Ladies and gentlemen,

I received this note this morning and after asking permission from the author have decided to share it for the good of the movement.
I could tell you what I took from it but I think instead I will let God place upon your hearts what He intends you to hear from this message.

Please tell your friends this is where the latest Cursillo news can be found!

And Steve saying what God places in your heart is never over stepping!
It's a sign of Faith and Trust!
Thank you for answering "Yes"




I don’t know if I am overstepping my position in sending you guys this letter but I feel compelled by “You know who" to put this in writing.

It is really hard to define the perfect Cursillo.
Each one has its own level of perfection. I really feel , though that this one 228 may have reached new levels of perfection.

Each part of Cursillo adds or contributes and it is hard or impossible to determine which part will reach the candidate or what part will channel the power of God’s grace onto that person. I think of it like us mortals trying as we might in holding and directing a magnifying glass the size of Pennsylvania attempting to focus with the sunlight into a tiny beam that will cause a burning sensation in the candidate. I used to burn a lot of ants and bugs with mine as a kid. It takes a delicate balance to get it just right.

This Cursillo did it.
This Cursillo reached each candidate with that delicate balance of God’s grace.
You obviously understood that by the witnessing at the closing. Each and every one got up. Some I might not have expected. But then sometimes they are the ones that get it the most.

On previous Cursillos that I have worked I could see the evolution of the candidates and team as well and it always leads to perfection in its own way. But this one was different. Everybody got it. Candidates and team as well. “You know who" was holding the magnifying glass this time and he made no mistakes. Everybody was burning.

I think that it all begins with the spiritual directors. These guys talk the most so the candidates hear them the most. Close your ears Father Dan!
All three were exceptional! Empathetic, powerful, supremely knowledgable. Decon Tony and his bad eye and tremendous jocularity made him that much more endearing to the guys. Vito Lebeedo brought the proverbial house down. Guys were laughing so hard they were crying.

This rector was amazing! Jeff was a powerful human male that displayed great compassion and emotion as well. In the church he spoke to the candidates before we went out for the final closing and I could sense a collective sigh of disappointment when he told them that it is traditional that he could not work any more Cursillos. Leadership starts at the top and he was on his game this weekend..

Music is so important to the human experience. It is more so in religious settings. More emphasis should be given to an organized and well practiced music team. No more was need here. Tom Pearson is exceptional alone but then you add quiet Dominick DeCecco with his banjo and Pat Sargent, Ray Lance and Jim Tometsko and you now have what people would pay money to go see. Father Dan saw and recognized the powerful impact that can have when combined with spiritual healing. If they had put an empty basket out in front of themselves it would have been full of money by the end. Every parish should learn from this and put much more emphasis on music.

Chief warden Darren was perfect in his quiet behind the scenes way of getting everything dome when or before it needed to be. That was so important because it left the candidates and the team to concentrate on what they needed to concentrate on. On many other Cursillos that I have worked there seemed to always be something out of sorts that distracted many.

All of the wardens were perfect as well. They were pleasant, comical and they worked hard and for what I saw they didn’t need to be asked.

The auxiliaries were all great. Engaging, participating, and really part of each team as one. Much more so than when I was an auxiliary. Joey and Paul were both powerful speakers. Bill, Peter, and Joey all add that level of emotion that is so important to their talks. Don’t forget Tom’s emotional talk as well. That show of emotion if what helps to bring that magnifying glass into focus for the candidates.

I know that I was unexpectedly thrown in at the last minute and only by God’s Grace was able to be prepared. I feel bad that Tim missed out on this Cursillo. I know that he would have done a great job. I am scheduled to meet him for lunch tomorrow and let him know how it went.
This team embraced me and the change with open arms without even a flinch. For that I am grateful.To have been part of such a monumental event is humbling.
I know that you probably hear this from many who have experience Cursillo and you should. Each and every one is perfect some way but I truly feel that this one was perfect in every way.

I write this after I have regained some of my so dearly missing sleep and before I forget much of what went on. I had prepared a little speech for the guys after I saw in the book that the rector, assistant and chief warden may address the candidates near the end. I never got to give the speech but in it I explained that faith life is like having an hour glass that when initially turned over is full of sand but as time transpires the sand or our faith falls away. This is much to our dismay. Every day life makes it fall away. If you give it enough time it will empty itself.
It is only through renewal that we can regain this feeling. I told Father Dan that my faith life was “falling away” in recent years. Partially from some of those “ distractions” I had experienced in a past Cursillo. But this one has renewed my faith. Brought me back into focus.

If I never work another Cursillo I will have the never ending satisfaction of having worked this one. The perfect one.
Thanks for considering me.

DeColores

I was a candidate at #228 and to be honest did not know what to expect. Before Feb. 13th. I believed (like most) that I had all the faith I needed or could use. I never thought that within a span of 3 days I would realize just how far from the truth I was. This was the most wonderful experience I have ever had. Our Spiritual Guides were completely awe inspiring and patient. Our staff lead by Rector Jeff Hickens were indeed "Holy Men" and it showed in their every action. I will always be so proud of having been part of Cursillio 228. I thank God every day for people like the ones I grew to know and love this past weekend.
God bless and keep you all,
DeColores,

Ray Lance