SAN BERNARDINO DIOCESE ENGLISH CURSILLO

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It is an exciting time for us in the Cursillo Movement in the Diocese of San Bernardino.  Cursillo in Christianity in the United States just celebrated its

50th Anniversary at the National Encounter in Arlington, Texas, this past summer.  Hearing witness from 7 of the men who made that 1st Cursillo weekend in 1957 stirred in me excitement for what we are doing and the direction we are heading.

There has been a lot of emphasis on keeping our Movement authentic to the Charism given to it by the Holy Spirit.  We, in the San Bernardino Diocese, have been working toward that for the past few years and it is definitely making a difference.  Most of our Ultreyas are now finishing their evening with prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and many are regularly having spiritual talks by a Deacon or vowed religious.  More and more our new Cursillistas are commenting on their three day experience as one helping to bring them closer to Christ.  Our newest Ultreya at St. Peter and St. Paul is organized by and for the Spanish, Filipino, and English Communities.  Continuing in this direction is what we need to strengthen our Evangelization efforts.   

Most of you are aware of the Cursillo Leaders Workshop held this year where we had an attendance of over 40 each of the three days and about half of the attendees were from the Filipino community.  We recently had a men’s Cursillo and four of the team, Chito Peralto, Jay Plaza, Gene Gono, and Joel Paloma, were from the Filipino community.  Of course on November 3, 2007, we have the Multicultural Grand Ultreya, which is a great way for all the Catholic Cursillo cultures to share their faith with one another.

There is certainly one thing you and I need to remember.  We need to be true to our faith and its teachings wherever we are, whomever we are with, and whatever we are doing.  That truly is what “Living what is fundamental to being a Christian” means.  If others can really see Christ in us we will bring them, whom ever they may be, closer to Christ.  Last and most important we need to remember that we can do nothing without God and He is waiting eagerly to have us surrender to Him so He can accomplish great things through us.

      God Bless You,

        Bill Thurin

        Lay Director