My Cursillo Experience

This past weekend, I attended a Cursillo retreat here in Northern California. I had been on retreats before, most of them silent or self-directed, and I honestly did not know what to expect when I arrived on Thursday evening. Let’s just say I wasn’t exactly in the best of moods when I arrived that night! I just pray that I didn’t bite anyone’s head off… But a bit of back story is in order I suppose, huh?

You see, I already felt torn, because of a decision I needed to make regarding the retreat, due to a scheduling conflict with another conference which I was really looking forward to. That week, I decided (or should I say that the Holy Spirit led me to decide) to attend Cursillo. It would be a bit hectic, due to school, but I was up for it. Then that same afternoon, I am at the post office mailing some paperwork to Franciscan University (I still can’t believe I am going there in the fall) and I go back out to my car, get in, turn the key, and nothing happens. Ok, I think to myself, no big deal. I knew that something has happening with my battery or some related aspect of my car, as I needed to get a jumpstart the previous day. After about twenty minutes, I was able to get some jumper cables, hook it up, and then… nothing. The engine wasn’t even turning over. I was due in class in twenty minutes for a lab I had been looking forward to for a couple of weeks (shark dissection). Needless to say, I was a bit stressed.

Thank God, my step dad just happened to have the day off. We were able to get a tow truck out there, and took the car over to the Car Czar (an awesome place by the way). I borrowed my step dad’s truck, got to school, walked into Biology, and they were just finishing the lab that I had been so looking forward to. The alternative? A written assignment. Figures.

After my next class, I rushed home because I still had a few things to take care of. I also found out that the problem with my car was going to cost 160 dollars. Not good for a poor guy trying to figure out a way to raise 26,000 dollars for one year of school.

I’m telling myself by this point: take a deep breath, pray…

My co-sponsor then arrived at my front doorstep. Enrique was a wonderful guy, and we had some wonderful conversation. What he didn’t know though was that I had been awake since about 5:00am, and really really wanted to sleep. I was worried about paying for my car. I was stressed about finals. I was stressed about paying for Franciscan. I think at this point the LAST thing I wanted to do was spend an hour and a half car ride into the mountains to sleep in an unfamiliar place, in what was due to be a chilly weekend. As I often do, I was worrying too much, and not letting God handle everything.

Boy, was the Lord about to give me a wonderful surprise!

When I arrived, everyone was welcoming, and despite the fact that I was late due to my classes, they got me right into the swing of things. I arrived just before the final prayer of the day before silence began, and was able to get some wonderful time for reflection. I knew by this point that if this was to be a fruitful weekend, I needed to let go, and trust God.

Throughout the weekend, I met so many new friends, and many old friends from my parish back at St. Mel’s. We studied what it means to be a Catholic, and what it means to carry out piety, study, and action in our daily lives. There were wonderful moments of reflection and being with the Spirit, moments where I was able to really take stock of everything in my life. I was also able to grow in fellowship with my fellow brothers in Christ, and relate with them in regards to some of the daily struggles in life. I was able to lend support to those facing difficult times, and at the same time, was given so much support in this time of change and action in my own life. I never realized before how many people cared about my journey, and how may of them were praying for me and my vocation.

All I can say is that it is indeed a grace-filled weekend that I would never miss in a million years! You can only attend once as a participant, but it if you are open to it, Cursillo WILL change your life!

The experience of Cursillo is one of a kind. It focuses one on what really matters: doing the will of God, and spreading His message throughout the world. It is practical in the fact that a man (or woman) can really evaluate his (or her) life as a Christian, and work towards bettering himself, and bringing the message of Christ to those around him. It shows one how to be a true witness to our Lord. Cursillo, in my opinion, equips soldiers of Christ with the tools they need to spread the Gospel message.

It is so difficult to express in words the effect that Cursillo has had on me, only to say that it was truly profound. I have no doubt that I will use what I learned from Cursillo throughout my life.

I thank all my fellow Cursillistas. You have all touched me so deeply with your support in my discernment of my vocation to the Priesthood and as fellow brothers on this pilgrimage on Earth, and your awesome witness to our wonderful Catholic faith!

If you are reading this considering a Cursillo weekend, pray hard about it. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. If you are open to His promptings, I promise that you will not regret it!

Blessings and peace dear brothers and sisters in Christ. You all remain in my prayers.

De colores!

Pax et bonum,
Dean