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NOTICES
If you require prayers for any need or intention, please contact Mary Osborne, who will inform our cursillo community. Thanks
The Secretariat for the Diocese of Aberdeen has decided that due to the continued dispute with OMCC and National Secretariats concerning the vailidity of "mixed" weekends, together with the reduced number of Cursillistas actively involved with Ultreya and Group Reunion within the Diocese, there will be a period of discernment concerning the future of Cursillo in our Diocese. A copy of the Secretariat statement is to follow.
Monthly Ultreya have been discontinued until further notice.
Pilgrims' Retreat on Holy Island (Lindisfarne) led by John Woodside, 27 March to 1 April 2011 incl. Book a place NOW.
THE BLETHER BLOG |
The Cursillo Movement
RC Diocese of Aberdeen
SCOTLAND
Dear Cursillista,
At the recent Secretariat Meeting the main topic of discussion was the future of Cursillo in the Aberdeen Diocese. It was noted that the last three attempts to hold a Weekend had failed. The attendance at Ultreyas has been dropping off and there is not much evidence of grouping. Under the circumstances the main questions asked are “To what extent is Cursillo relevant in our diocese?” and “Where do we go from here?”
If we do not have a thriving 4th day Community to support new Cursillistas then precursillo and Weekends cannot fulfil their proper functions. Cursillo is not an easy movement to introduce to people and perhaps Cursillo is no longer relevant to the 21st Century Catholic living in Aberdeenshire. (Many other Diocesan Cursillos are experiencing similar problems.) However, many of our Cursillistas, although no longer active in the movement, have gone on to achieve significant apostolic impact in their environments.
Perhaps now is the time for change and a more informal approach may be required. Part of the challenge with Weekends is that of matching the dates of availability of a venue with dates when potential candidates are free. Perhaps too, in this day and age, the Weekend may be considered too intense. For many, the true lessons of the Weekend are only appreciated when, as team members, they participate in another Weekend.
At the moment the OMCC (Cursillo’s International Directing Organisation) seems to be moving Cursillo towards a rigid structure more appropriate to the 1940’s. Cursillo is a movement and not an organisation but internationally it seems to be developing into Cursillo PLC.
Cursillo can still fill gaps in our spiritual life and present a package which is not covered by other Catholic movements. However, experience seems to show that many do not want to sign up for the whole package. Change is necessary for survival. Indeed our Cursillo-derived awareness of ‘metanoia’ means that it is a blessed (if sometimes painful) part of spiritual growth.
The Secretariat therefore proposes that the Diocese of Aberdeen Cursillo temporarily moves into a “care and maintenance” mode whereby we continue to provide encouragement and spiritual support for Cursillistas in the form of Group Reunions and other ad-hoc meetings in the hope that precursillo will be possible in the future. Concurrently we should explore other ways of developing our spiritual growth. This “care and maintenance” mode should continue until no later than Easter 2013 (by which time the OMCC will have published the new edition of the "Fundamental Ideas" and there will be some definitive answers to the current controversies in the worldwide Cursillo Movement). Part of this “care and maintenance” should be prayerful discernment by ALL Cursillistas. We should seek ways of developing and expressing Christian growth, evangelisation and leadership during this time.
In lieu of the monthly Ultreya (which has had declining attendance over the past couple of years), it is proposed that a Cursillo community gathering takes place every six months, Friday evening to Saturday evening, and subsidised by Cursillo.
A possible structure of the six-monthly gathering could be:-
Friday: Arrive evening and have light supper; Reunion; Night Prayer.
Saturday: Morning Prayer; Mass; talk (possible guest speaker)/discussion; spiritual direction; evening prayer; meal; depart to our parishes for Sunday Mass.
The term of office of most of the present members of the secretariat has run its course, but its members are willing to remain in post – although, that said, please do let us know if YOU wish to take on a more active role - during this interim period. Cursillistas are also invited to participate in an extended secretariat in something more akin to the School of Service, so that they can be part of this evolution. The Cursillo community is asked to pray and, after a period of discernment, offer suggestions.
It is time to turn our minds inwards for discernment rather than to try to take people on Cursillo Weekends and then fail to support them in postcursillo. It is better to explore opportunities and not spend our time feeling depressed about our lack of success in finding candidates. Instead, in an attitude of ‘Gaudium et Spes’ (Joy and Hope) we sincerely trust that the Holy Spirit will guide us, as Church in the modern world, where and as He wills,.
It would be appreciated if any Cursillista who, after a period of discernment, feel that they have any ideas, suggestions or comments to offer could contact me soon after that date, or even before if you have immediate thoughts you’d like to share. (This is only to get the ball rolling. Any contribution, at any time, will be gratefully accepted.)
De Colores and God Bless,
Brian Osborne
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