete and give to you (the sponsor).
3) Blue Sheet – Sponsor sheet … PLEASE read both sides of this REVISED sheet
… it will help you better understand the responsibilities of being a
sponsor. And please note (there have
been many questions on this point in the past) that when a husband and wife are
both eligible to attend a Cursillo, then the two should be prepared
(Precursillo) at the same time – the question
of who attends first is NOT important.
In other words, it is NOT mandatory that the husband live a Cursillo
Weekend before his wife. For more explanation/details, read the Blue
Sponsor Sheet.
May we have eyes, Lord, to know who You want us to
invite …
and please help us to be courageous enough to
follow through …
· Region VI Spring 2007 Encounter ... The Lincoln Diocese has agreed to host the
Region VI Spring Encounter the
weekend of April 27-29, 2007, in David City, NE.
Anyone who is interested in helping out in any capacity (planning, set-up, tear-down, music, food,
etc.) should contact any member of the Secretariat to volunteer … what a
great way to share the gifts that God has given you! There will be more details in upcoming Newsletters
… ask God in what capacity He wants you to be of service to Him
… …and plan now to be there!!
· School of Leaders (SOL) ... You are invited to come together with
cursillistas from across the Diocese to deepen your understanding of our Lord
and of the Cursillo Movement. ALL ARE INVITED! SOL is about doing our Lord’s work
through the vehicle (Method) of Cursillo.
In working and studying and praying together, we discover ways of doing
that to which our Lord calls us. The
next SOL will be Feb. 23-24, 2007, at St. Ann Parish in Doniphan, NE (registration form included in
Newsletter). SOL begins on Friday
evening with a retreat phase (Mass, meditation, Confessions, and
food/fellowship); and continues into Saturday (we are usually finished by about
3 p.m. on Saturday afternoon). You will
come away with a deeper love for God and better know His love for you … ALL are invited to participate.
· Precursillo … Make a friend, Be a friend, and Bring that
friend to Christ!!!
********
Precursillo (thoughts
from Chuck Micek, Precursillo Chairperson)
I was visiting
with a woman the other night in Lincoln,
and we were discussing the way people dress today … in airports,
shopping, and even coming to Mass on the weekend. She made the statement the reason people are
not more respectful in their dress when they come to Mass is that Catholics did
not really believe that Jesus, His Body and Blood, were present at Mass. I did not think that was the reason. However, ever since she made the comment, I
have been thinking about what she said.
Saturday
evening I noticed how many people came to church in jeans. It seemed to me that about 80% of the people
attending Mass that evening were in jeans.
I wondered, “Did they not believe that Jesus was present?”
Some of these people I know very well, and I know their belief to be firm.
Years ago, when
Catholics attended Mass, they went in their “Sunday best”. Times have certainly changed. Everyone is so busy today we do not have time
to dress for Mass the way we should … or the way we could … to properly
worship Jesus Christ. So what is going
on? Is it that Catholics really
don’t understand what takes place at Mass?
World Library
Publications says in the Guidelines for the Reception of Communion, “As
Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we
receive Holy Communion. We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and
frequently.”
Devoutly
… Because Catholics are required
to believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in what appears to be bread and wine,
the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of our oneness of
faith, life, and worship. We are aware
that Jesus is present in the
holy sacrifice of the Mass. Therefore, we should dress accordingly
… we should be the people of faith that Christ wants us to be, and we
should be the example for others to follow in showing reverence to our Lord in
His Presence among us. And if we are
attending Mass and praying on a regular basis, then the presence of Christ
should surround us and be so much a part of us that the way we live our lives
is evidence of our belief in His Presence here with us.
Others may not
have Christ in the center of their lives … Ask them to live a Cursillo Weekend, so that
they too might encounter Christ …
There are Weekends less than one month away at St. Mary School in David
City. Do not presume to make an answer
for someone else … simply invite … and let God do the rest.
De
Colores! Chuck
Micek
· Three Day Weekends ...
You
have been given a gift … Cursillo …
Share that gift with others …
Invite someone to live a Cursillo Weekend … And just a reminder … Because of the increasing costs of Cursillo
supplies [e.g., crucifixes, Pilgrim’s Guides, booklets (“Cursillo – What Is It?”,
“Sponsor’s Booklet”, “Let’s Keep the Fourth Day
Simple”), table supplies, etc.], the registration fee requested when
an application is submitted was increased to $15.00 (the previous fee was
$10.00).
U Men’s – January 11 - 14, 2007 (St. Mary School, David City, NE)
U Women’s – January 18-21, 2007 (St. Mary School, David City, NE)
The
teams for the January 2007 Weekends are:
U Men’s: Mark
Pribyl, Coordinator; Eldon Buster, John Fertig, John Springer, and Myron
Wendland. Fr. Nick Baker, Spiritual
Director; Fr. Greg Pawloski, Assistant; Fr. Mark Seiker, Palanca Spiritual
Director
U Women’s: Annette Wemhoff,
Coordinator; Monica Buster, Mary Fertig, Joan Junkin, and Kathy Springer. Fr. Chris Goodwin, Spiritual Director; Fr. Mark
Seiker, Assistant; Fr. Jeremy Hazuka, Palanca Spiritual Director
If your
candidate cannot be part of the upcoming January Weekends, future Weekends include:
U Men’s – September 20 - 23, 2007 (St. Ann Parish, Doniphan, NE)
U Women’s – October 4 - 7, 2007 (St. Ann Parish, Doniphan, NE)
U Men’s – February 14 - 17, 2008 (Location not yet determined)
U Women’s – February 21 - 24 2008 (Location not yet determined)
Palanca Letters
…
Personal Palanca letters continue to be a very important part of Cursillo. Letters from the sponsor
and/or a spouse should be marked so they may be given to candidates during the
Weekend. All other personal Palanca letters will be sent home to be
read/enjoyed during the Fourth Day when the candidates will be in special need
of encouragement as they return to the world they left behind on Thursday
evening. Many candidates have commented
that these letters are particularly helpful following the Weekend, as they
return to their homes and workplaces … please keep them in your prayers
…
Personal
and general Palanca letters (including posters) may be mailed to Kathy
Springer, 1410 E 15th St, Crete, NE 68333, or any Secretariat member, in time
to arrive by the Wednesday prior to each Weekend (Jan. 10th for the
Men’s; Jan. 17th for the Women’s).
The Lincoln Diocese Cursillo website will be kept updated with the
names of candidates as they are submitted.
The new website is www.catholic-church.org/cursillolincoln/.
**************
From an article submitted to Ultreya on-line
magazine
(Mark Pribyl, Three Day Cursillo Chairperson)
For those of you who don’t know me, I lived my Cursillo Weekend in Lincoln in January 2001. My family was St. Robert Bellarmine. As I entered into my Fourth Day, I planned to focus on a couple of things -- my responsibility to Christ and the fact that Christ would be counting on me. And if I had really made the decision during my Weekend to grow in Faith, Hope and Love, I knew that I had been given some tools to do just that.
Before my Weekend, I was learning about Christ and what He expects of me mainly through the readings and homily at Mass. And even though I went through RCIA, it really never sank in to my head that I had any responsibilities to uphold as a follower of Christ.
During my Weekend, however, it truly hit me that Christ is counting on me and that there is no other plan. "Go out and tell all the Good News!" I knew that if I was truly being sent, it was going to take courage, wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, piety, and fear of the Lord (the gifts of the Holy Spirit).
During the Three Days, I learned a way that I might first recognize, and then form, these gifts, in order that I might ''Go out and tell all who will listen". The ORIGINAL Cursillo method of Group Reunion and Ultreya is still complete today, in that if I regularly make time to share with my brothers and sisters in Christ my attempts to grow in piety, study, and action, then I will be strengthening myself in each of these three areas.
(Piety) Praying … praying is first asking for help, and then listening … listening for the answer to our prayer … followed by acceptance … accepting the answer that you receive. And sometimes the acceptance is the most difficult part of all!
(Study) Study is putting on the mind of Christ in what I read, hear, and experience … so important! Ignorance is no excuse. And neither is laziness … make the time! I have … and now when I find myself confronted about my beliefs, I can respond with certainty.
(Action) This is the part of my Weekend that really hit me between the eyes! Just as I did, you might need to overcome your fears of ridicule and defeat … And knowing that God promises to be with you always, YOU should speak in the name of Christ, for Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, so that others might be drawn toward Christ.
God (not man) picks those He intends to send out … and He makes them leaders. Back in the 1940s, the Holy Spirit inspired Bishop Juan Hervas and Eduardo Bonnin with some notion of the potential that Cursillo might hold, and He has picked many others since then to be obedient and faithful to what God gave us through Cursillo.
What did Cursillo do for me? Nothing. What has the Spirit of God done for me through my faithful living of the Cursillo Method, as presented to me by the leaders God chose for that purpose? Everything! I have learned one very important thing! I CAN DO NOTHING WITHOUT CHRIST. The joy I have in and with Christ I can't even begin to put into words … to serve Jesus is to love Jesus. And being obedient is to give of yourself and not to count the cost.
My Weekend was complete, as was yours. The Spirit moves each and every one of us at our own pace, and the Spirit knows exactly who to send and what it is going to take to get us to budge … to wake up. We don't need hype and frills … we simply need truth. And with joy and the truth, our mission becomes more clear … to bring others closer to Christ.
God gave us Jesus … Jesus gave us Our Blessed Mother Mary … and the Spirit through Bishop Juan Hervas and Eduardo Bonnin gave us Cursillo, that we might come to know Jesus, too. It takes grace to accept a gift as it is given. Asking for that grace is Piety … and Study teaches me how and why … and then, with the help of God, Action makes it possible that God might use me, a mere creature who was created by God, to bring someone a little closer to Christ! What an awesome God!!
De Colores!! Mark Pribyl
· Postcursillo ...
U Please
attend the Closings for the upcoming (January) Cursillo Weekends in David City
… remember how important it was for you to be greeted by the Fourth Day
community … He is counting on
you!!!
U And
speaking of David City …
Be part of the Spring Region VI Encounter being hosted by the
Lincoln Diocese at St. Mary
School in David
City … April
27-29, 2007.
From the Spiritual Advisor
...
We
are preparing to celebrate the Solemnity of Christmas, the birth of Christ, the
Incarnation … God becoming man … taking on our flesh …
pitching His tent among us … in order to save us from our sins. We have been preparing for this mystery of
Christ’s birth at Christmas throughout the Advent Season.
During
these weeks of Advent, we long, we wait, we hope for the coming of the Savior
as did the Jewish people of the Old Testament times. They knew they needed a Savior, a Messiah,
and they were longing and hoping for His coming. There were various different ideas among the
Jewish people about who the Messiah would be.
God the Father had been leading the Chosen People all through the
ages. He revealed Himself to them in the
burning bush, through the law and the prophets.
He led them by a column of fire and a column of cloud. He fed them with quail, manna, and water from
the rock. Then God led them into the
Promised Land and He made His dwelling in the Temple, in the Holy of Holies. But through it all, no one ever saw God face
to face.
So,
when God became man … when the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity took
on our flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary and was born on that first
Christmas … now for the first time, men and women could see God. God became man to show us how we are to live
… to call us to holiness … and to give us the grace to make our
growth in holiness possible. All this
was in the eternal plan of God … and we must reflect on that as we
celebrate the Solemnity of Christmas.
Recently
I was prompted to reflect on this as I was praying the Office of Readings of
the Liturgy of the Hours. There was a
reading “From a letter to Diognetus” which said: “No man has ever seen God or known
Him, but God has revealed Himself to us through faith, by which alone it is
possible to see Him. God, the Lord and
Maker of all things, Who created the world and set it in order, not only loved
man but was also patient with him. So He has always been, and is, and will be:
kind, good, free from anger, truthful; indeed, He and He alone is good.
He devised a plan, a great and wonderful
plan, and shared it only with His Son.
As long as He preserved this secrecy and kept His own wise counsel He
seemed to be neglecting us, to have no concern for us. But when through His beloved Son He revealed
and made public what He had prepared from the very beginning, He gave us all at
once gifts such as we could never have dreamt of, even sight and knowledge of
Himself.
When God had made all His plans in
consultation with His Son, He waited until a later time, allowing us to follow
ou
