Pastoral
Plan
Mission Statement
The
mission of the Cursillo Movement
of the Catholic Diocese of Palm
Beach, Florida is to participate
in the pastoral plan of our diocese
under the guidance and direction
of the Diocesan Bishop and the
appointed Spiritual Director,
through the continued use of the
Cursillo Method for evangelizing
environments. All the leadership
of the diocesan movement (which
includes the Secretariat, School
of Leaders and area Ultreya communities)
shall provide to other Cursillistas
an example of perseverance in
the Fourth Day in all phases and
activities of the Movement.
Relying
on the constant guidance and inspiration
of the Holy Spirit, and a continuing
practice of Palanca for all phases
of the Cursillo, the Diocesan
Cursillo Movement shall continue
to participate in the evangelization
mission of the Church through
the process of targeting environments,
identifying the leaders in those
environments. With them, we shall
attempt to develop Christian communities
and foster Christian growth which,
in turn, will continue to change
the world, and bring the world
closer to Christ, Our Redeemer.
Goals and Objectives
Pre-Cursillo
The
primary goal of the Cursillo Movement
of the Diocese of Palm Beach is
to target and evangelize specific
environments. Toward that end,
each individual Cursillista of
the Diocese is actively encouraged
to participate in the three-step
effort to:
-
select
the targeted environments;
-
identify the leaders of environments
to which they already belong,
and with which they are already
familiar;
-
befriend those leaders with
the objective of bringing
them closer to Christ and
sharing the mission of changing
the environment for Christ.
A secondary, though still necessary,
goal of our Diocesan Movement
is to ensure that the Movement,
itself, is sustained by preparing
like-minded Christian leaders
to embrace the Cursillo Method
of perseverance in evangelization
and Christian life. Toward that
end, active Cursillistas who can
serve as good examples of the
Cursillo Method are encouraged
to prepare and sponsor potential
candidates for participation in
the Three-Day Weekend and all
that follows (life in the Fourth
Day).
This process of preparation is
the Pre-Cursillo phase of the
Movement, and the Cursillo leadership
shall be committed to the goal
of on-going education and encouragement
of eligible Sponsors in the basics
of the Method. The objective is
to provide Sponsors with a clear
understanding of the Method and
to ensure active participation
in the essential elements of the
Movement (especially Group Reunion
and Ultreya), so that candidates
will be more likely to persevere
in their Fourth Day.
Our Movement shall endeavor to
ensure (through workshops, the
School of Leaders, personal contact
and other methods) the preparation
and support of Sponsors for their
role. In addition, the Movement
will ensure the preparation of
potential candidates, not only
for the weekend experience, but
for the commitment they will make
to persevere in the Christian
life in the Fourth Day through
the use of the Cursillo Method.
With
the objective of a continually
renewed focus on an authentic
and appropriate Pre-Cursillo,
this Movement hopes to achieve
the goal of renewing and refreshing
itself, and providing a true Cursillo
experience for participants.
The Three-Day Weekend
The
Three-Day Weekend is the second
phase of Cursillo, and our Movement
recognizes and appreciates the
vibrancy and vitality which the
weekend experience brings not
only to the candidates, but to
the Team Members and entire community
as well. Our commitment is that
through the implementation of
an authentic Pre-Cursillo, the
weekend experience will be more
meaningful for all concerned.
The goal of the weekend is to
create the experience of a loving,
committed Christian community
in and through which candidates
experience Christ in a new and
personal way; and to prepare them
to join other Cursillistas in
living the Fourth Day according
to the Cursillo Method for persevering
in Christian life after the weekend.
The objectives for this goal are:
1) the appropriate team formation
of knowledgeable, active Cursillistas
to present the weekend, and 2)
adherence to the standards of
the Three-Day Weekend as promulgated
by the National Secretariat.
Toward these ends, our Movement
is committed to provide continuing
education in the basic elements
of Cursillo through the following:
-
the on-going School of Leaders
and periodic workshops for
individuals interested in
serving on a team;
-
a specific period of spiritual
and technical team formation
for those called to serve
on team;
-
and
conducting a periodic Rector's
School for the specific training
for potential team leaders.
This Movement's adherence to the
standards and guidelines promulgated
by the National Secretariate for
the right conduct of the three
days additionally ensures that
format and content of the weekend
(especially in regard to the Rollos)
is authentic and provides the
optimum weekend experience.
It is our firm conviction that
these objectives provide the best
possible foundation for service
on a team, and for an authentic
presentation of the Cursillo message
during the three days.
Post-Cursillo
The
third phase of Cursillo is the
Post-Cursillo, or Fourth Day,
and its goal is to provide Cursillistas
with the necessary structure and
support to persevere in their
commitments to live what is basic
to being a Christian and to effectively
evangelize their environments.
The objectives for meeting this
goal are:
-
to assist in forming and maintaining
healthy Group Reunions;
-
to maintain and foster the
vitality and authenticity
of Ultreyas and participation
in them;
-
to conduct the regular School
of Leaders;
-
presentation
of seasonal Days of Recollection
for the Cursillo community;
-
to sponsor periodic workshops
on various aspects of Cursillo.
Group Reunions are a basic element
of the Cursillo Method. Sponsors
are encouraged to bring their
candidates to their own Group
Reunion or see to their placement
in another. At the end of each
Three-Day Weekend, candidates
are assisted in forming Groups
with each other, if desired. Participation
in a Group Reunion is essential
for Sponsorship or participation
on team. Our Movement upholds
these guidelines as essential
for fostering the true importance
of the Group Reunion.
This Movement equally upholds
the importance of the Ultreya
in the Fourth Day, requiring regular
participation for Sponsorship
and Team membership. All Ultreya
dates are regularly advertised
in the Cursillo newsletters, and
the Secretariate oversees the
Ultreya communities in maintaining
format and content. Through the
Ultreya committees which have
been established, the quality
of the Ultreyas is maintained
by monitoring the witness talks
and fostering their improvement.
The committees additionally confirm
the presence of the Spiritual
Director at each Ultreya.
The School of Leaders continues
the spiritual and educational
formation of the Cursillistas,
in order to promote their knowledge
and confidence in the work of
planning their evangelization
in an effective manner.
Christian fellowship and individual
spiritual growth are promoted
through the twice-yearly Days
of Recollection, which are geared
to both personal and communal
preparation for celebrating the
seasons of Advent and Lent.
Our movement is committed, as
well, to being open to other appropriate
methods for the continuing development
and encouragement of the Cursillistas
of the Diocese. Through the annual
Advent Gatherings, picnics, Weekend
Reunions and other means, this
Movement becomes closer, stronger,
more committed and more effective
in accomplishing the Lord's work.
School of Leaders
Special
mention must be made of the role
of the School of Leaders in the
Fourth Day. Our Movement recognizes
the vital importance the School
holds in the goal of the continuing
formation of Cursillistas. Our
objective is to make the local
School a working group reunion
which provides an encouraging,
challenging atmosphere enabling
the Cursillista to learn more,
do more and accomplish more.
As a Movement, we do not see the
School of Leaders simply as a
training school for future team
members. While basic Cursillo
teachings and literature provide
the backbone of School formation,
our Movement recognizes the need
for further progress in the study
of the faith. We are committed
to both of these elements in our
School of Leaders.
Revised
and Updated: June, 2002
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