Calendar of Events
June 27, 2004               Grand Ultreya, Van Dorn Park, Lincoln, NE (near 9th & Van Dorn; see insert)
July 9-10, 2004            School of Leaders (quarterly reunion) – 7:30pm Fri-4pm Sat, Sacred Heart, Crete
July 29 - Aug 1, 2004   Cursillo National Encounter, Seattle, WA
August 14, 2004           Secretariat Meeting 10:00am, Location TBA
September 11, 2004     Secretariat Meeting 10:00am, Location TBA
Sept 17-18, 2004         Practice Weekend, Sacred Heart, Shelby
Sept 23-26, 2004         Men’s Weekend, Sacred Heart, Shelby
Oct 1-3, 2004              Fall Regional Encounter, St. Paul / Minneapolis, MN
Oct 14-17, 2004         Women’s Weekend, Sacred Heart, Shelby
November ??, 2004     School of Leaders (quarterly reunion) – Details TBA
January 7-8, 2005        Practice Weekend, TBA
January 13-16, 2005    Men’s Weekend, TBA
February 10-13, 2005 Women’s Weekend, TBA
April 1-3, 2005            Spring Regional Encounter, Savior of the World Seminary, Kansas City, KS

Holy See Recognizes Cursillo ... On June 11, 2004, the Cursillo Movement was recognized officially by the Holy See.  The Movement received the decree of recognition during the course of a Liturgy of the Word, at the headquarters of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, presided over by Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko.  At a May 2002 meeting with Cursillo representatives, John Paul II encouraged the process of discernment that led to the Holy See’s decree.  Since the first Cursillo Weekend in 1944, the Cursillo Movement has spread across the world and is now present in 60 countries, with some 5 million cursillistas having lived the Three Days.

News From Secretariat ...

• National Palanca Intentions ... The Secretariat continues to encourage our Diocese to join cursillistas across the country in offering Palanca for the following intentions each week: Mondays – for all Secretariats, National, Regional, and Diocesan; Tuesdays – for all SOL’s; Wednesdays – for all cursillistas in the United States; Thursdays – for the Cursillo Movement’s Apostolic actions; and Fridays – for all Three Day Cursillo Weekends.

• Pastoral Plan ... Recall that the Pastoral Plan serves as a blueprint for the future of Cursillo in our Diocese ... it gives direction for the future by identifying the work to be done now.

    After much discussion and review, the Secretariat approved the final document on May 28, 2004.  You may access the completed Pastoral Plan from the Lincoln Diocesan Cursillo Web page (www.home.alltel.net/sj05420/cursillolincoln/). Please check it out, and see what ways you can help make the Plan a reality.  The first step is to have a plan ... now we need to follow through.  If each cursillista in the Diocese picked just one recommendation to work on, then a year from now, the Cursillo Movement in the Lincoln Diocese would be significantly stronger ... it all adds up!  Thank you to all those who participated in the process and have contributed to the development of this Pastoral Plan ... may God bless our efforts!
 
• Planning Ahead -- A Year at a Glance ... The Secretariat discussed the new tentative/proposed schedule of Cursillo activities for the Lincoln Diocese for the next year (2004-2005). [The schedule is on the back of the insert with the Lay Director and Spiritual Advisor comments.]  The schedule includes activities from the present through August 2005.  It includes upcoming Secretariat meetings, quarterly SOLs, Three Day Cursillo Weekends, and Regional and National Encounters, etc.  The tentative/proposed schedule is an attempt to provide cursillistas with enough notice to allow them to adjust their schedules to participate in Cursillo to the fullest extent possible.

• School of Leaders (SOL) ... The next quarterly SOL will be held at Sacred Heart School in Crete (NOT Shelby) on July 9-10, 2004.  The Doctrinal Topics will be taken from Section One of Part Four of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (“Christian Prayer: Prayer in the Christian Life”).  The Technique Topics will be taken from the second half of the booklet, Our Fourth Day, the stated purpose of which is “to help you grow in the life and love of the Lord and fulfill your call to be a saint and an apostle for Him.”

    In addition to formation (the topics mentioned above) and holiness (Mass, Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, visit to the Blessed Sacrament),  we do the work of Cursillo in the Diocese ... we evangelize the Cursillo Movement.  Even if you have never come before, please prayerfully consider coming in July ... there is no beginning and there is no end ... it is your gift to the Lord when you arrange your schedule to be there.  See the registration form included in this newsletter.

• Precursillo:  Please continue to pray for the teams being formed, and for the candidates that God is calling you to prepare and invite to these Weekends.  It is important that you follow the Sponsor Guidelines on the blue page of the three-page application packet (enclosed) ... the guidelines are in place to direct the selection of candidates and their proper preparation, and to remind sponsors of the commitment they are making to their candidates.

    Of particular importance:
• A sponsor should ALWAYS confer with a prospective candidate’s pastor PRIOR TO inviting the person to make a weekend.  This is important because the pastor might know of some reason that a person should not make a weekend, and once an invitation has been extended, it is very awkward to un-invite the person.
• Pay careful attention to the questions on the sponsor form that relate to you, the sponsor.
• Before you sign the Sponsor Sheet, know what you are committing yourself to as a sponsor.
• Three Day Weekend:
• Fall Cursillo Weekends ... The Fall Weekends are scheduled as follows: Men’s - Sept. 23-26, 2004, and Women’s - Oct. 14-17, 2004.   They will be held at Sacred Heart School, Shelby, NE.  As noted above under Precursillo, an application packet is included in this Newsletter.

    PLEASE prepare candidates early.  The earlier candidates are prepared and invited, the earlier the applications can be completed … the easier it is to keep the 4th Day community informed about the candidates for the Three Day Weekends ... and the better the sponsors can prepare the candidates for the Three Days and for the Fourth Day.
• Postcursillo:
• Grand Ultreya / Evangelization Walk ... The Grand Ultreya will be held at Van Dorn Park, (near 9th and Van Dorn), in Lincoln, NE, June 27, 2004 (see separate pink insert).

    On the back of the pink Grand Ultreya insert, you will find a pledge sheet for the Evangelization Walk (coming to the Grand Ultreya does NOT require you to participate in the Evangelization Walk).  We encourage you to contact people you see in Church each week (cursillistas and non-cursillistas alike), or persons you work with, or those in your neighborhood ... let them know that we are spreading Christ’s message of LOVE ... encourage them to help us by either walking with us, praying with us, or, if they are able, supporting us with a financial contribution.  T-Shirts will be given to anyone with pledges over $25.00.
• Survey of Gifts / Talents ... In the September / October Newsletter, we plan to include a survey of gifts / talents / etc ... to gather information to better do the work of Cursillo and to prepare for the next update of the Cursillo directory.
• Region VI Palanca Calendar for July / August ... is included with this Newsletter.  Please post it somewhere ... in your home ... office ... car ... so that you will be reminded to join cursillistas throughout the Region in offering Palanca for the intentions listed.  Palanca is the lever and the backbone of the Cursillo Movement.  Make it be your lever and your backbone!

Bloom where you are planted!!

• “As a Fourth Dayer, to be authentic, we need to evangelize by our actions to make our words real.  To evangelize is to make our attempt … it is not whether we are successful or fail … it is just to plant the seeds … God’s time is not our time …”
• “Our genuine apostolic efforts are what God asks of us – success or failure has no bearing upon us … Friendship groups and Ultreya help us keep the closeness to God that we realized on our Three Day Weekend …  Actions speak louder than words; is it not always necessary to speak in order to evangelize others.”
• “Remember the Service Sheet … the little piece of paper we made out at our Weekend?  We put goals on there in the areas of Piety, Study, and Apostolic Action (Holiness, Formation, and Evangelization).  One idea is to use that sheet for weekly reunions – how can we work toward the goals if we don’t even remember them?  Did we make an effort this week in each area?  That’s what counts, not ‘how many Masses’ or whether someone that we invited came to an Ultreya … but did we make the effort?  GOD does the rest – we can count on it!”
• “I think the importance of planned goals and ways to take action would definitely enrich our Cursillo experience in the Fourth Day and help keep us accountable to our Holy Spirit-given goals.  I think also the rotating of each weekly group to prepare for an Ultreya would be a tremendous reason or way to help revitalize our Ultreyas and get more involvement.”
• “Apostolic Actions:  Do not focus so much as to the success or failure of our apostolic action, but on the prayer, efforts, and work put forth to carry out the apostolic action.  Value of Postcursillo:  Progress in living the Christian life in the promises made on the Weekend to give us the tools to live the Ideal.  The primary objective is for each person to find his or her unique place in the Church and the world, for the Postcursillo to provide them with the means to persevere in living the Christian life there.”
• “The purpose of the Cursillo is to live a method of perseverance which entails slow, steady conversion.  It takes time.  We will not experience mountaintop highs every week, but we are called to continue conversion step by step.  The purpose of the Three Day Weekend is to make plans to discharge the candidates (new Fourth Dayers) back into their environments.  Ultreya and Group Reunions provide community … we cannot persevere alone.”
• “We need to root the Three Days in the Fourth Day of perseverance.  Piety … we need to plan for piety … are you keeping your commitment?  Study is an obligation!  In Evangelization, the outcome is up to God … the effort comes from us.  Postcursillo is slow and steady … but it guarantees progress.  The Weekend gives a tool to get to success.”
• “There are no apostolic failures if the effort was there.  Our success is measured by our effort.  What we experience in Ultreya or Group Reunion is a consequence of the effort we put into it.  We grow in baby steps – but we must keep stepping.  Our program of study should be one that helps us grow more in line with the Gospel.  Our witness should give validity to the truth.”

De Colores!       Kathy Springer

From the Spiritual Advisor ... As I write these lines, we are preparing to celebrate the Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist tomorrow (June 24).  There are only three birthdays that we celebrate in the Church’s liturgical year: Jesus, Mary, and St. John the Baptist.  That fact should direct our attention to the importance of this day, and to the importance of the person.  St. John the Baptist was the herald of the Good News ... he prepared the way for Christ.  However, although he is important in the History of Salvation, St. John the Baptist was willing to decrease so that Christ could increase.
    Those who were present after the birth of St. John the Baptist when he was given his name ... those who witnessed the return of speech to his father, Zechariah, when he named him “John” ... were amazed.  “All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, ‘What, then, will this child be?’  For surely the hand of the Lord was with him ... The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.” (Lk 1:66,80)
    St. John the Baptist knew his role ... He was to prepare the way for Christ ... to make Him known to the world.  Only a small portion of his life was lived in the public eye ... and even then, he pointed to the One Who would come after Him.  In preparation for his ministry, he was in the desert and grew and became strong in spirit ... he spent time with God ... He was so committed to proclaiming the Word ... faithfully and boldly ... that he died for the Word.
    Our role is also to make Christ known in the world.  We must desire to make Him known ... not ourselves.  All that we do must be to make this world a better place ... to Christianize the world ... to bring Christ to those we meet.  To do that, we must also spend time in the desert ... spend time with Christ in quiet prayer ... especially prayer before the Blessed Sacrament ... the Word made Flesh ... the Bread of Life ... becoming strong in spirit.
    Our world is, in a way, not that much different from the world of St. John the Baptist.  He was sent to call people to repentance.  He called a sin a sin ... he told King Herod that it was not right to be living with the wife of his brother Philip ... that was not popular or well received then ... or now ... but it is the truth ... and needed to be said then, and needs to be said now.  We are heralds of the truths of our faith ... the truths of the Church ... the truths of Jesus Christ ... Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  St. John the Baptist wanted to be faithful to the truth and knew that he was but the voice of the Word of God.  We too, are to be the voice of Christ in the world.
    Like St. John the Baptist, we spent time in the desert ... on our Three Day Weekend ... with our Lord, with others seeking to grow in a relationship with Him.  You might have asked yourself on that Weekend or during your Fourth Day: (‘What, then, will this child be?’) ... Who am I? ... What does God want me to do?  Who does He want me to become?
    The restoration of speech to Zechariah at the naming of St. John the Baptist was amazing ... the experiences of the Three Day Weekend are amazing.  But the restoration of speech to Zechariah was not for Zechariah, but to point the way to St. John the Baptist ... and St. John the Baptist was not to draw attention to himself, but to point the way to Jesus.  The experiences of the Three Day Weekend are not for the Three Day Weekend itself, but are given to us that we might better live each Fourth Day ... that we might point the way to Jesus ... that we might bring His Word into the world ... into our world, right where we are ... in our Fourth Day.
    God does not want us to keep returning to the experience of the Three Days ... He wants us to keep coming close to the Word of God ... to Jesus ... and to be the voice that announces that Word.  How could St. John the Baptist announce the Word and point to the Word unless he had first listened to it in the desert?  But he did not announce the Word in the desert,  rather he announced It in the world.  He announced the message to all he met ... sinners ... calling them to repentance ... to conversion.  His message was not well liked by most ... but he faithfully announced it.  So must we!
    The strength to continue to announce the Word to the world ... to Christianize the world ... comes from spending time with Him in daily prayer, from listening to His Word.  It is also very helpful to live the Cursillo method of meeting weekly in a Group Reunion and monthly attending an Ultreya.  Spending time with Him, and then sharing our close moments with others who spend time with Him ... encouraging others and being encouraged by them, to be formed into Christ’s image and likeness through our study ... encouraging others and being encouraged by them to speak the truth of His Word to those that we meet, and to plan to speak His Truth to a world that needs to hear it each day.
    St. John of the Cross said: “Where there is not love, put love, and you will find love.”  Live His love each day ... bring His Words of love into your world each day ... boldly speak and live the Truth of the Gospel and be willing to decrease so that He can increase.
    May God bless each of us as we seek to put His love and His truth into our world!

De Colores     Father Mark Seiker
 
 

                                                                   Secretariat Meetings
2004                                                                                                2003
         August 14                                                                                        August 9
         September 11                                                                                  October 4 (meeting followed by Reunion for
         November 6 (meeting followed by Reunion for                                                   September Weekends)
                     Fall Weekends) (or switch with SOL Nov 12-13)                November 15
         December 4 or December 11                                                           December 13
2005                                                                                                2004
         January 29                                                                                        January 16
         March 19 (Saturday before Palm Sunday)                                         March 13 (Reunion for Feb. Weekends follows)
         April 9                                                                                              April 17
         June 11                                                                                             June 12
         August 6                                                                                           August 14

                                                                                 SOL
2004                                                                                                2003
         July 9-10                                                                                           July 25-26
         November 12-13 (or switch with Secretariat /                                    October 10-11
                                     Postcursillo Reunion Nov. 6)
2005                                                                                                2004
         February 25-26                                                                                 Jan. 9-10
         April 22-23                                                                                       April 2-3
         July 8-9 or July 15-16                                                                       July 9-10

                                                       Three Day Weekend Activities
2004                                                                                                2003
         Sept. 17-18 -- Practice for Fall Weekends                                        Sept. 4-7 -- Men’s Three-Day Weekend
         Sept. 23-26 -- Men’s Three-Day Weekend                                      Sept. 18-21 -- Women’s Three-Day Weekend
         Oct. 14-17 -- Women’s Three-Day Weekend
2005                                                                                                2004
         January 7-8 -- Practice for February Weekends                                February 6-7 -- Practice for February Weekends
         January 13-16 -- Men’s Three-Day Weekend                                  February 12-15 -- Men’s Three-Day Weekend
         February 10-13 -- Women’s Three-Day Weekend                           February 19-22--Women’s Three-Day Weekend

                                                        Regional/National Encounters
2004                                                                                                2003
         July 29 - August 1 -- National Encounter                                          July 17-20 -- National Encounter
         October 1-3 -- Fall Regional Encounter,                                           September 26-28 -- Fall Regional Encounter
                                 St. Paul / Minneapolis, MN
2005                                                                                                2004
         April 1-3 -- Spring Regional Encounter, KC, KS                               April 23-25 -- Spring Regional Encounter
        July 28-31 – National Encounter, Atchison, KS                                  July 29 - August 1 -- National Encounter
                                                    (Benedictine College)

Other Postcursillo Activities
         Nov 6 or Nov 13, 2004 – Postcursillo Reunion
         March 19, 2005 – Postcursillo Reunion
         June 26, 2005 – Grand Ultreya

We are aware that the Women’s Weekend, Postcursillo Reunion, and SOL are all scheduled in close proximity, however, we didn’t want to get too close to Thanksgiving, and the Pro-life conference in October, and FB playoffs.  For the Feb. Women’s Weekend, Sunday is Teachers’ Honor’s night; there is a great time gap between practice weekend and Women’s Weekend.
 

(Insert #1)
 

A Grand Ultreya is planned for June 27th from 11am - 4pm at Van Dorn Park in Lincoln.  This is a family-oriented event -- activities are planned for youth of all ages and adults.  This year we will also be featuring our first ever Evangelization Walk -- read about it below.

Where?
Van Dorn Park is easily accessible – travel south on 9th Street until you pass the Van Dorn intersection.  Turn right on High Street and follow the “Shelter” sign.  There are restroom facilities (not just bushes to hide behind!!), running water and grills, and there is an enclosed shelter we can use for Mass.  There is a softball diamond and playground equipment for kids of all ages.  It is a pretty park, perfect for a family get-together for spiritual and social renewal!

When?
We would like to find a date when every single cursillista could come, but of course that is not possible.  This is a once-a-year event – please try to come if you can, and bring a friend … Our intention is to have a Grand Ultreya on the last Sunday in June each year.  This year, on June 27, the day is scheduled to begin at 11:00am, with Mass at 11:30am.  We will have Mass all together, then eat our picnic potluck meal.  Following the meal, there will be introductions; then the children will have the chance to participate in some games/crafts while we do our Ultreya Small Group Sharing.  The witness will follow.  And then, we will participate in the Evangelization Walk (see below), followed by relaxation time … meaning sitting and visiting for some, participating in youth/adult softball for some, or volleyball or hiking for others.  The day will conclude around 4:00pm.

Evangelization Walk!
This year we will participate in the Cursillo 3rd National Evangelization Walk.  Those who wish to participate may walk along a course that will be mapped out.  Free T-Shirts will be given to anyone with pledges over $25.00 (pledge sheet on back).

Why?
Our diocese is widespread geographically and it is rare that folks from the east and west all get together.  This is a time for cursillistas AND THEIR FAMILIES to take part in a Cursillo event.  All cursillistas are invited -- religious, single, married -- with children or without -- please come to celebrate what God has done for us!  Last year was great fun -- don’t miss out!

What?
This will be a potluck picnic.  Each family will bring a dish to share.  Some have time and enjoy cooking up something at home, some pick up KFC -- it doesn’t matter if you bring sandwiches or hot dogs to grill, the idea is to be together.  The Secretariat will bring paper plates, napkins, glasses and plastic-ware;  iced tea/water/orange drink will be provided.  Please also bring softball equipment if you’d like to play.

How much?
There will be a jar for donations for use of the park shelter for those able and wanting to throw in a bit.  The fee for the rental of the shelter is $60.  No park sticker is needed.
 
 

(Insert #2)

                                                   Registration Form

                                     School of Leaders
                                    Quarterly Reunion
                                        July 9-10, 2004
                                     13th & Ivy Streets
                    Sacred Heart - Crete, NE (NOT Shelby)

              If you cannot be with us, we request Palanca for the success of the School.
 
 

Name:

Address:

City/State/Zip:

Phone:                                         Email:

Where and when did you make your Cursillo?

Are you able to receive the Sacraments of Confession & Holy Communion?    Yes     No

To which Organizations do you commit your time?
 

Are you living the follow-up program of Group Reunion?    Yes     No

Are you living the follow-up program of Ultreya?    Yes     No

Do you have any physical/medical/dietary conditions to be considered?
 
 

Please Return this Form WITH PAYMENT To:
John Springer, 1410 E 15th St, Crete, NE 68333 NO LATER THAN JULY 7, 2004.
 

You are invited to the Quarterly Reunion of the School of Leaders.  Come participate in the work of Cursillo ... build
community with other cursillistas ... spend time in prayer and meditation with the Blessed Sacrament.  The School is for all
cursillistas ... men and women, couples, singles, priests and religious.

FRIDAY, JULY 9TH (Retreat Phase)
        7:30pm ---      Registration (NO Meal Friday evening)
        7:45pm ---      Mass
        8:30pm ---      Meditation, confessions, quiet time

SATURDAY, JULY 10TH (School of Leaders Agenda)
        7:00am ---      Morning prayer and Mass, followed by breakfast
        8:30am - 4pm Group Reunion, Intro, 1st Session, Lunch, 2nd Session, 3rd Session
        4:00pm ---     Clean up and Depart (Supper not provided)

Please bring the following with you to the weekend:
    • Pilgrim’s Guide
    • If you have the following:
        • Leader’s Manual (please begin praying the Leader’s Prayer on page 57)
        • The Catechism of the Catholic Church
        • Our Fourth Day

• “Classic” Cursillo accommodations will be available.
• Advance registrations are requested; it is fine to attend Saturday only or Friday only
• Suggested donation (if you are able) for the weekend is $15.00 per person.  Please make check payable to “Cursillo
of Lincoln” and mail with the Registration Form.
• Please keep this half of the flyer for future reference.
• Please bring a snack to share, if you like.