Category: Our Blog

EXCITEMENT!

A visitor curious about Cursillo attended one of our Regional Meetings. At the end of the evening she asked, “Can I be put on the waiting list?” Her excitement simply fueled our excitement following the six meetings held during May throughout the diocese. “Excitement” may be the best word to use in describing what was experienced during these meetings. Yes, in some ways this excitement is guarded as people are skeptical, remembering how Cursillo has struggled over the past five years. But what was heard from the beginning was that we cannot continue to “look backwards.” We can only “move forward.” Part of the excitement of the Cursillistas is our connection with the New Evangelization of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, of our role in helping parishes prepare leaders. Excitement also came from seeing a number of people at these meetings wanting to know more about our movement. Their interest was wonderful. The hope of reestablishing the Washington County Ultreya, and the West Hills Ultreya took steps forward through Deacon Joe Cerenzia in Canonsburg and Al & Lynn Dworkowski in the west. Also encouraging was the support received when speaking about future involvement of Young Adults in Cursillo. As we moved through these meetings — in Plum, Moon, Cranberry, Canonsburg, Mt. Lebanon, and the North Side — we realized that additional meetings will be needed in time in New Castle and in the North Hills to begin with. When those in attendance learned of how we can help Catholics return to the practice of the Catholic faith and to the Church, the anticipation grew. When they learned that we will not cancel a weekend, they were thrilled. When they learned that applications are coming in from every direction, and calls concerning applicants were being received, there was almost an “Amen” shouted. We learned that people are looking for Cursillo, for its method, for its support system, for its teaching of the love of God in the gift of Jesus Christ. There was no outcry when they learned that the “extras” (that often took away from the weekends) were removed. This is the Cursillo Movement that Pope Paul VI blessed, and called “Ambassadors to the World.”