2024 Men's Weekend Rector
Hi, my name is Jeff Williams, I have the great honor of being this years Rector for the Cursillo Men's team, for the Weekend on September 12-15, 2024.
My Cursillo journey started in 2018, when I was at a Men's wake-up meeting at SS. Peter And Paul Church in Rocklin,Ca and Vince Johnson walked up to me after the meeting and asked if I wanted to come to a Cursillo Group Reunion Meeting on the following Saturday. I have been here ever since and I Lived my Cursillo Weekend in 2019 at JRC.
Since that weekend and my incounter with the Holy Spirit, I have strived to live my life as Edward Bonnin always called himself "An Apprentice Christian" I live my faith through my actions in Life. By treating everyone I meet the way the Bible tells us to "Love thy neighbor as you Love thy Self".
I have served on the last 3 Men's teams and have served them in various positions, I am also the Current School of Leaders Chair person as many of you attend the meetings. It is my firm belief that we as a Cursillo Community can not fully move forward and grow our community without a thriving School of Leaders as this is where we enhance what you recieve on the weekend. We all need to be effective leaders in our Families, work and parish enviornments. We also need to spread the good news of Christ, but more importanly Be the Goods News of Christ for others.
It has been through prayer and action that I have assembled, with the Holy Spirit a team for the weekend that has alot of newcomers to team formation and some veterens.
In the last year I have had many struggles in my personal and profession life, and In my prayers and descernment I have chosen a song that I have relied on in my time of struggle. The theme song for this weekend is " Lord I Need You by Matt Maher" and to go with this song the Theme for the weekend comes from 1Samual 3:10, where Samual heres the Lord and says "speak, for your servant is Listening"
As we approach the starting of team formation meetings, I ask the community for there prayers that we are guided by the Lord and the Holy Spirit in all that we do for the weekend. I also ask the community to go out and Make a Friend, Be a Friend and bring that friend to christ and the Cursillo.
Thank You,
De Colores, Jeff Williams
Upcoming Cursillo Weekends 2024
Men's - September 12-15, 2024
Women's - October 24-27, 2024
Rector - Jeffrey Williams
Rectora - Michelle Hayes
2024 Women's Weekend Rectora
Hello,
My name is Mechelle Hayes, I am grateful to be the Rectora for the 2024 Women's Cursillo Weekend, October 24-27. I lived my Cursillo in 2008 at JRC. At the time I was attending a women's Bible Study group at my Church, Good Sheppard, in Elk Grove, CA. When a friend invited a few of us to attend the weekend. I had never been on a retreat before and thought it was time Wow! And what a weekend it was, the Holy Spirit ignited my heart on fire with his Love and has continued to burn ever since.
I have had the honor to work on 4 weekends, each time growing in my faith as a Christian and boldly going out on Mission to bring Christ to others, sharing in our 4th-day groups, growing our Love for Community, building his Church, and doing his work.
I have a wonderful team of experienced and first-time women Cursillistas on the team to be mentored, to carry on the Cursillo Method. My weekend Theme is Psalm 119:105 "Thy word is the light unto my feet and the light unto my path". I believe in these increasingly hard times we need to dive into the Word which will unite us to the light of the Holy Spirit and keep us on the right path.
I ask the community for ongoing prayers that will be led by the Grace of the Holy Spirit to "make a friend, be a friend, and bring a friend to Christ".
De Colores, Michelle
This powerful weekend doesn’t end on Sunday but continues throughout the life of the “Cursillista” as described by the simple term “4th day” or the “rest of your life”. We strongly encourage all Cursillistas to attend a group/friendship reunion held weekly or monthly where the concept of Cursillo is maintained and demonstrated. The key focus of the group reunions is on PRAYER, STUDY and ACTION.
Cursillo has touched the life of millions of Catholics worldwide (3 million today) and has also been duplicated by other faiths and organizations such as Catholic High Schools (Kairos), a prison ministry, Marriage Encounter, ACTS and many others. It is more than a movement; it is a personal lifestyle and it challenges each of us to a greater commitment to our common faith.
The Cursillo Movement consists of proclaiming the best news of the best reality: that God, in Christ, loves us. Communicated by the best means, which is friendship…make a friend, be a friend, bring a friend to Christ! In some ways, our purpose is to “evangelize” our own church…reignite the fire of those who need a jumpstart…
Cursillo first appeared in Spain in 1944 when the country, under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, became a quasi-theocracy. A layman named Eduardo Bonnín participated in the early years of the "short courses" in Majorca Spain and helped develop the it to the point that it became an active renewal movement in the Church. In 1957, the movement spread to North America, when the first American Cursillo was held in Waco, Texas. In 1960 weekends were held for the first time in the eastern half of the USA. By 1981, almost all of the 160 dioceses in the United States had implemented an active Cursillo Movement. In the United States it is organized through a national office located in Jarrell, Texas.
The movement/charism is recognized by Pope Francis as member of the International Catholic Organizations of the Pontifical Council for the Laity in Rome. It is widely known throughout the church as one of the most transformational movements in the church today. The last 6 popes have stood behind it through worldwide gatherings and Vatican support. The international organizing group is still headquartered in Spain.
There is a tradition that goes along with it…A story from the early days of the movement in Spain tells of an occasion where a group of men were returning from a Cursillo weekend when their bus broke down. They began to sing De Colores, a traditional folk song. The use of the song in Cursillo took hold, and has held up as the movement has spread outside the Spanish-speaking world and to other denominations. The use of a multi-colored rooster as a symbol for the Cursillo movement is believed to have originated from one of the verses of that song. Aside from the historical traditions, Cursillo is a simple, effective way to improve your walk with Christ through Piety, Study and Action.
The Cursillo is supported by the Roman Catholic Church. It is joined to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Sacramento diocese. We have a healthy and growing community in northern California and have several small worship groups who meet each week to grow in faith and service to our Lord and our church. More than 800 people are known to have been active in the Cursillo Movement in Sacramento, although that does not account for others who have relocated here.
The Diocesan Secretariat is the final organizational structure to be established in building a Movement in a diocese. It must be emphasized that the Cursillo Movement is not an organization, but it uses some organizational elements. The Secretariat gives life to the organizational form and accelerates the total work of the Movement in three phases of its methodology: the precursillo, 3-day weekend and post cursillo.
The Diocesan Secretariat is composed of clergy and laity, men and women. The whole Secretariat is entrusted by the Bishop with the responsibility of promoting, developing and directing the Cursillo Movement in a diocese. The authority entrusted to the Secretariat is to embrace, study, and promote the Charism of the Movement. The Lay Director should always be a lay person responsible for the organization and methodology of the Movement. The Spiritual Advisor, always a priest, deacon or vowed religious, is responsible for matters concerning doctrine and conscience. Other Secretariat members include the Chairperson for the School of Leaders, Precursillo, Cursillo, and Postcursillo sections and a Treasurer and Secretary. All Secretariat members have voice and vote. The members of the Secretariat come from the School of Leaders. Their selection places them in a position to be of greater service to the Movement.
As committed leaders, dedicated to promoting and living the Foundational Charism ourselves, we have understood that Cursillo is not something that we do; it is something that we live simply because to live Cursillo is to live the Gospel.The membership of the Secretariat should be sufficiently small to serve in a climate of Group Reunion.
The Cursillistas who serve the Movement in the Secretariats and Schools of Leaders can best be described as keepers of the flame of the vision of the Founder, keeping it burning brightly as a beacon for all those whose paths are illuminated by its light.
SECRETARIAT MEMBERS
2023-2025 TERM OF OFFICE
Parishioner at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Elk Grove since 2003
Ministries/Community Service/Professional Background: Former Coordinator for the RCIA Program and Catholics Returning Home, Homebound Ministry, Parish Advocate for the Diocesan Tribunal, Past Chair of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, Former Board Member of Cristo Rey High School. Retired Litigation Paralegal and Nonprofit Development Consultant and Grant Writer.
Family Life: Married to Jerry Bowers with one son, daughter-in-law and 2 granddaughters.
Parishioner at SS Peter and Paul since 2014
Ministries/Community Service/Professional Background: Served on Last 3 Cursillo Teams, Bible study leader for 2 yrs; Cursillo Parish Rep. Have 2 culinary Degrees and Truck Driver for 19 yrs.
Family Life: Married to Jenny Williams for 18 yrs.
Parishioner at Divine Savior since 1996
Ministries/Community Service/Professional Background: Parish Pastoral Council member; Parish Welcoming Committee member; former CFF Catechist and Marriage Prep and Engage Encounter; Winter Sanctuary for the homeless. Works as a Call Center Representative
Family Life: Married to Ron Bauer for 28 years with 2 adult children.
Ministries/Community Service/Professional Background: Served as a music minister/cantor for 40 years; Catechist in the Catholics Returning Home ministry; Served in 2021 and 2022 women's weekend team; Asst. Rectora for the Women's 2023 weekend team; retired public school Math Teacher.
Family Life: Married to John for 35 years with three grown children.
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