National Cursillo Secretariat meeting was in Adelaide from 22–24 September 2017: An excellent gathering where nine Diocese from around Australia attended led by our National Lay Director Roger O’Hara. With Bishop Ian Palmer as our National Spiritual Director and Rev. Steve Niland as National Spiritual Adviser. Brian Walsh and Lyn Carter were the Newcastle delegates at this gathering. The theme for the weekend was psalm 23 with a special emphasis on the last two verses.

“ you prepare a banquet for me, where all my enemies can see me; you welcome me as an honoured guest and fill my cup to the brim. I know that your goodness and love will be with me all my life; and your house will be my home forever”.

  Topics discussed were as  follows:-

1. Treasurers report. National Secretariat Income and a concern for it to meet ongoing financial commitments.

Unfortunately there are now six Diocese where the Cursillo arm has entered into recession. This limits the amount of income that is received. A motion was carried unanimously that annual contributions should increase from $330p.a. To $400p.a. for Diocese with more than 500 members; and $270p.a. For those with less. It was felt that this was a modest increase to help overcome financial stress caused by diminishing contributors. It is to commence from 2018, and is the first increase in a number of years.

2. National web page.

Currently out of date and under review, with Philip Barrington from Newcastle taking over responsibility asap.

3. Piece by piece Cursillo.

Some discussion was held relating to bringing the Cursillo experience to older folk on a piece by piece basis. No decisions made – simply an idea. A whole 3 day weekend it was felt was quite a challenge to some of our older folk.

4. A condensed 3day Cursillo weekend.

Bathurst Diocese have trialled a 3day weekend which involves giving the “ideal” talk on the Thursday night to allow an hour for reflection/rest on the Friday afternoon. Also a condensing of talks and other parts such as the poster time to allow for this “rest” time on the Saturday afternoon which it was felt was needed (particularly for the elderly). The way of the cross was also replaced by a condensed version of the Passion.  The healing service was held at night in order to allow as much time as was needed without the constriction of  a compliance with the lunch break. This brief report was submitted as a result from a trial in 2017 by Bathurst with the intention that it may appeal to others.

5. “Marriage as a sacrament” and then “The Plebiscite”.

There was considerable discussion after the topic was introduced by Rev. Steve Niland and supported by Bishop Ian in relation to the current Christian position on the plebiscite vote. It was rather lengthy but very informative and during the presentation it was inferred that the decision of individuals should be made from an assessment of bible-based Christian morality.

6. The two day option.

This had been trialled by Perth with considerable condensation. Only one song per talk, the talk was to be limited to strictly 10 minutes and no posters other than a poster depicting the theme of the weekend. There was no meal afterward and the weekend finished around 3.00 pm on the Sunday. The experiment was reasonably successful according to the presenter although was exhausting and did not seem to appeal to the meeting with much enthusiasm.

7.  Yearly meetings

It was decided to only have one National Secretariat meeting per year as from 2018 because it was no longer necessary to have more, in view of the declining numbers of 3day Cursillo weekends held each year. The 1+2+1 model was introduced when a number of Cursillo 3day weekends were the norm per year and assessment and suggested changes may have been necessary. New members of the National Secretariat executive are now given a 1 + 3 meeting tenure with the first meeting a “getting to know”the responsibilities of the position.

Meetings for the next 3 years will be :-

2018  Cairns for North Queensland. Around August date to be confirmed.

2019  Possibly Melbourne as a “palanca” from National Secretariat in the hope that Melbourne can be brought out of recession. If that cannot be arranged then Perth.

2020 Newcastle as a celebration of its 30 years anniversary. Secretariat meeting and National Gathering combined.

8. Election of National Lay Director. 

The meeting elected our own Jim Warland as the next NLD and for his tenure to commence in 2018 from the Cairns meeting. Jim takes over from Roger O’Hara our current NLD and we congratulate Jim on this very privileged position and look forward to his leadership as our prayers and good wishes accompany him in this role   

9.  Saturday night – Adelaide Cursillo arranged a very pleasant Saturday night social evening and dinner with a well presented series of songs by a local accomplished musician and song writer who entertained us during the evening. The Saturday night was a celebration  for SA Cursillo 25th anniversary.

Final Eucharist

Bishop Ian Palmer led us in the final Eucharist prior to lunch on the Sunday and wished us all a safe and secure journey as we returned to our homes.

Conclusion.

The weekend gathering was very well received by all in attendance. Adelaide Cursillo did a magnificent job organising the accommodation, catering and conferencing facilities. The  resulting  close binding of the various Cursillo representatives was evident and appreciated. The real benefit from these weekends comes in the form of  sharing ideas and giving support to those Cursillo groups around Australia that need assistance, especially in the form of combined prayer and confidence from experienced people.  Northern Queensland will host the next combined secretariat meeting in Cairns and Robyn and Marcia Hyde expressed an appreciation for the assistance Newcastle has been able to provide in their challenges relating to the establishment of Cursillo in that place.        De Colores & Ultreya!    Brian Walsh

M47 Report: “God is good all the time, All the time God is good.”   Men’s 47 Cursillo was held at Rathmines from 13th to 16th September…

Back in May the germ of a new Community was formed, Men’s 47, which was Christ, the Rock, centred. This community continued to grow and was enriched by having new friends who joined and became part of that community during our time at Rathmines. We all drew closer to our Lord as we shared and learnt from each other, of things in our lives and of our experiences of pilgrimage with Jesus. I must say that on our riotous Trivia night there was concern that the table of St Matthew had some secret link to Dr Google as they consistently out scored the rest of us.However we had to accept that they had youth, beauty, age and wisdom clustered on the one table which, of course, was God’s doing. It was unfortunate that our leader, David, developed a migraine on the Sunday due to the bright sunlight in his eyes, when we went out to meditate as we watched the sun coming up. As things had been ably put in place by him, the remaining programme continued smoothly. What a great week-end, all were blessed – praise be to God!                                                                                                                                                                                              Bruce Fraser – M47 Proctor

W47 Report: What an absolute pleasure it was to be the LayDirector for W47. I have to confess that when first asked I was filled with trepidation, nerves and a feeling of inadequacy but our God is amazing and once the team was established everything fell into place.

We were the first Cursillo weekend to be held at the Catalina Conference Centre at Rathmines and I must say it worked perfectly. The beautiful lake front venue, Peter the obliging manager and catering by ” Grinners” meant we were well looked after.

We were definitely covered by the Holy Spirit as the transformation of our 9 lovely candidates unfolded over the weekend. A strong and supportive team was an added bonus for me and I am very grateful to all for their patience, love and prayers.

De  Colores…..Jane Sinclair 🙂

M46 Cursillo was a very spiritual time. It was encouraging that we were able to share the weekend with the ladies of W46. Although there were only two candidates at the beginning, one had to drop out halfway through the weekend. So we ended up with just one! However we were just as committed to the weekend as if we had several more. Our theme statement was from Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.” Our Theme Song was “Guide me O thou Great Jehovah.” This is a natural song for men and we seemed to sing it better as the weekend went on. We sang all the songs with gusto and I am sure that our candidate will have good memories of the weekend. He will especially be inspired by the testimonies of the team members. I am sure that the team members grew spiritually over the weekend.

Bishop Peter celebrated the closing Eucharist and he was very encouraging with his sermon for the movement.   Tony Farmer – M46 Lay Director

A TIME APART AT W46.

When you have been away and then come home, how do you describe your experience?

You talk about what you have seen, what you have experienced, what you have learnt and the people you have met.

Well, I have “been away” at W 46 at Quorrobolong Retreat. What I saw was a beautiful place, an opportunity to step aside and experience God’s creation in a lovely rural bush setting in the Watagan Mountains. Tall gum trees and Australian bush. Accommodation was very comfortable and the food great!
The staff were friendly and accommodating.

What I experienced was a time apart giving everyone the opportunity to grow in their understanding and their love of God through the talks, worship and prayer times. People who came to the weekend a little hesitant went home with a new understanding of what being in the family of God means. They responded to the talks, the chapel times and their table communities with enthusiasm and showing a readiness to go out to share the Gospel. I saw the team who had come to our first training day, a rather diverse, disassociated group of individuals, really work as a cohesive unit to show God’s Love to all they came in contact with. I saw our S.A .s Michelle Hazel-Jawhary, Rosemary Gillham and Judy Walsh provide much support and inspiration. Rosemary saw us through team training but, sadly, had to withdraw through ill health. We were blessed that Judy Walsh was able to step in seamlessly at the last moment.

I learnt that God’s family gain insight and strength from being together praying learning and sharing. I met many people who were willing to be open, to listen, to contribute and to grow.

Another weekend where God’s presence and the Cursillo motto of make a friend, be a friend and take that friend gently to Jesus was achieved.

Ruth McFarlane.

The Diocesan Ultreya was held on Sat 18 November 2017 at the Cathedral.  The Dean of Newcastle,  Revd Canon Katherine Bowyer welcomed us.  Even after the change of dates there were over 100 present.

• Commissionings :  Our New DLD to replace Brian Walsh is Bill Nicolle. 
• New Secretariat Members commissioned were: Lyn & Steve Parsons, Chris Bullock and Colleen Read.
• Our new SA is Revd Michelle Hazel-Jawhary
• M47 LD is David Marsh and W47 LD is Jane Sinclair.

Bishop Election Synod:  was held on 24th & 25th November & elected Bishop Peter Stuart as our new Diocesan Bishop. Congratulations Bishop Peter, you have always been a great supporter of Cursillo.

Please keep Bishop Peter in your prayers as he prepares to lead the Diocese into a healthy future.

held on Friday 26th to Sunday 28th May 2017. There were 9 Dioceses of Australia represented and  included a total of 21 delegates and 4 guests and observers.
The conference was opened by the National Lay director Roger O’Hara and the opening Eucharist was led by Rev. Steve Niland.

The National Secretariat meeting included routine matters of national relevance, with  discussion on the condensing of the 3 day Cursillo weekend to 2 days.  Comments were noted from people who had already held 2 day Cursillo weekends as a trial. Reports of the results were both positive and negative. Positive because less time was needed, expenses were reduced, & working people had a better access to the 2 day weekend.

Negative from the teams point of view  in that while it was fruitful it was exhausting with little time for consolidation.
The overall result appeared to be one of individual evaluation. I got the impression that if the 3 day weekend was available (after considerations of cost and inconvenience were taken into account) it should be given preference.

Anyone who was a candidate of course was unable to make comparisons and experienced a well organised weekend with a richly enhanced faith uplift, albeit overcrowded with information.

The National Dropbox facility was discussed and is proving popular with all items of interest now available for instant download and printing, including the latest ACMA manual. This makes access to documents and information very accessible.
To access the Dropbox facility, select Dropbox by Google.
Include the user name of “nationalcursillo@gmail.com” and password  “livejohn316”  you may then select your item of interest for download and it is free.The Dropbox will be continually updated as various items are made available. This app is going to be very useful in the spreading of important information in the future and our servant communities will now be well informed from a national level.

There was considerable concern about Cursillo cells that were going into recess and the difficulties around restarting them. We are asked as a national body to prayerfully consider ways in which assistance can be given to revitalize these struggling centres.

There was also considerable interest in the workshops we held here in Newcastle after they were noticed in our Diocesan report.
Newcastle gave a resume of the workshops with almost all reps. present asking if they could get more information. It was evident that just as Newcastle was having difficulty establishing and understanding the true role of healthy Serving Communities, so was everybody else. Some Diocese had no such groups and their secretariats were doing the jobs of LSSC groups as well as their own responsibilities. Hence the LSSC groups became a very hot and pursued topic of interest. As a result and at the request of the meeting, Newcastle is providing information relating to the workshops so that it can be issued nationally.

The Cursillistas from Saint Mary’s Busselton hosted a very pleasant Saturday evening dinner for us at their nearby parish complex and welcomed us  again at the morning Eucharist in the adjoining historic Saint Mary’s church on the Sunday morning (est.1844).

The weekend conference concluded with a final Eucharist conducted by Rev. Sue Allen  and assisted by Rev. Steve Niland, followed by the commissioning of Rev. Steve  Niland as National SA and the decommissioning of Rev. Sue Allen from that role.
Unfortunately the National Spiritual Director Bishop Ian Palmer could not attend and gave his apology.
A huge vote of thanks was extended to Busselton for its organisation and hospitality.
The next National conference will be hosted by Adelaide on the 22nd to 24th September 2017.

Newcastle expressed an interest in hosting a national gathering in Newcastle in 2020 which will be our 30th birthday.
Newcastle will also continue to support North Queensland as it faces considerable difficulties about distance and enthusiasm from within its bounds. It is very grateful for assistance that has already been given. Robyn and Marcia Hyde from Nth Queensland are doing a sterling job keeping the Cursillo ideal alive under these very difficult conditions.
Ultreya and De Colores!  Brian Walsh and Lyn Carter. Co Lay-directors.

Kairos #10 (22-26 May) – Thank God for your support – We were blessed indeed by all the loving support that we received from so many people, locally and overseas. Many folk committed to pray for the week; and many also helped with agape in other ways including food and letters.

This week was especially significant in a number of ways. We had 18 men attend and there was not one who left, all staying the whole five days. The men were particularly open and engaged in their participation. We found this to be happening right from the beginning on the second day, really the first serious day following the introductions.

At the closing ceremony each man had something to say. This is itself is unusual. The comments were revealing and encouraging. Many, the majority, in the group were from overseas. A common comment focussed on a unity which had not been previously experienced. One man from SE Asia who has been inside for a considerable period sated that his time inside had been difficult, but this was definitely “his best week”!  Many of the men spoke of a “re-kindling” of their faith.

And the weather was fine.

God has been good to us in so many ways. The support of the Chaplain and the prison staff cannot be taken for granted.

Please continue to pray for this ongoing ministry. Journey Days which will be held each month; the first being Tuesday 20 June.

Every blessing.

Chris Bullock – (and a member of Kairos #10 team)