My dear brothers and sisters:

De Colores! Welcome to the newest members of our community-the men of the 124th Men’s Cursillo-Greg Cleva, Robert (a.k.a. Raphael), Davis, Fred Day, Father  Matthew DeForest, John Dogan, Matthew Kranz, Tony Lacot, David Scully, and Jeffrey Wolfhope. The Holy Spirit poured down as surely as last weekend’s rain, and their Sunday night witnesses touched all of us. Please know that all of us in the Arlington Cursillo community stand ready to help you in any way we can to enrich your Fourth Day journey in piety, study, and action. Thanks once again to the team, sponsors, cook crew, and all who supported the Weekend.

Perhaps in the aftermath of your Lenten reflection, you’ve found you have more time for
ministry… or would like to try a different ministry. If that’s the case, I hope you’ll join us this Saturday at the School of Leaders/Diocesan Ultreya event at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Vienna. Get plugged in and serve our movement! And just a word about School of Leaders: don’t let the name scare you away. Remember, you learned on the weekend that all of you are leaders – leaders in changing environments, leaders in example, leaders in making a difference. Every School of Leaders event is intended to help you in that role. The men of the 124th and the women of the 134th Weekends are especially welcome.

Also, consider starting your Memorial Day weekend with our May 25 Evening of Reflection at Missionhurst. It will be a great way to reflect about your spiritual journey and to find ways to enrich it this summer, whether you’re spending time at the beach, in the mountains, or at home.

Memorial Day weekend also will mark the Dominican Retreat House Weekend for the Seriously Ill. Please consider offering food or prayer palanca for the team and attendees… and invite family members or friends who are in need of this special retreat to contact the retreat house. There is no fee, and the team includes medical and spiritual leaders.

Also, last Friday, Father Tuck and I spoke on Capitol Hill. The topic was “How to Have
Your Faith Catch Fire and Change Your Life.” We had an excellent turnout-about sixty people-and many of them are interested in exploring further the Cursillo principles of piety, study, and action. If you have a Catholic group that would be interested in such a dialogue, please let me know.

Finally, thanks to those who have agreed to serve on the Cursillo Steering Committee, a temporary gathering of Cursillistas who will brainstorm on ways to prioritize and implement the vision statement I shared. We’ll be getting back to you all shortly on the fruits of that service.

In God’s love,

Phil