Arlington Cursillo

Thanks, TonyD and Fred!

Mel — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:09:50 +0000

Offering up prayers of thanks for Tony DeCristofaro and Fred Pugarelli, who shot the still photos and videos from the lay director investiture Mass. We are blessed to have them both in our community!

Message from Phil #1 02/19/12

Mel — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:19:54 +0000

Note: You can view a video of Phil’s remarks from his investiture here.

It is an honor to be chosen to serve as your Lay Director. I would like to thank all of you for your prayers and for sharing your thoughts with the Secretariat in the discernment process for the new Lay Director. I would ask for your continued prayers and support as we go forward. I am developing a strategy for implementing the vision statement I had proposed. Much input will be needed from the community before going forward. Stay tuned for more on that topic in the near future.

First, let me say a few things about our outgoing Lay Director, Mimi Fitzgerald. Mimi is the epitome of pious, gracious, quiet strength. Her deep faith is evident to all who have met her. Her leadership of Cursillo for the last four years has positioned us perfectly to continue to move forward on so many fronts. On behalf of the entire Cursillo community, I am extremely grateful for her hard work, her great hospitality, her example of Christ alive in her life and her excellent leadership. Thank you, Mimi!

In my remarks at the Investiture Ceremony on the 15^th of February, I referenced Matthew 5: verse 14-18: where Christ said to his then disciples: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Men do not light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket. They set it on a stand where it gives light to all in the house. In the same way your light must shine before all so that they may see goodness in your acts and give praise to our heavenly father.”

I also referenced a poem, attributed to St. Teresa of Avila, which reads:

Christ has no body now but yours
No hands, no feet on earth but yours
Yours are the eyes through which He looks
compassion on this world
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

We Cursillistas must serve as His disciples here on earth – as His hands and feet. The experience of a close encounter with Christ that we experience in the Cursillo weekend ignites that light within us. As Christ said, we must not hide that light but allow it to shine so that others will give praise to God. As we enter the Lenten season, it is good to take an inventory of how we are serving as God’s disciples here on earth. There are many special programs being offered in parishes throughout the Diocese. Wouldn’t it be a good idea for
us to be visible at those events, to the extent we can? We are asked in Cursillo to Make a Friend, Be a Friend, and Bring that friend to Christ. What better way to begin by meeting new friends during these many opportunities in your parishes. There are missions, conferences, bible studies, outreach groups, etc. Consider joining in and meeting others in these opportunities. Maybe you can spark an interest in a new friend through casual conversation to consider a Cursillo.

Think about how your life would be today if no one had offered you the invitation to make a Cursillo. Would your life have been different? Has Cursillo enriched your life? Let’s all be on fire for Christ!

Cursillo and the New Evangelization

Mel — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:16:41 +0000

See what Bishop Loverde had to say about the upcoming year of evangelization and Cursillo. His comments came in his homily at the February 15, 2012, investiture of Arlington Cursillo Lay Director Phil Kiko.

for a successful liver transplant for Dick H.

PrayerRequest — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 20:33:04 +0000

Please pray that testing for Dick this week will show he is a good candidate for a transplant, and that he can follow through with a succesful liver transplant

National and International Prayer Requests, Feb. 17-20

Mel — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:07:25 +0000

The Arlington Cursillo Palanca Team has sent our best wishes to these Cursillos, and asks that you offer prayers, rosary, and other palanca for the teams and candidates and their communities.

292nd Women’s Weekend (Spanish) in Oakland, California
71st Women’s Weekend (Spanish) in Guayaquil, Ecuador

Congratulations, Phil!

Mel — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 02:40:26 +0000

Bishop Paul Loverde congratulates Phil Kiko as Arlington Cursillo's new lay director.

Bishop Paul Loverde congratulates our new lay director, Phil Kiko, at his investiture Mass on February 15. Find out more!

Prayer/palanca for my mother’s team formation in Roanoke

PrayerRequest — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:49:08 +0000

Hello,
My mother, Kathleen Finnegan, is teaming at the same time as I am while the team prepares for the Roanoke Cursillo weekend for April 19-22. Please send prayers (and palanca if you’re able) for the team members and candidates. Palanca can be sent to Kathleen Finnegan, 5959 Sunnycrest Rd, Roanoke VA 24018.

This is the first weekend that Roanoke has held a weekend in several years, and the team is very excited and have held two meetings so far.

Thanks!
Joyce Metzler

Bill and Andi Baker’s Nephew and family

PrayerRequest — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:48:55 +0000

Andi and Bill request prayers IMO their Nephew Sean Kelley (44 yrs old) of San Clemente, CA who died suddenly over the weekend of cardiac arrest. He leaves behind his wife, Judy, their son, Ryan (16 yrs old). The family is devistated and in shock. Pray that the Blessed Mother wrap her mantle of love and protection around our sister and brother-in-law, Kaye and Tom Kelley and their sons, Tom (Trip) and Scott and their families.

National and International Prayer Requests, Feb. 16-19

Mel — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:03:23 +0000

The Arlington Cursillo Palanca Team has sent our best wishes to these Cursillos, and asks that you offer prayers, rosary, and other palanca for the teams and candidates and their communities.

116th Women’s Weekend in Harvey, North Dakota
247th Men’s Weekend in Kansas City, Missouri
113th Women’s Weekend in Romeoville, Illinois
21st Men’s Weekend (Portuguese) in Newark, New Jersey
532nd Men’s Weekend in Tucson, Arizona
832nd Women’s Weekend (Spanish) in Phoenix, Arizona
97th Men’s Weekend in Nashville, Tennessee
Women’s Weekend (Spanish) in Dodge City, Kansas
324th Women’s Weekend in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
665th Men’s Weekend in Brooklyn, New York
Men’s Weekend (Spanish) in Ixtapaluca, Mexico

For Tom Silva’s recovery

PrayerRequest — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:45:00 +0000

Tom is hoping to be released from the hospital Thursday, February 9. Summary: Looks like he had some internal bleeding for about two weeks and last friday his body gave out. Ended up receiving 4 units of blood and a polyp on the outside of his esophogus was the culprit. Biopsy pending though every indication seems to be encouraging. {from a posting by Marques Silva}