My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

It’s November 2020.  It gets darker earlier in the day.  The weather trends towards damp and cold.  Nature prepares for hibernation. The pandemic continues. People hunker down. Outside activities slow down.  People may feel more alone, especially as the pandemic continues and the risk of isolation remains very real. The recent election stirred up strong, and sometimes polarizing, emotions and feelings. The joy of Christmas season is weeks away.

We must journey through several months of physical and sometimes emotional and spiritual darkness, before spring’s renewal.  “Normalization” from the pandemic is months away.  It can be a difficult journey for some.

Jesus tells us He is the light in our darkness. Jesus’ light and love burns bright in our souls if we allow it.  The flame from a single candle in a dark room brings heat, light and often feelings of hope and comfort.  Seeking Jesus, becoming more like Jesus, brings us hope and sustains us.  But that may not be enough for some.

Each of you holds the light of Christ in your heart.  He asks that we share that light with others.  As we hear in Chris Rice’s song, Go Light Your World:

“Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world”

I ask each of you, as we move through the final months of a difficult 2020, be that light of Christ for someone.  You never know the positive impact you may have on someone by taking action.

Take your candle and call someone who is alone, offer palanca for someone and tell them about it, safely help the marginalized, forgive somebody, reconcile a relationship, invite a new person to your group reunion/4th Day, be kind to everyone, and pray that you will be that light of Christ for someone.

We have School of Leaders this Thursday, November 12. Details are below.  We are discussing Actual Grace and Piety rollos and the role of the Service Team.  Would you please join us?

The North America and Caribbean International Group of Cursillo in Christianity is holding a very international and uplifting Virtual Encounter 2020 on November 17. Details are below.

Our first online Ultreya is scheduled for Monday, November 23. Details below.  We are looking forward to seeing all of you!

Please see below for an update on the Spring 2021 weekends.

The Secretariat is discerning for both the Post-Cursillo Chair and the Three-Day Chair. These are opportunities to serve our community and be a steward to the Cursillo Charism.   Won’t you please prayerfully consider serving our Community? Please see below.

Please be safe and please continue being that Light of Christ – living your Post-Cursillo – to all you meet.  You will be the light of Christ to someone whom you least expect.

You are in my daily prayers.

Sincerely and De Colores,
Larry Cargnoni

P.S. For your convenience, the list of Group Reunions (4th Day Groups) can be found now at this link: www.sanjosecursillo.org/fourth-day/.

Upcoming Events

School of Leaders will gather and continue the structure and activities for Friday, the Day of Faith.

• Doctrinal Talk: Actual Grace
• Technique Talk: Piety Rollo and the Role of the Service Team

School of Leaders is open to everyone, including new and experienced Cursillistas, especially those who desire to serve a weekend.

• 6:45PM – 7:00PM: Login, Technical Support, Socialize
• 7:00PM – 8:30PM: School of Leaders Presentation

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84507185877

If you can, please RSVP on Facebook.

We hope and pray that you can join us in celebrating friendship in a climate of Ultreya on November 20-21, 2020.

You must register with NAGC to get all the information:

• For additional information, please LIKE their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/NACGOMCC and / or visit www.nacg.mx for more registration information.
• Registration Form: https://tinyurl.com/y57kh94a

Your timely registration will allow our committee the ability to create breakout sessions and plan accordingly based on number of attendees, countries, etc.

The registration deadline is November 17th.

T-Shirt orders do not have a deadline, but there is a date of November 9th to guarantee U.S. delivery in time for the Virtual Encounter.  See links above for more information.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89838332067…

We recognize that 2020 has been a surreal year to our families.

Join your fellow Cursillistas for our Fall 2020 Virtual Ultreya on Monday, November 23, 2020 celebrating an evening of fellowship and music as we walk together in Christ.

We will post the link in the near future so that all of you may be able to attend.

We will begin some social time at 6:45PM to 7:00PM followed by prayer, meditation, sharing in small groups, witness or keynote speakers. We will offer our individual petitions followed by a rousing ‘De Colores’. We will also have a Q&A with the Secretariat afterwards.

Here’s our tentative schedule:

• Gathering Song
• Opening Prayer
• Testimony Speakers
• Meditation
• Sharing via Breakout Rooms
• Closing Prayer
• Q&A by Secretariat

If you can, please RSVP with Facebook.

Updated – St. Christopher’s Parish Prayers at Home

Please share this message to other Cursillistas who might be interested.

Update: Spring 2021 Weekends

The health and safety of teams, candidates, Community, families, and the Sisters continue to guide the Secretariat.  The situation with the COVID-19 pandemic remains fluid. While various businesses and organizations are “opening up” in the Counties of Santa Clara and Santa Cruz, the Secretariat is very concerned about holding the Spring 2021 weekends.  The Secretariat is committed to review the situation each month.

As of this writing, there is no vaccine available. Even if a vaccine were available in early 2021, we realize that a there will be a period time when we all will be in a “wait and see” situation. There will be no “step function” when all will be vaccinated.  Our movement has a significant number of Cursillistas who are in the “at risk” category.  Moreover, we will follow the guidance and rules from the Dioceses of San Jose and Monterey and the Counties of Santa Clara and Santa Cruz.

*Could* we put on a weekend, if we were approved by the Diocese of San Jose and the County of Santa Clara?  Probably, with significant changes: number of team members and structure, liturgy, number of candidates, Mañanitas, potluck, team formation, handoff/Clasura, Saint Clare operations, and any personal contact, just to mention a few of the items the Secretariat reviewed.

*Should* we put on a weekend?  At this point the answer we continue to trend towards is “no”.  We trend towards “no” due to safety concerns and our desire to ensure that everyone impacted by the weekend, from formation through potluck, for all principles and their families and friends, are comfortable and safe.  We also trend towards “no” because the miracle of the weekend invariably depends on the closeness of team and candidates.  It requires building  trust through the gathering, celebrating and growing as community, through vulnerable, intimate and private discussions, and through community liturgy, dining, and other activities.

We all desire the next weekend.  We will get there in time. If conditions change favorability, we will desire to pivot and work to get a weekend planned later in 2021.  In the meantime, we ask that Community focus on living its Post-Cursillo. Grow through Piety, Study, Action and “Preach the Gospel at all times.  When necessary, use words.”

Prayer Requests

You may also submit prayer requests on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/SanJoseCursillo

St Clare Retreat House Update

They’ve also started construction of the new elevator in St Agnes hall, completed the reroofing the chapel and other buildings, procuring new washers dryers, and working with the County of Santa Cruz to secure final permits to complete the changes to the kitchen.

The Sisters are also working through and documenting the process and operational details of what it means to operate in the current COVID-19 environment. They would like to start retreats in January 2021, but they need and will follow directions of the Diocese of Monterey and the County of Santa Cruz.

Cursillo Links and Resources

You’ll find books and manuals for purchase the National Cursillo Movement and the Eduardo Bonnin Aguilo Foundation websites below.

The NACG Cursillo North America and Caribbean organization holds weekly Ultreya on Wednesday evening at 6PM Pacific. A truly international flavor! See its Facebook page for more information.
San Jose Filipino Cursillo Movement
www.dsjfcm.org
www.facebook.com/San-Jose-Filipino-Cursillo-Movement-683582764994470/

San Jose Vietnamese Cursillo Movement
www.viet-cursillo.com

San Jose Korean Cursillo Movement
https://sites.google.com/site/sanjosekoreancursillo/

San Jose Spanish-speaking Cursillo Movement
Note: we can’t locate a website for the San Jose Spanish-speaking Cursillo Movement.
Please contact us if you have information.

Secretariat Update

Please reach out to Larry Cargnoni for more information if you are interested. You can contact us and find a summary of the role at www.sanjosecursillo.org/secretariat.

Posting Guidelines

• Posting Guidelines – Nov 1, 2019

2021 Spring Weekend Dates

Stay Connected

Stay up-to-date with our events by integrating the San Jose Cursillo event calendar to your personal calendar via Google Calendar or iCal.