WHAT'S NEW

For a great study of the DNA of a Cursillista, go to the Study tab. You might see yourself in a whole new way!

Also on the website, under the Piety tab  are some thoughts and a prayer service from Hilare Reinold about praying for and with those dealing with loss. Something we all need, especially lately.

THOUGHTS ON THE DAY OF REFLECTION by Ronnie Martella, Lay Director

Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Last Saturday Sister Simon and Father Ed gave us a day of reflection on the Liturgical seasons and more. Father reminded us that while we have faith in the eternal, we live in time and our lives are marked by certain events and observations. He walked us through the church year and highlighted how each of those seasons opens for us a window on a deeper relationship with God. Opening ourselves up can be a fearful thing, but reflect on this quote from Henri Mouwen that shows us what is possible if we can get past the fear:

“Dear God,
I am so afraid to open my clenched fists!
Who will I be when I have nothing left to hold on to?
Who will I be when I stand before you with empty hands?
Please help me to gradually open my hands
and to discover that I am not what I own,
but what you want to give me.”
― Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Only Necessary Thing: Living a Prayerful Life

Sister Simon walked us through Ordinary time and then gave us some not so ordinary words, or to be more precise letters to help us with our walk…Dr. Seuss’ “On Beyond Zebra”. What will we see, what will we learn, what can we feel if we go beyond, beyond ourselves and our fears into the world God has for us.

We won’t know until we try and one way we can go beyond is to join with others to listen, learn, and grow at School of Leaders.

This Friday, April 19, is School of Leaders. We start at 8PM at the Parish Hall, also known as the little church on the corner at Epiphany.

So let’s join together in prayer, in fellowship and in our love of God. Aren't you curious to know what God wants to give to you??

Ultreya and DeColores, Ronnie

FROM THE TRENTON CURSILLO ARCHIVE #1

Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of postings from the Cursillo Archives. We believe these articles are as timely today as they were when they were first published.

AWARENESS by Arny DuPont

This year Doris and I took our vacation on the beach in South Carolina.  Our son and daughter along with their children accompanied us.  Two of our granddaughters are 3+ years old and the other granddaughter is 5+ years old.

Throughout the week I would arise early and check the horizon for visibility. It was my intention to sit with my oldest granddaughter to watch the sunrise. Every day the sky was either foggy or it was raining and so I would return to bed.

Finally, on the last day of vacation, the sky was clear.  I silently crept to my granddaughter’s bed and whispered to her that I was going to watch the sunrise and asked if she wished to join me.  She sleepily said yes so I wrapped her in her blanket and went outside and sat with her as the sun prepared to begin its ascent.  I pointed out the flickers of light that gave evidence to the coming event.  My granddaughter momentarily raised her head, took a quick look, and then returned to her drowsy state.

I spent the time in prayer as I awaited the morning’s sunrise.  As I prayed, I became aware of how there was nothing I could do to merit this event. The rising of the sun happened every day and I could not make it happen nor could I do anything to prevent its occurrence.  I also realized that life would not continue without the sun and therefore its rising was very important to my life.

There is so much in my life that is similar to this, not the least of which is God’s love for me.  There is nothing I can do to merit it and there is nothing I can do to prevent His love for me.  And yet my life is so dependent on His love that it would cease to be without it.

As I prayed about this I thought that there were two things that I could do. First I could be aware of its occurrence and then I could express my gratitude and be thankful.  But as I meditated on this, I came to see that even the awareness of these events in my life is a gift.  I can not make myself aware no matter how hard I might try.  Awareness itself is a gift and all I can do is to receive this gift also.

And so I finally realized that all I can do is to express my thankfulness and to be grateful. This is the most important and only action that I can take and is the essence of my relationship with Him.  Yet there is so much of my life that is not aware of the gifts that He has given.

But now that He has given me this gift of awareness I can be thankful.  And so, I thank you Father for the gifts you have given me; the gift of life, the gift of awareness, the gift of Your presence in my life, the gift of Your love, the gift of enabling me to love You in return, and the gift of the sunrise that I celebrate with my granddaughter.

(This article originally appeared in 1999.) 

UPDATE YOUR CALENDARS!

School of Leaders April 19
School of Leaders May 17
Mass June 7- St. Joseph's in Beverly
School of Leaders June 21
National Encounter at Hofstra in Hempstead, NY July 25-28

Weekends are scheduled at Stella Maris for November 21-24. 2013 and February 27-March 2, 2014. Which will be a men’s and which will be a women’s will be determined by the applications received and so we need to know about team members for both. Anyone interested is asked to call Mary Weis @ 732-458-0727