The Cursillo®
Movement
National Cursillo
®
Center • P.O. Box 210226 • Dallas, TX 75211 • 214-339-6321 • Fax 214-339-6322 • www.natl-cursillo.org
February 2009
To: National Mailing Recipients
Fm: National Cursillo® Center
Re: February National Mailing
NEW NATIONAL EPISCOPAL ADVISOR
It is with great joy that we announce a special Advent gift for the Cursillo community – Bishop
Eusebio Elizondo, M.Sp.S. has graciously accepted our invitation to serve as the National
Episcopal Advisor for the Cursillo Movement in the United States.
Bishop Elizondo called the National Cursillo® Center on the Solemnity of the Immaculate
Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Monday, December 8, 2008, to inform us that after
much prayer and reflection, he felt called to response positively to our invitation. We feel
blessed by the intercession of our Mother Mary for Bishop Elizondo’s response of “yes”.
Bishop Elizondo is a native of Monterrey, Mexico. He received a
bachelor’s degree in theology and a canon law degree from the Gregorian
University in Rome. In 1984, he was ordained a priest of the Missionaries
of the Holy Spirit, a religious congregation of men consecrated to God for
the service of the Church, who provide spiritual direction for priests and
consecrated religious. He was assigned to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish
in Bothell, Washington in 2000 to provide ministry to the growing
Hispanic community in Western Washington upon the request of
Archbishop Brunett. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle by
Pope Benedict XVI on May 12, 2005 and was ordained by Archbishop
Brunett on June 6, 2005. Bishop Elizondo is the first Hispanic bishop in
Seattle. Archbishop Brunett has appointed him Vicar General and Vicar of Hispanic Ministries,
as well as Vocations Director of the Archdiocese.
Bishop Elizondo lived his Cursillo in Victoria, Mexico in 1975. As National Episcopal Adviser,
Bishop Elizondo will become a member of the National Secretariat. Furthermore, he will be the
Episcopal Representative of the National Cursillo® Movement at the National Conference of
Catholic Bishops.
With gratitude to God, we welcome Bishop Elizondo as our Episcopal Advisor, and look forward
to receiving the fruits of his wisdom, counsel, and guidance.
February 2009 National Mailing 2
FRIENDSHIP: A VIRTUE AND A MYSTERY
Friendship in the Sacred Scriptures
Friendship has been mentioned and implied throughout the Sacred Scriptures with lessons and
stories of both bad and good friends. In the Old Testament Book of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), we
find a compilation of materials that include moral and ethical maxims, folk, proverbs, psalms of
praise, and lament, theological reflections, homiletic exhortations, and pointed observations
about Jewish life and religious mores in the second century BC. For example, “There is nothing
so precious as a faithful friend, and no scales can measure his excellence” (Sirach 6:15). And
“For there is a friend who is such at his own convenience, but will not stand by you in your day
of trouble … A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter: he that has found one has found a treasure”
Sirach 6:8, 14). “Whoever fears the Lord directs his friendship aright, for as he is, so is his
neighbor” (Sirach 6:17).
The Book of Ruth in the Bible is the story of a widow’s courageous decision to leave Moab, her
homeland, and travel to Judah with her Hebrew mother-in-law, who has lost her husband and
sons. Ruth’s words to Naomi are one of the greatest statements of friendship and loyalty in all of
literature: “Wherever you go, I will go; and where you live, I will live; your people will be my
people, and your God my God. Where you die, will I die, and there will I be buried” (Ruth 1:16-
17). And the Story of Jonathan, told in the first Book of Samuel in the Bible, is one instance
showing that the duties of friendship compete with other obligations and affections. Jonathan’s
defense of David, made doubly painful because of his filial duties towards his father King Saul
who was jealous of David’s popularity and his own claim to the throne, is one of our greatest
examples of loyalty in friendship. (The Book of Virtues by William J. Bennett, stories retold by
Jesse Lyman Hurlbut).
Friendship: A Way of Shared Living Together
Paul Mahler in an article affirmed “Friendships are very important to us in our lives. From a very
young age we see that children quickly decide who their friends will be, and more especially
who their best friend will be. Our choice in friends is much more important than who is popular,
or who makes us feel popular, and wanted. The people whom we decide to be friends with can
make or break us.” William J. Bennett, in his “The Book of Virtues”, also writes, “Every parent
knows how crucial the choice of friends is for every child. Childhood friendships tell parents
which ways their children are tending. They are important because good friends bring you up,
and bad friends bring you down. So it matters who our children’s friends are. And it matters, as
examples to our children, who our friends are. The Bible says that if you have wise friends then
you will be wise, but if you have foolish friends then you will also be foolish (Proverbs 13:20).
Whether we agree with it or not the friends that we choose will affect us for better or worse.”
It is always, indeed, pressing in our lives to find true friends with whom we share our good or
bad news, our worries, our difficulties, and also from whom we seek wisdom, good counsel,
helpful advice, and innumerable other things. Throughout the history of mankind, one has seen
so many examples of both betrayal and true friendship, but likely less of the latter. Even Jesus
Himself was betrayed by one of his first disciples although during three years of His mission on
earth, Jesus constantly offered his true friendship to his disciples and to us nowadays when He
said, “No longer do I call you servants … but I have called you friends.” (John 15:15).
Unfortunately, authentic friendship is hard to find in our present world with a culture of death,
full of violence, hatred and hostility. As a consequence of facing the reality of their deFebruary
2009 National Mailing 3
Christianized world about half a century ago, Eduardo Bonnín, the founder of our Cursillo
Movement, with the foundational charism and together with several of his young friends as a
core group, started the Movement with Friendship as one of the ten fundamental ideas in
building its foundation (First 10 Conversations of Cala Figuera). Eduardo Bonnín in his
presentation on Friendship stated “The most profound way of living together with others is
friendship.” (La forma más profunda de convivencia es la amistad). The Fundamental Ideas of
the Cursillo Movement affirms the necessity of friendship, “The Cursillo involves an experience
of shared living, such that the team leaders “open themselves up as friends, without trying either
directly or indirectly to find out the spiritual condition of the Cursillista. Honest friendship is
the only path that can lead to genuine openness and effective dialogue. Technique here is a
blend of delicacy, opportunity, tact, and an apostolic spirit” (FI # 314).
Friendship: The Art of Happiness
In his Foreword to the book “Friendship: The Art of Happiness” by John Cuddeback, Curtis
Martin has written, “Our hearts tell us that we are made for friendship, and there is a reality that
corresponds to our desire, but how do we realize it? John Cuddeback has given us a great tool:
“Friendship: The Art of Happiness”. Authentic friendship doesn’t just happen – it is an art that
must be learned, a skill that must be practiced. Friendship shows us the wisdom of the ancients,
what the best women and men of the past have learned about forging friendships that will
endure.” Most ideas in this article, therefore, are gratefully credited to Professor John
Cuddeback, who teaches us how to learn and practice making a friend, being a friend and
bringing a friend to Christ, which is the ultimate goal of our Cursillo Movement.
According to Dr. John Cuddeback, true friendship leading to happiness is for those who live a
certain kind of life, namely a virtuous life. We cannot have true friendships if we are not
virtuous. The kind of life required for friendship is a virtuous life. In our society, the majority of
people think they know what friendship is and that they have it, and thus friendship is normally
valued. Whereas, very few people claim that they know what virtue is, or that they practice it.
The lack of virtue in our society, therefore, does not seem to bother them. But to have friendship
in the absence of virtue is self-defeating. Dr. Cuddeback quoted St. John’s first letter to prove
his point, “If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not
live according to the truth” (1 John 1:6). True friendship and virtue are inseparable; together
they are the key to human happiness.
Regarding the wisdom of the ancients on friendship, Dr. John Cuddeback states that Aristotle has
considered friendship as “a virtue or it implies virtue, and friendship is besides most necessary
with a view to living. For without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other
goods ….. ” (Nicomachean Ethics, 1155a1-3). Therefore, Aristotle has made clear that living in
true friendship is to live the good life, to be happy. And in his above-mentioned book, Dr.
Cuddeback tries to help us understand how being virtuous and being a true friend are necessarily
connected with each other, or practically the same thing. Living a virtuous life requires much
more than just knowing what is most important. Virtues are all about living out the truth that
you know. A virtue is a good habit. Performing good actions, such as giving help to those in
need, develops a habit of doing those good actions. The definition of “virtues” in the Catechism
of the Catholic Church is similar to that of Aristotle. Justice is “the moral virtue that consists in
the constant firm will to give their due to God and neighbor” (CCC 1807). For example, an
employer always pays his employees a living wage, even when he could get away with giving
less.
February 2009 National Mailing 4
Friendship: A Cornerstone of the Cursillo Movement
Eduardo and his friends must have been inspired by the Holy Spirit, known as their Foundational
Charism, to think of friendship as one of their fundamental ideas or factors that constitute or
form the Cursillo Movement with its mission to become living witnesses to Christ in the
environments. According to Dr. John Cuddeback, since in friendship persons are united in their
love of one another and in their love of virtue, friends share a vision of the good life and strive to
achieve it. Friendships thus provide “mini-communities” within the larger community; they are
a basic unit of striving for perfection. In this way, the mini-community of friendship is very
similar to the most basic, natural unit in our Cursillo Three-Day Weekend, the ‘decuria”, and in
our Fourth Day, the Group Reunion.
Strong Group Reunions, and Ultreyas that foster Piety, Study, and Action with many true living
witnesses, provide the necessary foundation for a strong and authentic Cursillo Movement at any
level. An individual Cursillista has a place in his or her diocesan Cursillo Movement through
having a place in his/her Friendship Group and Ultreya. The character of the ‘minicommunities’
or Group Reunions of friends and Ultreyas determines the character of the Cursillo
Movement at the diocesan or national level. To the extent that there is true friendship among the
Cursillistas in Group Reunions and Ultreyas, the Christian communities will be formed by
persons, or groups of persons, united with one another in the pursuit of virtue. St. Paul himself,
during the course of his “independent” ministry and in the face of some unusual situations, had
to adopt some doctrinal innovations in order to justify his continuous appeals to the believers to
group together in united communities. Undeniably, Paul succeeded wherever he went, in
creating many Churches, extremely united in order to survive and develop outside the structures
tied to the synagogues (Holy See Pauline Year Documents). The Fundamental Ideas of the
Cursillo Movement confirmed, “The Group is based on the power of friendship. And friendship,
as Pope Paul VI said when he gave our Groups his seal of approval, is based on spiritual
affinities which facilitate apostolic efforts that a person would never dare to attempt alone” (FI #
432).
In helping us understand more about true friendship, Dr. John Cuddeback directed our attention
to Aristotle’s simple question: What do friends do together? And the answers are: “Friends do
good for one another” and they “live together” (Nicomachean Ethics, 1157b7). Dr. Cuddeback
interpreted Aristotle’s ideas as “friends want to live the same life together, to act together, to
spend their days together, etc…” He turned our attention to how friends grow in virtue together,
first as regards “moral virtue” (Friendship is one of the most critical natural helps to walking the
straight and narrow path.), and then as regards “intellectual virtue” (Wisdom was earlier
mentioned as the most important example of an intellectual virtue.) He added intellectual and
moral virtues are not easy to form, and they require time and effort. Aristotle considers the role
of good conversation, known as personal contact in our Cursillo Movement, is of central
importance in friendship. Certainly, conversation should be about the communication of truth,
which is nothing else than sharing of insight. Friends help one another grow in insight, and grow
in the habits of pursuing greater insight. Our present society or environment are overwhelmed
with high tech forms, such as telephones, television, video games, music, internet, e-mail,
message texting, etc…, which undoubtedly become obstacles to conversation or personal contact
between and among friends, and tend to isolate people. The Cursillistas are encouraged to
become living witnesses to friendship in Christ Jesus in their Fourth Day in order for them to live
together and share what is fundamental for being Christian in the modern world, such as the
following news report, which the ABC News Company made its amazing headline on December
22nd, 2008.
February 2009 National Mailing 5
A Layoff Results in a Christmas Gift for One Family: Ralph Hanahan Gave Up His Job So His
Friend Could Remain Employed.
Mike Camp and Ralph Hanahan worked together closely for five years as the go-to computer
guys at the Governor’s School of the Arts and Humanities in Greenville, S.C. If a computer was
on the fritz or an e-mail couldn’t be opened, teachers and students went to the pair for aid. “We
worked as a team … and pretty interchangeable … almost like two halves of the same heart,”
Camp, 40, said.
But when rumblings of the nation’s economic crisis hit South Carolina, Hanahan, 55, worried the
school would be forced to choose between him and Camp. Camp said, “I think he realized that if
the trends didn’t stop, there would be layoffs at the school and he expected that one of the two of
us would be targeted for that.”
Indeed, the school alerted staff last month that an unknown number of employees would be laid
off in the coming weeks. To stave off any difficult decisions and help his younger friend,
Hanahan did something that sent the school and town a buzz.
“Ralph, indeed, stepped forward and said, ‘If you have to do this, you should take me,’” said
school president Bruce Halverson. Hanahan, who had worked more than 20 years as a state
employee, volunteered to take the hit and save Camp from the layoff list. “I’m astonished that
anyone in this day and time can do that,” Camp said. “He’ll have our gratitude for an endless
time.” Camp surprised Hanahan on “Good Morning America” today and offered his thanks for
the sacrifice he made.”
Friendship: A Useful Tool In Evangelization
The Leaders’ Manual declares, “The Cursillo Movement, through the experience of the founders,
discovered that friendship can be put at the service of Christ and the Church while at the same
time meeting the needs of individuals to be part of a community.”
The late Vietnamese Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan, former President of the Pontifical Council for
Justice and Peace, was well-known for his witnesses to Jesus Christ throughout his 13 years in
Communist prisons in Viet Nam. In December of 1999, he was suggested and encouraged by
Pope John Paul II to share his witnesses of his 13 years of confinement in Communist prisons at
the Lent Retreat for the Roman Curia in the Year 2000. In one meditation, the Cardinal said he
was amazed that his Christian love in friendship could transform his prison guards and the prison
environment. This is one of his accounts:
“When I was placed in solitary confinement by the communists in Viet Nam, five men
were assigned to guard me, with two permanently present day and night. A new team of guards
came every two weeks so that they wouldn’t be “contaminated” by me. Some time later the
prison warden stopped providing me with one-time guards for such a rather short period of time,
because the administration was worried the entire prison security staff would soon be
“contaminated” if one by one were sent to watch over me. The guards were ordered not to talk
to me. On the first few days, they simply replied “Yes” or “No” or just very briefly when I asked
them something. I was not discouraged by their unfriendly attitude because I thought of God’s
love for them. One morning, I tried to break the ice by offering to tell them stories about my
trips abroad, about the life, culture, economy, technology, freedom, democracy in some countries
I’ve visited, like Canada, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, France, Germany, Australia,
February 2009 National Mailing 6
Austria, etc.. My stories stirred their curiosity, prompting them to ask many questions. I always
told them the answers. Soon, we became friends. They wanted to learn a foreign language,
French or English… I willingly helped them. Gradually, my prison guards became my students!
The prison environment was changed, the relationship between us improved. Even their
superiors, who noticed me treat their subordinates friendly and lovingly, not only asked me to
continue to help them but they also sent other men to me for the language lessons.”
Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan related a story about two prison guards of his who were
taking some Latin courses somewhere because they were appointed to scrutinize the Church
documents. He had looked at their notebooks; he said they seemed to learn Latin well. One of
them wanted the Cardinal to teach him songs in Latin. The Cardinal sang a few hymns for them
to select, Salve Regina, Veni Creator, Ave Maris Stella, etc… He decided to learn “Veni
Creator”. The Cardinal copied the entire song for his guard, who learned it by heart soon
afterwards. The Cardinal continued his story, “Then every morning at 7 o’clock, I heard him
running down the wooden stairs to the backyard for his routine physical exercises. While taking
his bath outdoors from wash-basins near my cell, he sang the “Veni Creator Spiritus” … I was
deeply moved, wondering how a communist secret agent could sing the “Veni Creator” for me to
hear! I believed the Holy Spirit marvelously used this atheist to help an imprisoned Catholic
bishop to pray because he was too weak and too dispirited to pray any longer. Only the security
guards had the permission to sing out loud religious songs in that environment.”
Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan mentioned one particular inmate who used to be a
communist high-ranking official but was arrested for his corrupt practices and was assigned as
his cellmate to spy on the Cardinal, but later both became good friends. The day before his
release, that friend promised to pray for Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan. He told the Cardinal, “My
house is not far from LaVang, only 3 kilometers away. I will go there to pray for you.” LaVang
is the place of Our Lady’s apparition in 1798 in Vietnam to console and protect the Catholics
hiding there from religious persecution. And as a result, the Vietnamese people gave Our
Blessed Mother the title ‘Our Lady of LaVang’ ever since. The Cardinal believed in his friend’s
sincerity and honesty, but he was doubtful about a communist man’s promise to pray for him.
The Cardinal continued his story, “Six years later, while still in solitary confinement, I received a
letter from my cellmate, Mr. Hai. It was really a surprise! Even more amazing were his own
words, as follows: Dear Thuan (the Cardinal’s Vietnamese given name), I’ve promised to pray to
The Lady of LaVang for you. Every Sunday, if it doesn’t rain, when the church bell tolls, I ride
my bicycle to the grotto in Her honor to pray for you because the church was destroyed in the
war. I prayed like this: Dear Mary, I’m not a Christian believer, nor do I know any prayers.
However, I’ve promised to pray to you on behalf of my friend Thuan; therefore, I am here. You
know what he needs, so please grant him.” The Cardinal was awe-stricken for a moment, reading
the letter again and again. Then he closed his eyes, saying: “Dear Mother, you have used this
communist friend of mine to teach me how to pray; certainly you have answered his prayers,
otherwise I wouldn’t survive until now!”
St. Paul: A Model Friend In Our Fourth Day
It is appropriate and convenient for us Cursillistas to frequently reflect on the life of our Patron
St. Paul, as our Catholic Church has been celebrating the Jubilee Year of St. Paul, June 29th,
2008 – 2009, and we should diligently study his evangelizing style. There are many lessons we
can learn from our Patron Saint in order to faithfully realize the goal of our dear Movement, and
also the Mission of the Church. Mrs. Dale O’Leary (Avon Park, FL) made a contribution of a
daily reflection entitled “Friends For Ever” (November 10) on St. Paul’s 2nd Letter to Timothy (2
February 2009 National Mailing 7
Tm 1:4-5), printed in the book ‘Praying with St. Paul’, published by Magnificat in 2008. It is a
very fitting example.
“St. Paul had ministered in many cities. We can see from his letters that he had built
close natural and spiritual relationships, and when he was a prisoner in Rome he remembered
those friends. He knew that he would never see most of them again – in this life.
Moving is hard. I lived in seven different states and sixteen different homes. Each move
meant leaving behind dear friends. The parting often was a time for tears. We promise to keep
in touch, but then Christmas cards come back unopened, emails returned “recipient unknown,”
as someone, who touched our lives, who shared our joys and sorrows, was lost to us. We may
never see them again – in this life.
When St. Paul’s friends in Caesarea were told by the prophet Agabus that if he went to
Jerusalem, he would be arrested and handed over the Gentiles as a prisoner, they wept and
begged him not to go. St. Paul would not be dissuaded; if this was God’s will for him, he would
go.
There are times when moving away from family and friends is so difficult that we feel our
hearts will break, and yet we have to trust that God knows what is best for us.
I had such an experience. I thought we had found the perfect place – a town, a church, a
house, everything I had dreamed of, but most of all wonderful friends. And then my husband
took a job in another city – the one place I didn’t want to live. I did not want to move. I
questioned God’s plan, but looking back I see so clearly that the move was God’s plan, not just
for my husband, but for me, for my work, for each of my children.
My tears have been turned to joy, and I know that one day I will be reunited in heaven
with the friends I left behind.”
In conclusion, let us imitate Simeon and St. Paul. The closer we are to Jesus, the more we will
recognize Him. If we listen, we can hear Him in the quiet of our hearts, speaking words of love
and affirmation. If we look, we will see Him in our family and friends, in our brothers and
sisters in Christ, in the poor and needy around us – and above all in the miracle of the Eucharist.
So let’s take Him in our arms, and let Him call each one of us to His heart. (The WORD Among
Us- Dec. 29th, 2008).
Ultreya!
19th NATIONAL ENCOUNTER
The 19th National Cursillo® Encounter will be held at California State University, San
Bernardino, CA, (CSUSB), on July 30 – August 2, 2009. The Encounter will commence on
Thursday, July 30th with the Keynote Address “The Conversion of Saint Paul” and immediately
followed by Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, and Benediction.
All Cursillistas attending the Encounter will be transported to/from the OMCC IV World Ultreya
in Anaheim, CA.
The Encounter’s Fiesta will be held on Friday, July 31st and will include time for one brief
performance (song or dance) from the different cultures and ethnic groups in the National
Cursillo® Movement. Dioceses wishing to be included in this program must contact Len
Robrigado at 909.815.4801, or robrigado@msn.com, by May 31, 2009. The timeline for the
Fiesta is limited, but we hope to accommodate each of the different cultural groups.
February 2009 National Mailing 8
The Encounter registration fee is $360.00, if you register by May 31, 2009. We strongly
encourage you to make your plans now to attend the 19th National Cursillo® Encounter by
sending the attached registration form to the National Cursillo® Center. You may also register
on-line at www.natl-cursillo.org. Capacity is 750 persons. Rooms will be assigned on a first
come, first serve basis. The Registration fee includes three nights lodging, dinner on Thursday
evening, 3 meals on Friday and Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday morning. We will provide
transportation to CSUSB on Thursday, July 30th, from Ontario International Airport ONLY,
and back on Sunday, August 2nd. We will not be able to provide transportation to/from another
airport!
Please send Palanca for the 19th National Encounter to Enrique Avelar at 18635 Chapae Lane,
Apple Valley, CA 92307. The fax number is 909-989-7507 or you can e-mail your palanca to
ehrn4880@hotmail.com.
OMCC IV WORLD ULTREYA
The World Cursillo Movement (OMCC) is inviting all Cursillistas of the world to gather on
Saturday, August 1, 2009, 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM, at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena in
Anaheim, CA for the IV World Ultreya of the Cursillos of Christianity Movement.
Attendance to the IV World Ultreya is $25 US per person. The Arena has seating capacity for
8,000 persons. The cost of the ticket does not include food or parking. The Arena has its own
food vendors and no outside food will be allowed inside the Arena. The parking fee is $10 per
car.
Complete and submit the attached IV World Ultreya form, with a check or credit card
information (VISA or MASTERCARD ONLY), to the National Cursillo® Office. If you prefer
online processing, visit the website, www.natl-cursillo.org. Full payment is required to process
your order.
Tickets on domestic orders will be mailed in June 2009. Tickets on international orders will be
handled by contacting OMCC: Juan Ruiz at 562.309.5821 or jxruiz@verizon.net, or Gail Terrana
at 716.297.7905 or GAT257@GMAIL.COM.
We await the IV World Ultreya with anticipation and prayer. Thank you for your cooperation
and we ask that you keep the IV World Ultreya in your prayers as well.
CATHOLIC FAITH ENRICHMENT
The National Cursillo® Movement continues the partnership with Lighthouse Catholic Media, a
division of Saint Joseph Communications. The details are posted on the www.natl-cursillo.org.
NATIONAL CURSILLO® GIFT SHOP
The National Cursillo® Gift Shop website, www.nationalcursillogiftshop.com, and the sale of
Cursillo related items contribute to the financial support of the National Cursillo® Movement.
DONATIONS
The National Cursillo® Movement gratefully welcomes your donations. Your financial support
advances the evangelization function of the Movement and is eligible for tax deductions
purposes.
February 2009 National Mailing 9
NATIONAL CURSILLO® CENTER
The National Cursillo® Center will close on Holy Thursday and Holy Friday, April 9 – 10, 2009,
and will open on Monday, April 13, 2009, at 9:00 AM CST. Please plan your book orders
accordingly.
PALANCA INTENTIONS
Mondays – National, Regional, and Diocesan Secretariats
Tuesdays – Schools of Leaders
Wednesdays – Cursillistas in the United States
Thursdays – National Cursillo® Movement’s Apostolic Actions
Fridays – Cursillo Weekends
Saturdays – OMCC Executive Committee
Let us continue to pray and offer Palanca for each other, the 19th National Encounter, the IV
World Ultreya, and the National Cursillo® Movement.
We wish you and your family a blessed Lenten season.
Your Humble Servants,
Victor Lugo – National Executive Director
Ceferino Aguillón, Jr. – National English-speaking Coordinator
Jorge Barceló – National Spanish-speaking Coordinator
Joachim Le – National Vietnamese-speaking Coordinator
February 2009 National Mailing 10
19th National Cursillo® Encounter
California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB)
July 30 – August 2, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
2:00pm – 6:30pm
All participants check-in at Santos Manuel Student Union (SMSU)
5:00pm – 7:00pm
Dinner – Cafeteria
7:30pm – 8:00pm
Opening of the 19th National Cursillo® Encounter
All participants at SMSU Room 106
• Opening Blessing: National Episcopal Advisor
• Prayer: National Spiritual Advisor
• Welcome: Lay Director of the Diocese of San Bernardino
8:00pm – 8:45pm
Keynote Address – “The Conversion of Saint Paul”
All participants at SMSU Room 106
8:45pm – 9:00pm Break
9:00pm – 10:00pm
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament – National Spiritual Advisor
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Benediction and Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Reconciliation
All participants at SMSU Room 106
Friday, July 31, 2009
6:30am – 8:00am
Breakfast – All participants at CSUSB Cafeteria
8:00am – 8:15am Break
8:15am – 9:00am
Morning Prayers & Meditation – National Spiritual Advisor
All participants at SMSU Room 106
9:00am – 9:15am Break
February 2009 National Mailing 11
9:15am – 11:15am
Major Presentation: “Piety”
Workshop Session
• Presentation – 30 minutes (presented separately by language)
• Group Discussion – 45 minutes
• Group Report – 45 minutes
11:15 – 11:30am
Prepare for Mass – Remember to Fast
11:30am – 12:30pm
Mass – National Episcopal Advisor
All participants at SMSU Room 106
12:30pm – 2:30pm
Lunch – Groups are color-coded at CSUSB Cafeteria
2:30pm – 3:00pm Break
3:00pm – 5:00pm
Major Presentation: “Study”
Workshop Session
• Presentation – 30 minutes (presented separately by language)
• Group Discussion – 45 minutes
• Group Report – 45 minutes
5:00pm – 5:15pm Break
5:15pm – 7:15pm
Dinner – Groups are color-coded at CSUSB Cafeteria
7:15pm – 7:30pm Break
7:30pm – 9:30pm
Fiesta – All participants at SMSU Room 106
9:30pm – 10:00pm
Night Prayers – National Spiritual Advisor
All participants at SMSU Room 106
Saturday, August 1, 2009
6:30am – 8:00am
Breakfast – All participants at CSUSB Cafeteria
8:00am – 8:15am Break
February 2009 National Mailing 12