IN GOD WE TRUST by Deacon Tony Martucci

Two angels came to earth, disguised as poor, lost travelers. At the first home they visited, they found a very wealthy couple who refused to invite them in, and sent them away, cold, hungry and exhausted. Before leaving, one angel placed a valuable gift behind the bushes of the home. At the second home, was a very poor family with four children. With scarcely enough for their family, the couple invited the angels in, shared some of their food with them and let them rest in the warm bed for the night. The next morning before the two angels left, one angel put a huge hole in the foundation of the house.

The second angel was very puzzled by these actions of the first angel. “I don’t understand why you left a valuable treasure in the first house when the people there was so mean and spiteful and caused such a burden on the second family who gave all they had for us.”

“Everything is not always as it seems,” replied the first angel. “When the first couple discovers the treasure, they will be consumed by their greed. They will argue and fight and the treasure will fall to the ground and be destroyed. They will become even more miserable. The second couple will see the damaged foundation, and at first be distraught. When the husband goes to repair it he will find a treasure that has been buried there for a very long time, and the family will be able to live and be happy.”

In the Hebrew Testament, Job is upset and confused over his great losses. He thinks God is treating him unjustly. Job has led a life of piety, hasn’t done anything to deserve this kind of treatment, and blames God for his misery. He cannot see beyond the here and now.

How often in our own lives have we questioned God’s wisdom when it comes to pain and suffering? Why did God let this happen to me, or to us? God does not cause suffering; but God permits it in our human life.  It is a result of sin in the world, imperfection and evil that exists since the fall of Adam and Eve. There was no pain or suffering when God created the universe. That was not part of God’s plan. However, God gave us free will, and that allowed not only pain and suffering, but also the grace of God to give us consolation and comfort. Often it is through pain and suffering that we can come to a new understanding of God’s power and enter into a deeper relationship.

In chapter 9 of John’s Gospel we read: As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.” Then Christ healed the man of his blindness and many came to believe in Jesus and became his disciples.  It is often like that with us as well. In faith we can see the hand of God in our everyday life, whether it be in our joys or in our sorrows, in times of prosperity and in times of need.

Even now, as our country goes through crisis, we can see the hand of God. Bishop O’Connell warned  in his  letter regarding the Federal order to violate our consciences and provide health insurance that will pay for abortions and contraceptives is a violation of the First Amendment right to freedom of religion. Certainly this is not something that we would choose or want. How can God allow this?  Watch how God can bring good even out of this.

First, it has united many people within the Catholic community to want to do something to show their anger and displeasure. We can our congressional representatives and senators by mail, phone or email.

Second, it has brought other faiths alongside us to stand together against this violation of the first amendment right to religious freedom. It has unified us as did the terrible attack on September 11.

Third, it will show the power of God when the victory has been achieved.  For many years, our country has travelled a path that has taken us further and further from our democratic and religious roots. This is our wake-up call to turn back to God.

Let each of us here today resolve to pray and fast for the good of our nation and our world. Let us place our trust in Almighty God and live by the motto of our Great Nation: “IN GOD WE TRUST”.

A NOTE FROM OUR LAY DIRECTOR, MARY ANN DOWD

Beloved Cursillistas,

Friday night at Diocesan Mass began (as Ronnie Martella says), our journey "back to the future".  It began with Father Ed once again reading the letter from the Bishop urging us, as Catholics, to speak up against what is an unconstitutional law forcing not only Catholics, but people of conscience everywhere, to conform to anti-life legislation. By going to the Right to Life website you can easily access your congressmen and make your feelings known. (Editor's Note: Here is a link to the United States Conference of Bishops to learn more about the HHS Mandate - http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/index.cfm )

Secondly, Al Martella reminded us of the past influences on our environments and our attitudes (the Faith of our fathers and mothers and friends), which taught us to understand how BIG our God Is...how much HE loves us and how to respond to that Love (the witness can be found below)...and

Thirdly, the announcment was made of plans for an inter-collegiate cooperative Cursillo for our Diocesan colleges in the summer of 2013 (more information to come)

In order to respect the memory of those living and dead, who have helped us on our journey, be courageous and fight the  Good fight ahead of us, as well as prayerfully prepare for the collegiate Cursillos, we ask that all of us humble ourselves in prayer and palanca to God.  This palanca can be posted so all of our community can see it and be encouraged at our website where we have posted a prayer to St. Paul (the link is to the right column at the top of the page) which we can say as often as possible to beg God to help and strengthen us.  Be Courageous! (Palanca can be emailed to trentoncursillo@gmail.com.)

Forever Decolores!

Mary Ann xo

PRESENCE - A WITNESS

Note: This witness was given by Al Martella on February 3, 2012 at the Diocesan Mass. 

I wanted to make sure I would be an effective witness, so I went to the Cursillo National Website and found a document from the Diocese of Wichita on what a witness talk should be like. 

It said that the Witness Talk should not be:

a) It should not be sensational - no need for Cecil B. deMille productions in Ultreya witnessing.

b) It should not be a sermon, nor should it be instruction in Catholicism.

c) It should not be longer than five to ten minutes.

d) It should not be too emotional. Emotions will be affected by a simple, sincere talk.

It said the Witness Talk should be:

a) It should be your life lived out as a Christian - how the Lord is working through you.

b) It should be concrete and practical, carried out in the normal flow of your life.

c) It should be centered on and be about Christ, how you were His instrument.

d) It should be centered in the present, not something that happened six months or more ago.

e) It should be descriptive - explaining who, how and what of the details necessary to make your witness clear.

f) It should concentrate on one or two points, rather than a series of examples.

g) It should be as informal as if you are sharing it with a friend - you are!

h) A brief Scripture passage should be used that will tie into your witness

So, let's see if I can follow those suggestions. Let's start with a quote from scripture:

Ephesians 3:16-19

 

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁶ I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. ¹⁷ Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.¹⁸ And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. ¹⁹ May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

WITNESS

Recently, The Holy Spirit has been especially present in my heart, helping me to think about relationships past and present, who have helped me grow closer to God.

At the beginning of the year, I was able to become a telecomputer and work full time from home. I have set up my office in what was my Mother’s Room, where she lived with Ronnie and I for 17 years. In one corner are mementoes of her faith – including a crucifix, a statue of our Sacred Heart and the Blessed Mother, a picture of Saint Anthony. It is in this room that I spend my day in the comfort of knowing the Trinity and the Blessed Mother are near. Throughout the day, I turn to them to ask for guidance in how to deal with work situations. This space has helped me be reminded how much God loves me.

You Tube also helped to remind me. Two weeks ago, I came across a wonderful clip. In 1997, Fred Rogers Accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 24th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards. While most presenters would have talked about themselves, this is how Mr. Rogers spent his time:

“So many people have helped me come to this night. Some of you are here and some are far away. Some are even in heaven.  All of us have special ones who have loved us to being. Would you just take along with me ten seconds to think of the people who have helped you become who you are. Those who have cared about you and wanted what was best in life for you. Ten seconds of silence – I’ll watch the time” (Stop for ten seconds and think about those people.)

“Whomever you’ve been thinking about, how pleased they must be to know the difference you feel they have made.”

I try to stop often during the day to remember those people – and especially remember God, his son and the Holy Spirit for putting those people in my life. How blessed we are to be surrounded by so much love.

I’d like to end with a short prayer called Desert Waters by David Adam from his book, Tides and Seasons: Modern Prayers in Celtic Tradition. It touches me because it reminds me wherever we are, God is always present if we take the time to look.  

O Spring in the desert

O shelter from the heat

O light in the darkness

O guide for the feet

O joy in our sadness

O support for the weak

O Lord with us always

Your Presence we seek

LET US PRAY TO OUR PATRON SAINT, ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE

As St. Paul wrote, the Spirit wants to enlighten our hearts so that we can know the length, depth, height, and breadth of God’s presence and his love (Ephesians 3:16-19).* Let us pray to our patron saint, St. Paul the Apostle. 

O glorious St. Paul, after persecuting the Church you became, by God's grace, Her most zealous Apostle. To carry the knowledge of Jesus, our Divine Savior, to the uttermost parts of the earth.

You joyfully endured prison, scourgings, stonings, and a shipwreck, as well as all manner of persecutions, culminating in the shedding of the last drop of your blood for Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Obtain for us the grace to labor strenuously to bring the Faith to others and to accept any trials and tribulations that may come our way. Help us to be inspired by your Epistles and to partake of your indomitable love for Jesus, so that after we have finished our course we may join you in praising Him in heaven for all eternity.

Amen.

* Quote from the Word Among Us Website

FROM TIMOTHY AND TITUS TO US

From catholicculture.org

On today's feast of Timothy and Titus, we can make a connection from these followers of St. Paul to us today. Today's meditation at The Word Among Us helps us to make the connection. It reads: 

" Our world places a high value on self-reliance. But not even the great saints of the past operated alone. Either they were part of a faith com­munity or they were accountable to someone who could help them on their spiritual journey. As Timothy needed the support of Paul, we need the support of our brothers and sis­ters in Christ. We also need to give out that support as well. None of us will get to heaven by ourselves!"

We are blessed to be part of the Cursillo Community. Let us all together walk in the footsteps of Paul, Timothy and Titus.

A NOTE FROM LAY DIRECTOR, MARY ANN DOWD

Beloved Cursillistas, 

"The Master taught the crowd"....we read these words so many times in Sacred Scripture.  Last night at school of leaders, Jesus taught us in many ways.  To be joyful, as we sang the color song, to work as a team as we brainstormed together in group, but most of all, the lesson that we go to school to learn of HIS Life in us and how to bring that Life out into the world.  Ronnie will gift us with a synopsis on our study but for now our community wishes to thank Tony and Pat Martucci for bringing us a joyful and prayerful atmosphere and Ronnie, our Director for her enthusiasm, commitment, hard work and boundless energy which re-energized the crowd that sat at HIS feet last night.  God bless you all.

Forever Decolores! Mary Ann xo

p.s. On a personal note thank you to David Dowd for his suggestion to hold weekends in Hawaii!

Location of next weekends? DeColores and aloha!!
By the way, did you know that Aloha in the Hawaiian language
means affection, peace, compassion and mercy.
Since the middle of the 19th century,
it also has come to be used as an English greeting to say goodbye and hello.
Currently, it is mostly used in the sense of hello.

JANUARY SCHOOL OF LEADERS IS COMING by Ronnie Martella, Assistant Lay Director

New Year, new beginnings, new ideas, new resolve, new awareness, new plans, new insights, new, new, new!
         
****Welcome to 2012****

During the Christmas season we have a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the reality of that little baby born in Bethlehem and the wonder of His love in our lives.

Throughout 2012, the Cursillistas of the Diocese of Trenton will reflect on how and when we find God in our lives.  We do this often, individually, in group and Ultreya.  We share our journey with each other each time we are together in so many ways.  But how often do we think about the vision or the mission of Trenton Cursillo?  Are we all aware of our Pastoral Plan which outlines the mission statement and vision for the movement and the purpose, objective and recommendation for each of the Secretariat sections?

The Pastoral Plan for Trenton Cursillo has not been reviewed and/or revised since 2006 so we are due!  Everyone is needed in this endeavor.  Please bring your ideas, your enthusiasm, your love of Cursillo and some friends to School of Leaders on January 20, 2012 at 8pm.  Together let’s move Trenton Cursillo into 2012 and beyond with renewed vigor and joy.

ULTREYA!
Ronnie Martella

REJOICE! HOPE! By Sister Clara Schroeder, CSJP

REJOICE! HOPE!  On continued ponderings of the Christmas message, these two words come to kind.        

Why REJOICE?  How can we not rejoice when we realize what a loving and caring God we have!  Our almighty and omnipotent God loves us so much that He condescended to send His only Son, Jesus, to be one of us, mortal and imperfect as we are. In Philippians, Chapter 2, we read……”Though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself…..coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” 

When I gaze on the Christ Child in the stable, I am so touched by the humbleness and poverty I see there.  Oh, yes, Jesus, you did humble yourself.  In the poverty of your birth, you showed your love for the poor.  With all the sadness and strife in our world today, how can the image of a baby not soften our hearts and give us cause to rejoice in a future for a better world?

Why HOPE?  I believe that HOPE requires trust.  In his humble and obedient birth according to his father’s will, and throughout his entire life up to his death and resurrection, Jesus showed us how to live with all the setbacks and sufferings in our lives.  Jesus showed us that our lives don’t end in death.  Rather, in his resurrection, Jesus taught us that our lives continue after death in a new and glorious way!  Jesus gave us this HOPE and it all began with the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, Son of the living God! 

I believe that the message of the Christ Child to each one of is this:  Don’t give up!  I am with you!  I lived, suffered and died for you!  REJOICE in my everlasting love for you!  Continue to HOPE in my strength for you to live my values!  Trust me!

A MESSAGE FROM OUR LAY DIRECTOR, MARY ANN DOWD

Beloved Cursillistas,

In this new year of 2012 we would like to invite any and all cursillistas to give us a "keynote" for the New Year.  God has given our community so many gifts and graces to use for the good of all.  Today, I look to Our Lady, our life, our sweetness and our hope for the future and the journey.  Looking forward to reading what The Holy Spirit has put on all of your hearts.  Happy New Year!

Forever DeColores, Mary Ann

A HOLY NEW YEAR by Deacon Tony Martucci

Christmas trees are placed by the street for trash, or packed away until next year. Homes once brightly decorated in lights are dark. Gifts have been exchanged; some of the new toys are broken. There are no more Christmas carols on the radio, or in the stores. The high-spirited feelings of joy and peace are fading away. Many of the people who crowded our Church last week are missing today. Christmas is gone for another year. As Peggy Lee once sang: “Is that all there is?” Is that all?

We all have dreams and desires, wants and wishes, but there is nothing in this world that can satisfy us for very long. We get a new bike, the latest PS3, a new car or new house and before very long it becomes just another thing that we own. St. Augustine once said, "Thou hast created us for Thyself, and our heart is not quiet until it rests in Thee."

That is God’s plan for us from all eternity. St. John tells us in his letter, “God is Love.” Love must be shared in order to be Love and God created the universe and particularly human beings to share His love with us. Adam and Eve spoiled that plan when they sinned by choosing evil over good: yet, even as God banished them from Eden, He promised to send a Redeemer to restore them and us to Himself. Throughout history, God has stepped in to renew us. He called Noah and his family, Abraham, Jacob, David and Mary to be part of His plan for the salvation of the human race.

When Christ was born, God Himself became one of us to show us the way to the Father and to share His love with us by His life, death and resurrection. That is the real beauty of Christmas and the reason for us to keep Christmas all through the year.

Nearly thirty years ago I heard a deacon candidate say that he keeps his Christmas tree up all year long- not in his house, but in his heart. You and I can do the same thing. Jesus came to share the Good News of Salvation and to build His church on Peter and the Apostles. He told us, “I came that you might have life, and have it abundantly.” Two thousand years ago, He gave us the wonderful gift of the Church and the Sacraments to share His divine life, sanctifying grace, with us. Many of us have forgotten the great gifts we have in our Catholic faith. I am proud to be Catholic.

When John baptized Him in the Jordan River, Christ cleansed us from sin and made us royal members of God’s family, King’s Kids, if you will. We are heirs to a heavenly kingdom.

As Christ healed people of their illness and infirmity, He often said, “Your sins are forgiven; your faith has saved you; go and sin no more.” He gave the apostles the power to forgive sins, saying, “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven; whose sins you retain, they are retained.” The sacrament of Reconciliation restores us to God’s grace after we have strayed away from Him through sin.

Often in His life, Christ consoled those who lost loved ones, or healed those who were afflicted with illness or disease. He sometimes raised the dead to life. He gave the Church the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, once known as Extreme Unction, or Last Rites, to bring healing and grace to those who suffer today. When the priest prays with us and anoints us with holy oil we receive His grace and comfort .

In the Eucharist, Christ gives us Himself- body and blood, soul and divinity. He lives in us as He once lived for nine months in Mary’s body. We become living tabernacles for Him, brining Him wherever we go. His blood and life unites with ours. When we receive, we really should take the time to meditate on the wonderful gift we have just been given. Christ lives in us and wants to have a deeper relationship with Him. He wants to spend time with us. Some people go directly from receiving to the parking lot. Would you leave you host immediately after you’ve had dinner, or would you stay and share some conversation and time together?

On Pentecost Sunday, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples and filled them with wisdom and courage and the other gifts and fruit of the Spirit. Today He does the same with us when we receive the sacrament of Confirmation. We all have those gifts, but most of us don’t use them because we are unaware that we have them.

God created marriage when He created Eve from the side of Adam, and told them to go forth and multiply. Jesus raised it to the Sacrament when He performed His first miracle at the Marriage feast of Cana. Husband and wife are the ministers of the Sacrament and give themselves to one another every day. The priest or deacon who witnesses the ceremony is the Church’s official witness. Every act of selflessness is an image of the Trinity and gives life to the couple.

All of us who are baptized share in the priesthood of Christ, but there are men who have a special share in that priesthood. They are ordained and receive the Sacrament of Holy orders. They receive grace to serve God’s people through their ministry. There are three levels of Orders- Deacons, Priests and Bishops. Each serves at a different degree. Like married couples, these men share the love of God with those they serve.

the book, Rediscovering Catholicism is a wonderful book that reminds us of the great genius of our Catholic Faith. The author, Matthew Kelly, shows us how to become the best version of ourselves, or as Christ said, “To be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” Take the time to read the book and allow the Spirit of Christmas to live in your heart every day.

May you have a happy, healthy and blessed New Year and may the Light of Christ shine through you this year.

A Christmas Message from our Lay Director, Mary Ann Dowd

Beloved Cursillistas,

When John DiStefano served as Lay Director, he always reminded us that we were children of God, sons and daughters of a King and destined for greatness.  In this Christmas Season, we remember - HE came for love.  HE lived for love.  HE died for love.

Our God loved us more than we can ever fathom.  No words can describe the Christ Child, tiny Baby shivering in a cold dark stable into which HE brought HIS Eternal Light.  In the new Leaders Manual on Page 188, we read the following: "One can only live the Postcursillo with love.  The commitment to temporal and personal relationships to which the postcursillo calls us would be an insupportable burden without love.  With love, it undoubtedly can be the most significant instrument in our lives to enable us to receive The Spirit of God day by day."

With Christ, and others in Christ in the postcursillo, we can make of life an 0n-going Ultreya.  Merry Christmas and forever DeColores!

Mary Ann xo  

DECEMBER SCHOOL OF LEADERS IS COMING by Ronnie Martella, Assistant Lay Director

Blessed Advent!  This wonderful season of preparation is upon us and how blessed are we to be loved by God, loved so much that he sent his Son to be with us, to be one of us.  As you take time this Advent to reflect on your relationship with God and others, remember that on your journey there are others to encourage and help us.

One of the points from Pope Paul's encyclical that Father Jay brought out was the fact that we all need to be well and properly informed in order to instruct others.  School of Leaders is a great place to do get that instruction from the talks, from the sharing and from the literature available.  School in December is on the 16th and will be at Holy Family in Lakewood .  Father Ed will complete the study of "On Evangelization in the Modern World" and the technique talk on Ultreya will be given by Janet Moscuzza.  What a great way to enrich our Advent time as we continue to respond to Jesus challenge to go out and make disciples of all.

At School of Leaders in November, Father Jay's talk on the methods and beneficiaries of Evangelization, from Pope Paul VI's encyclical, had both the spiritual and practical.  This document is as relevant today as it ever was because, as Father Jay reminded us, evangelization means bringing the Good News to all strata.  And the primary way to do that is to be a witness of an authentic life given to God and neighbor.  What a powerful affirmation that Cursillo, through the weekend talks, group reunion and ultreya are right in step with the Church's teachings.  The beneficiaries of evangelization cover every aspect of life and type of person from the "far away", non-Christians, & non-believers to believers and small faith communities--there is no doubt, all peoples benefit from being evangelized. 

John DiStefano spoke about group reunion and the impact it has on our journey.  He asked "How do you keep going in the face of troubles, challenges and struggles?"  The answer is to share your journey with others in group reunion.  John encouraged us all to continue as group reunions or if we are not in group-to put one together because the group manifests the friendship we have in God.  In The Study of the Charism it is put this way-"The Method of Cursillo is based on this relationship of friendship to bring to life the essence and purpose of its Charism."!  No wonder John emphasized friendship.  In addition, The Study of the Charism reminds us that group reunion has four steps; invocation of the Holy Spirit to start, sharing by each members on the card, personal and collective apostolic plans and prayer to end.  For the full text, you can find the Study of the Charism on the website of World Organization of Cursillo at www.orgmcc.org. 

Wishing you the peace and joy of the Advent season,

Ronnie Martella 

A MESSAGE FROM OUR LAY DIRECTOR

Beloved Cursillistas,

A final chapter in the book recounting the Charism of Cursillo is Eduardo Bonnin's Spiritual Testament.  He talks of how the Holy Spirit Blessed and preserved our movement from the time of his youth until his 90's.  He considered the Cursillo in Christianity the greatest gift he could pass on to future Christians in love and fellowship.  

This Thanksgiving in the Diocese of Trenton we have much  for which to be grateful to God; both individually and as a community.  As I count my blessings, you will all be present among them as will those three blessed days of God's Grace poured out as Love.  May the Lord bless you and keep you may He make HIS Face Shine upon you and give you His Peace.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Forever DeColores!

Mary Ann Dowd xo

STUDY OF "ON EVANGELIZATION IN THE MODERN WORLD" CONTINUES

At our last School of Leaders, Father Jay Bowden covered Sections 40 to 58 of On Evangelization in the Modern World focusing on the methods and beneficiaries of evangelization. If you would like to read Paul Paul VI's Encyclical, it can be found at this link. At the December School of Leaders on December 16 at Holy Family Church in Lakewood, NJ, Sections 59 to 82 will be covered.

OUR BELOVED FATHER MALACHY HIGGISTON

Father Malachy J. Higgiston went home to the Lord on Tuesday, November 15, 2011.

Visitation will be in St. Thomas More Church on Friday, November 18, 2011 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. immediately followed by Mass of Jesus Christ High Priest. 

Visitation will resume on Saturday, November 19, 2011 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 11AM.

Interment will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery Toms River, New Jersey.

Directions to St. Thomas More can be found at http://www.moremercy.org/directions.html.

To read Father Malachy's obituary, go to http://manalapan.patch.com/articles/obituary-fr-malachy-higgiston-88

A MESSAGE FROM JOHN AND ROE DiSTEFANO

On behalf of Roe and me and our entire family, we wish to thank our Cursillo family for the tremendous outpouring of love which you have shown to us in our time of deepest sorrow. As each of you came up to us to express your individual condolences on our daughter going home to the Lord, the glow of the Holy Spirit was around you and surrounded us with love and healing. Each of you came as individuals but formed one in the Spirit and in the Lord. In your being present to all of us, your caring, sharing, and genuine love, our family was lifted to bear the unbearable. To comfort those who are sorrowful is an act of Mercy and it was greatly felt and appreciated by every member of our family.

DeColores! John & Roe & Family of Susanne Opdyke