Calendar of Events
November 15, 2003         Secretariat Meeting 10:00am, Cristo Rey (Lincoln) 4221 J St ... enter south door
December 5-6, 2003        Spanish SOL, Contact Bianey Ruiz for Location
December 13, 2003         Secretariat Meeting NOON, St.  Joseph School, Beatrice
January 9-10, 2004          School of Leaders (quarterly reunion) – 7:30pm Fri-4pm Sat, Sacred Heart, Shelby
January 17, 2004             Secretariat Meeting 10:00am, Location to be announced
Feb 12-15, 2004             Men’s Weekend, Sacred Heart School, Shelby
Feb 19-22, 2004             Women’s Weekend,  Sacred Heart School, Shelby
March 13, 2004               Secretariat Meeting 10:00am, Sacred Heart School, Shelby
                                        Post Three Day Cursillo Weekend Reunion 1:00pm, Sacred Heart, Shelby
April 30 -May 2, 2004     Spring Regional Encounter, Garden City, KS
June 27, 2004                  Grand Ultreya at Camp Kateri Tekakwitha
July 29 - Aug 1, 2004      Cursillo National Encounter, Seattle, WA

Welcome New Fourth Dayers
St. Mary, David City, September 7, 2003: Benjamin Avila, John Bongers, Jim Daro, Matt Davis, Raymond Havlovic, Ralph Hein, Pat Gabel, Delmar Forst, and Fr. Charles Townsend.
St. Mary, David City, September 21, 2003: Barbara Belsky, Raelyn Hagenow, Cheryl Hein, Margaret L’Ecuyer, Celia Sherman, &Karen Spurgeon.
    Welcome to the 4th Day!  Let His light fill you so that you become holy ... saints ... filled with His Light, His Love, His Holiness.  Remember Christ is counting on you, and you must count on Him!

Spring Region VI Encounter ... Will be held in Garden City, KS on April 30 - May 2, 2004.  Please note that this date is one week later than what has been announced in prior newsletters .. Bishop Tamayo (our National Episcopal Advisor) wants to attend this Regional Encounter and moving it one weekend later, allows it to work in his schedule.

News From Secretariat ...

• Spanish Cursillo in the Lincoln Diocese ... We are making plans to begin forming a Spanish SOL in the Diocese on December 5-6, 2003.  Spanish-speaking cursillistas throughout the Diocese are invited to participate. Before we can begin holding Spanish Three Day Weekends, we need to have leaders forming community in a SOL.

   If you are interested in being involved in a Group Reunion (small friendship group) or being involved in the SOL, please contact Bianey Ruiz (327-8077; bianeyr@hotmail.com).
   (In Espanol)  Cursillos de Cristiandad en la comunidad hispana de la Diocesis de Lincoln .... Se esta planificando realizar una Escuela de Lideres en la diocesis en los dias 5 y 6 de diciembre. Cursillistas de habla hispana en toda la diocesis estan invitados a participar. Antes de realizar los cursillos de 3 dias, necesitamos formar el equipo que coordinara los cursillos y esto se logra en la escuela de lideres.
   Si estas interesado en formar parte de un grupo de reunion semanal o participar en la escuela de lideres, puedes contactar a Bianey Ruiz en el 402-327-8077 o enviar un email a la direccion bianeyr@hotmail.com
 Cristo te espera.
 
• New Secretary ... Joyce Micek was elected Secretary for the Secretariat, and Joyce and Chuck Micek are also the new David City Ultreya Representatives.

• Regional Encounter ... During the Encounter, participants reviewed the Mission Statement of the Cursillo Movement (see top of the next page), and discussed changes to be made at the Regional level.  In particular, a Regional Secretariat will be formed, consisting of Lay Directors from each Diocese within the Region.  Included in the Encounter were spiritual reflections, the opportunity for Confession, the celebration of the Mass, and fellowship with Cursillistas from across the Region.

• The Cursillo Movement’s Mission Statement ...“The United States’ Cursillo Movement is intended to help all Catholics develop a thorough understanding of what it means to fully live a Christian life in all of their everyday situations.  As members of the Catholic Church it is our responsibility to do everything possible to bring about the restoration of the temporal order.  The Cursillo Movement challenges each person to determine the various ways necessary to introduce Christ, and His values, in all aspects of society.  The overall goal then is to transform all aspects of society into Christian environments.  This will be accomplished by establishing small Christian-based communities within the various environments of home, work, social and political.”

• By-Laws ... Proposed changes to the By-Laws were discussed for a second time at the October meeting, and will be further discussed and voted on at the November Secretariat meeting.

• School of Leaders (SOL) ... Another SOL was held on Oct. 10-11 at St. Joseph Parish in Harvard.  The focus of this session was on the strategy of Cursillo – Precursillo, Three Day, and Postcursillo.  Thirteen people participated and the sharing and discussion was most helpful for the work being done in updating the pastoral plan.  The participants had another opportunity to experience community in the 4th day.  The spirit of community was deepened.

    The Secretariat again discussed whether or not the SOL should remain quarterly during the summer months.  Those commenting still think the current format is preferable to the monthly, but during the summer the monthly is preferred with two meetings in one week (e.g. Tue and Wed; one East and one West), as it allows those attending SOL to spend Friday evening “pulling away” from the distractions of the world in order to be in a better frame of mind to make the Saturday discussions more fruitful.
 
• Planning Ahead ... An updated tentative/proposed schedule of Cursillo activities for the Lincoln Diocese is included.  The schedule includes activities from the present through August 2004, and includes upcoming Cursillo Weekends, Regional and National Encounters, SOL, etc.  Again, 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.

 2003
 •  November 15
 •  December 13

 2004
 •  January 17
 •  March 13 (Reunion for Feb. Weekends follows)
 •  April 17
 •  June 12
 •  August 14

 2004
 •  Jan. 9-10
 •  April 2-3
 •  Summer Meeting (evening session in June and July; one East and one West for each month)

 2004
 •  Practice Feb. Weekends – Jan 30-31 or Feb 6-7
 •  February 12-15 -- Men’s Three-Day Weekend
 •  February 19-22 -- Women’s Three-Day Weekend

 2004
 •  April 30 - May 2 -- Spring Regional Encounter
 •  July 29 - August 1 -- National Encounter

 2004
 •  June 27 -- Grand Ultreya at Camp Kateri

• Precursillo ... The Secretariat encourages you to continue working in the Precursillo ... praying ... studying your environments ... making a friend, being a friend, preparing that friend to meet Christ.

   Upcoming weekends are listed 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.
    ALL cursillistas are encouraged to review the Precursillo Guidelines on the back of the blue Sponsor Sheet attached to the Application Form.  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:

 • February Cursillo Weekends ... The next Three Day Weekends are: Feb. 12-15, 2004 (Men’s) and Feb. 19-22, 2004 (Women’s), at Sacred Heart School, Shelby.

 • Directory Update ... Included with this newsletter is an insert with updated directory information for new cursillistas and those who have had address changes since the directory was printed in April 2002.  In addition, the names (only) of those cursillistas who have died or moved out of our Diocese are listed.  You may want to insert this page into your Cursillo Directory for future reference.

• Postcursillo:

 • “Lord, Where Can I Serve?” Sheet ... This newsletter includes an insert to provide an opportunity for you to indicate where you would like to share your gifts / talents in the Cursillo Movement.  Please complete and mail to the the Lay Director, at the address given on the “Lord, Where do I serve?” sheet as soon as possible.
 • Ongoing Palanca ... The Secretariat continued its discussion of the importance of Palanca with respect to the work of Cursillo done by the Secretariat and SOL.  Those present agreed to pray a weekly Rosary for that purpose and they invite all cursillistas to join them.  The Rosary (or other Palanca) could be offered any time during the week with the intention that the Secretariat and SOL be truly open to the work of the Holy Spirit, and that the work be carried out in accord with His leading and guidance.
   Also, please remember to pray for the intentions listed on the enclosed Palanca Calendar.  You might include these intentions in your morning offering ... let us pray for one another.
• Post Three Day Cursillo Weekend Reunion ... The Reunion for the September Weekends was held at St. Mary School, David City on October 4.  Barb Belsky and Pat Gabel gave witnesses about the effect that Cursillo had on their lives.  The Reunion followed the Ultreya format, ending with a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, and then snacks and fellowship.
• Group Reunion ... To make it easier for a cursillista who is not a member of a Group Reunion to find a group, it has been suggested that each Group Reunion choose a patron (just as you chose a family name during the Three Days).  This also does not identify the group according to specific persons in the group.  Each Ultreya Center could have a listing of groups (by patrons) with the day and time that the group meets, so that those not in a group could find one that meets their schedule.  Please give the name of your patron and the members of the group to your Ultreya Center representative.
 • Ultreya ... Is one of the two essential elements of living the 4th Day ... According to the Leaders’ Manual (p.118): “Whereas the Friendship Group Reunion provides for the good of the individual, the Ultreya provides for the good of the community.  Both are essential in terms of the method.  Both are important for the realization of the direction of our whole life in the light of the  Gospel and the opportunity to share that life with other evangelizers.  An isolated Christian is a paralyzed Christian.  So too is a group, if it is not tied to other groups.”  If you have not been attending Ultreya, you are only using half of the method ... and maybe others are missing the gift of the Lord to be given through your presence ... your being at Ultreya may be just what someone else needs to live their 4th Day!
 • Grand Ultreya ... It was agreed that the Lincoln Diocese would have another Grand Ultreya at Camp Kateri near McCool Junction on June 27, 2004.  It is intended that this will be an annual event held on the 4th Sunday of June each year.  In conjunction with this year’s Grand Ultreya, it was decided to plan an Evangelization Walk ... more details to follow.

From the Spiritual Advisor ... In less than a month, our thoughts will turn to the civil celebration of Thanksgiving Day, and then in a few short days to the holy season of Advent.  For much of the month of November, many will be thinking of the coming of Thanksgiving.  Then, for much of the month of December, many will be thinking of Christmas.
    Each of those days is important, and yet, our celebration of Thanksgiving and Christmas must be more than just one day.  Our celebrations must be more than just civil celebrations ... they must involve our relationship with Jesus.  As we count up our blessings in preparation for Thanksgiving Day, we must remember the many spiritual blessings we have received from Jesus (our physical life, our spiritual life, our faith, the Church, the Sacraments – especially Reconciliation and Eucharist, our spiritual friends, and the gift of Jesus to us).  Each day, and especially at each Mass, we should be thankful people.
    As we need to spend four whole weeks in longing, joyful, hopeful preparation for the celebration of our Lord’s birth ... so we should often count up the blessings we have received from our Lord – blessings for which we must daily give thanks to God.  I think it was Shakespeare who said: “Can no other answer make but Thanks, and Thanks, and ever Thanks!”  Since the word Eucharist means “Thanksgiving”, we might add the Grace of the Lord to that secular thought and say: “Can no other answer make than: Thank you Jesus!”
    When we receive Him into our hearts through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Sacrament of the Eucharist, and recognize the great gift that we have been given, then we grow to be more like Him.  May we thank Him for all of the gifts we have received.  May we show our thankfulness by using well the gifts we have received, and by preparing to welcome Him into our hearts.
De Colores        Father Mark Seiker
 

(Insert)
 
 

When anyone takes up the work of the conversion and Christian renewal of persons and the evangelization of human groups, it is absolutely indispensable that the entire work be built upon the grace of God.

 This is the foundational stone upon which all other human efforts must be based and developed.  This grace can be obtained only through the powerful means of trusting, constant and humble prayer.

 Today, perhaps more than ever, it is necessary to remind ourselves that without God we are nothing, bereft of value, and incapable of doing anything.  We must reaffirm that before anything else, the most characteristic mark of the Cursillo methodology ties in the whole concept of Palanca -- prayers, sacrifices and works of mercy.  Palanca must be genuine and offered by communities and individuals living in union with Christ and each other if the effectiveness of all other human efforts in the Movement is to be assured.  This is to take seriously the promise of Christ:  “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you.”  (Matt.  7:7)

 ...Within the (Cursillo) Movement we must be vigilant that the term Palanca not be misunderstood and abused so that incidental trimmings overshadow its interior call and meaning. Colorful posters and banners are not Palanca, neither are flowers, edibles, friendship letters or good wishes.  This is false Palanca under the guise of “nice things.”  Prayer and self-denial are not “nice things”, but they are more effective in securing God’s grace.

 It must be understood that letters are not Palanca.  Letters are merely a vehicle in which we convey the actual Palanca being done ... Self-denial is part and parcel of the Christian life.  Any de-emphasis of it in the Movement would indicate a shift away from Christ-centeredness.  In the life of the Church, we are offered seasons such as Lent and Advent to bring us back to the proper spirit.  A better way would be to live in a spirit of Palanca each day.

 Palanca offerings should not be limited to the Three Days.  The selection of candidates...the growth of Group Reunions, Ultreyas and especially the work of Secretariats...depend mostly on authentic and generous Palanca offered by all...St. Paul reminds us in Romans 12:1, “Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice dedicated to His service and pleasing to Him.”   –Cursillo Leaders’ Manual (Chapter 12, Palanca)

 As a part of my Palanca, I would like to serve the Lord in / through the Cursillo Movement in the following way(s):

_____ Offer holy hours during Cursillo Weekends

_____ Offer holy hours at other times on behalf of the Cursillo Movement

_____ Help with the clean up after a Cursillo Weekend

_____ Work on the Palanca Team on a Cursillo Weekend

_____ Bring food for Cursillo Weekends (snacks, grocery items)

 _____ Make monetary donations toward expenses (newsletters, Weekend supplies, Weekend food, etc.)

 _____ Be involved in School of Leaders (SOL) to learn more about the Cursillo Movement and form community with
            other cursillistas

_____ Serve on the Secretariat (SOL required)

_____ Lead the music on a Cursillo Weekend (SOL required)

_____ Give a talk on a Cursillo Weekend (SOL required)

Other suggestions for volunteering: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name: ______________________________ Phone No.: ________________
Address: ____________________________
City/State/Zip: ________________________
Email address: _________________________________________________

I made my Cursillo Weekend on ___________ at ______________________

Mail to: Kathy Springer, Lay Director, at 1410 E 15th St, Crete, NE 68333.