From Terry Kostel:
A Leader? Who? Me?
The overall consensus is that the Cursillo community in general does not have an understanding of the School of Leaders, its purpose, and/or how it operates. Hopefully, this article will help dispel some of the uncertainty. For those who have a Leaders’ Manual, it might be helpful to read Chapter 6 entitled, “School of Leaders.”
When we hear about the School of Leaders, we tend to have mistaken concepts about it or identify it as a center for education or formation of leaders to give talks on the weekend. The School of Leaders is the working arm of the Secretariat. In simple terms, the School is made up of a core group of leaders for the Cursillo Movement in a particular Diocese. They are those leaders who have an intense desire to do whatever is necessary to ensure the Movement remains vibrant and authentic … leaders who are willing to give their time, talent, and treasure to the Movement, as needed. The School is and will always be an essential piece for the continuation and development of the Cursillo Movement. In other words, if there is no School, there are no Cursillo weekends and there is no Secretariat.
At this point, I can here you saying, “School of Leaders, that’s not for me. I am not one of those people called on to be a leader in the Movement.” The reason I can hear those words so clearly is because when I heard about the School of Leaders, I said the same thing. The truth is, not all Cursillistas are called or choose to become Cursillo Leaders. Those behind the scenes are as important in spreading God’s message as those who may be comfortable out front.
The School of Leaders is NOT a school in which someone learns to be a leader …as indicated on page 24 of the Leaders’ Manual, “One is not a leader because he belongs to the School; rather he belongs to the School because he/she is a leader of Christianity.” A more apt name for the School might be, Community of Leaders, Reunion of Leaders, Community of Respondents (those responsible for others), or even the School of Followers. However, keeping in line with the Cursillo literature and terminology, we will refer to it as a School.
The School of Leaders is not a school in the academic sense. It is a forum to educate and discuss various aspects of our own holiness, formation, evangelization, and our Catholic faith.
The School is simply a dynamic gathering of the Fourth Day Community, which articulates, gives voice to, and is the hands and feet of the Ideal of the Cursillo movement. This is just like the personal Ideal we talk about in the first Rollo, but the School of Leaders envisions and pursues the Ideal of the entire Fourth Day Community. Participating in the School of Leaders is really not difficult for anyone who actively participates in the Cursillo Movement and all of the beauty it has to offer, to keep us moving towards our personal Ideal. We must be mindful of the fact that we do not invent theology, but as St. Paul has stated, “We pass along that which we have been taught by Christ, through the Church and our Bishop.”
The School energizes and drives the Cursillo Movement towards that Ideal, giving direction and purpose to the Secretariat, and giving constancy and perseverance to the Fourth Day Community.
As Leaders of Christianity, the School helps each of us accelerate and live the fundamentals of being a Christian: IN ONESELF – IN THE MOVEMENT – IN THE ENVIRONMENTS.
During the 3-day Cursillo weekend, the talk on Leaders asks each of us to lead the people in our families, our churches, and our communities, to know the love of Jesus. Now that we have experienced just how much Jesus loves every one of us, He wants us to share that love with everyone else we meet. We are a pilgrim people, always in process, always growing – we continue our formation scripturally, prayerfully, and apostolically, and the School of Leaders provides a place for continuing our growth in our faith journey.
All Cursillistas are encouraged to participate in attending the School of Leaders to enrich their Fourth Day experience. The School of Leaders is not a school to train speakers for the weekend. The School of Leaders is an opportunity to develop into Catholic Christian Leaders in the community.
Whether or not you want to be a team leader in Cursillo, we would love to have you join us so we can all help each other continue to grow in His love. The School of Leaders is open to all Cursillistas, and we encourage everyone to attend. Come and enrich your understanding of the Cursillo.
The School of Leaders meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 pm at St Joseph’s in Freeburg.
Let us remember and reflect on, “Do we put into action what Christ has commanded us?” Christ is counting on me, and I on Him!
De Colores, Terry
P.S. The Holy Spirit inspired a Cursillista to write the following which I think is perfect:
