Monthly Archives: August 2017

School of Leaders – September 2017

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School of Leaders – – We’re gonna need a bigger boat!          

The School of Leaders has been blessed with an awesome responsibility and an inspiring opportunity.

The Secretariat has been working towards the revitalization of the 4th Day Community, our Precursillo, Cursillo Weekend, and Postcursillo phases. The Secretariat has realized that one obstacle to the continued health and growth of our Movement is the fact that we have become centralized to the Metro East, Carbondale and Mt. Carmel areas, but we have difficulty traveling – – and even communicating – – to create a lively and enthusiastic Movement throughout the Diocese. We need to be sure every Catholic in the Diocese has the opportunity to “make a friend, be a friend, and bring your friend to Christ.”

One key to this effort is to identify the Cursillistas in all regions and recruit Parish Representatives in each Parish and for each Vicariate in the Diocese. This could be a huge and daunting task, but if we journey with Christ and do all things in His Name, all things are possible.

If you are willing to act as a Parish Representative in your 4th Day journey, or if you would like to help with this effort or suggest a friend who might be willing to serve, please contact me, or come to a School of Leaders meeting to see what’s involved. This won’t involve a lot of work or meetings – – – it just calls for your commitment to Jesus and love for your fellow Cursillistas to be sure their voices are heard.

Please join me and the other faithful 4th Day travelers who guide the Diocesan Cursillo community. As of now, we are meeting on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, at 7:00 pm at St. Joseph’s Parish Center in Freeburg – next ones are September 12th, October 10th, and November 14th. We are looking for suggestions, or invitations, to meet at Murphysboro, Mt. Vernon, Du Quoin, Mt. Carmel, Ruma, Red Bud, or ??? – – we need your support and sponsorship to have a Traveling School! If you can put together a group of Cursillistas in your town, we would welcome a chance to take the School on the road!

Romans 1: 12:What I mean is that both you and I will be helped at the same time, you by my faith and I by yours.”

De Colores and Peace! John I Schaberg

Lay Director – September 2017

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My Dear Sister and Brother Cursillistas,

This will be my last article in the Evangelizer as my term comes to an end at the Secretariat meeting on Sept 26.  It has been a true blessing for me to have been of service to you and our Lord as we progress on our “Cursillo Journeys” in His wonderful church using the methods of Cursillo.

There is much work yet to be completed; however, I am very confident that your Secretariat and School of Leaders will be working hard to spread our message and to keep our many friends active on their journeys. Cursillo is in need of many workers; so please consider joining the teams, attend the School of Leaders and attend the secretariat meetings.

I thank each of you for all your support over the past three years and know you will support your new Lay Director, Bob McCormack.

Nick Lang (618-213-6391)

Spiritual Director – September 2017

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Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Fourth Day,

I hope this finds you well and in good spirits! I begin this message by offering sincere gratitude for the leadership and direction Nick Lang has brought to the Belleville Cursillo in Christianity Movement during his tenure as Lay Director. Nick has been a stalwart advocate for ensuring the mission, method and practices of the Cursillo are in place that we may experience an even closer walk with Our Lord and Savior. Nick, we thank you for your friendship, and your unwavering witness and Christian example. We also congratulate Bob McCormack, our new Lay Director. Bob, please be assured of our prayers and support.

“The Cursillo wants to accomplish, and by the Grace of our Lord it does, the Evangelical message – the Good News. Good for everybody and always new because it renews us.”

These are the words of Cursillo in Christianity founder Eduardo Bonnín Aguiló on the importance of reaching out to others. In doing so we hear Jesus’ great commission to, “go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19)

We have so many opportunities to bring that rejuvenating message of love we find in the Gospel–The Good News–to others. We share this evangelical message in simple and ordinary, as well as demanding and complicated times—whether in our homes, within our families, at the worksite, or the office.

We need not look too hard to find these opportunities, in fact we need not look at all, as they will find us. They will most likely find us when we least expect, and when we feel least prepared; at the end of a long day, in the midst of a busy situation, or in the times when you think you have nothing to give.

But therein lies the beauty and the wisdom of our call as Christians, that God gives us these moments to be Good News, to be Christ to others, to be renewed in our commitment to live out our baptismal call in charity to others.   These are gifts for which we never know the time or place of their offering.

I have personally been lifted up by Grace in the moments with Christ that I simply didn’t see coming. Or when I had to push myself to carry out His mission. Without exception I’ve come away from these moments with a new sense of purpose and a renewed spirit.

Our rich Catholic faith offers us countless opportunities to experience the Love, Joy and Peace that flows so readily from the Good News of Christ. Our task is to stay open for these opportunities whenever we’re ready, but more so when we are not. “Go, and announce the Gospel of the Lord.”

De Colores!

Deacon Wayne