Anniversary of the Cursillo Movement

Fiesta de Colores Celebrates
Fiesta de Colores Celebrar
Anniversary of the Cursillo Movement
Aniversario Del Movimiento de Cursillos
en la Diócesis de Corpus Christi
Serving the Diocese of Corpus Christi
By Consuela Martinez
M
y Dear Brothers and Sisters
in Christ... it is
hard to believe that fifty years
have passed since the Cursillo
Movement began in the diocese. Monsignor Patrick Higgins wrote some historical data that was published
in an anniversary book where he communicates
some important background
of its roots and significance to
our area. Monsignor Higgins
committed many years to the
movement as spiritual director
and spoke of its experience with
great joy. He said that when one
heard the melody of the theme
song “De Colores” of the Cursillo Movement being sung in churches, meetings and catholic radio
programs, it gave evidence of the effect of the
movement to so many people of our diocese. The
following information comes from Monsignor
Higgins’ early history of the movement.
In January 1949, the first cursillo was held thus
At the 25th Anniversary of the Cursillo
movement in Laredo from L-R: Consuela
Martinez; Agustin Palomino, who brought
the Cursillo Movement to the United
States; Fr. Vladimiro Manente, first Spiritual
Director of the Diocese and member
of the National Advice Board; Eduardo
Bonin, founder of the Cursillos Movement;
and center, back with black glasses is Fr.
Juan Ayerbe, who was the Corpus Christi
area Spiritual Director for 11 years.
the birth of the Cursillo Movement in Spain; it
grew out of Catholic action groups of the late
30’s and early 40’s. It started in Mallorca and later
continued in Ciudad Real, Spain under Bishop
Juan Hervas. The Cursillo Movement started its
work of renewal mainly during the reign of Pope
First womens
English Cursillo in
the Diocese of
Corpus Christi in
1966
First Mens Spanish Cursillo
at the new center March
23, 2007.
John Paul preceding the second Vatican Council which began
in 1960. The Cursillo has been refined and changed some,
but is still basically the same as the first original cursillo given
by the young Catholic of action group that included Eduardo
Bonin, one of the founders of the movement.
In the Diocese of Corpus Christi, the Cursillo Movement, as
part of the Christian formation division, continues to be a part
of the work of renewal. Since Bishop Thomas J. Drury came to
the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas in 1965, the movement
grew in depth with his strong endorsement. Father Charles
McNaboe, the first cursillo’s spiritual director handed over the
spiritual directorship of the
Spanish movement to Father
Mgsr. Patrick Higgins
Thomas Fernandez O.M.I.,
committed many years
then pastor of Holy Family
Church in Corpus Christi.
to the movement as
Monsignor Albert Schmitt,
spiritual director
pastor of the Cathedral of
Corpus Christi assumed the
duties of the English movement from 1963-1970. Msgr. Patrick
Higgins, became the next spiritual director up to 2005 when he
passed away leaving a great legacy of love and commitment for
Cursillos. His leadership involved a team of many priests in the
movement, i.e., Father John Walsh, Seamus McGowan, John
Killeen, Ed Kircher, Joe Berger, Louis Joseph, Father Hamilton,
the late Father Ambrose Branza,O.S.B., Father Frank Martinez
and Father Prince Kuruvila and Deacon Pete Ybarra, Linard
Harper, Noel Breland and Armando Botello. Presently, we are
very grateful to have Father Ralph Jones S.O.L.T. as the English
Cursillo Movement’s Spiritual Director.
There has been 308 men Cursillos and 247 women Cursillos
English and Spanish, celebrated in the diocese. Over 8,000 men
and over 7,500 women have made a Cursillo in the Diocese
of Corpus Christi. Most of the Cursillo leaders of the Corpus
Christi Diocese have availed themselves of the opportunities to
expand their knowledge of the basic principles of Christianity
Men and women pictured above attended the 25th
Aniversary of the Cursillo Movement in Laredo.
in order to persevere and continue working diligently with
the movement, within the family, as well as spreading God’s
kingdom in their respective environments.
Leaders have had the opportunity of attending workshops
and national conferences all over the
United States. A large delegation attended the World Ultreya in Mexico
First mens
City in 1970 where they had the opEnglish Cursillo
portunity to meet Eduardo Bonin
in the Diocese of
and Bishop Juan Hervas from MalCorpus Christi in
lorca, principal founders of the Cur1964
sillo Movement, before they passed
away. One of our own Corpus Christi’s
cursillista Mr. Victor Lugo is presently
the Executive Director of the National
Cursillo Movement’s Office located in
Dallas, Texas.
Today because of Bishop Edmond
Carmody’s continuous concern toward
diocesan Evangelization, his gracious
support caused the movement to
First Mens English Cursillo
at the new center Aug.
30 - Sept. 2, 2007.
First Womens Spanish
Cursillo at the new center
April 26-29, 2007.
By Consuela Martinez
C
The new Bishop Drury Cursillo
Center was completed in
2007 and is now used for
Cursillos as well as retreat
programs such as Search
and Journey to Damascus.
Workers are putting
the final touches to
the new Bishop Drury
Cursillo Center.
Three-hundred people attended the
groundbreaking of the Cursillo Center by Bishop
Edmond Carmody.
Bishop Carmody Blesses
the Bishop Drury Cursillo
Center in 2007.
After the blessing
of the Center
everyone
went inside for
refreshments.
build a new Cursillo Center. The new Center is a blessing of
opportunity to collaborate with Evangelization movements
that are using the facilities for week-end retreats, i.e., Walk to
Emmaus, Youth groups, Acts, Journey to Damascus, and many
other Evangelizations groups. With deep gratitude to Bishop
Edmond Carmody the movements’ purpose to evangelize has
become a joint effort throughout the diocese.
Come and join the diocesan community celebrate the 50th
Anniversary of the Cursillo Movement with a “Fiesta De
Colores” on Sunday, July 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at
the new Bishop Thomas J. Drury Cursillo Center located at
1200 Lantana Blvd. next to St. Theresa Parish and Our Lady
of Corpus Christi Perpetual Adoration Chapel. The fiesta starts
at 10:00 a.m. with the celebration of the Mass and ends at 7:00
p.m. Come and visit with the many Cursillistas you’ll have
the opportunity to see after many years of having lived your
Cursillo Week end. Come see the new center, come and enjoy
the live music, food, games, and so many wonderful memories
the Lord has given us through the gift of “Cursillo”.
Christ Is Still Counting On You! De Colores!
First Womens English
Cursillo at the new
center Nov. 4-7, 2007.
arisimos Hermanos… Con un gran
júbilo anunciamos
que el Movimiento de los Cursillos de Cristiandad celebran
50 años de servir a la Diósesis
de Corpus Christi.
Al estudiar el encadenamiento vivo del proceso dinámico
que desencadenó aquel primer Cursillo de 1949 en la Isla de
Mallorca, España, fue en verdad el punto de arranque de un
sin fin de gracias de Dios que el mismo Espiritu Santo nos mandó del cielo. Gracias a
un grupo de Cristianos jovenes, entre ellos
Eduardo Bonin bajo la autoridad del Obispo
Juan Hervas, los cursillos fueron puestos al
servicio de la Verdad hecha vida en la Iglesia,
mucho antes del Concilio Vaticano II. Desde
entonces los Cursillos han ido provocando
tal dinamismo que, por necesidad ineludible, se vinieron
proclamando y contagiando a todos los que los atendian. De
tal experiencia del Cursillo, Uno a uno, de persona a persona,
de grupo a grupo, de pueblo a pueblo, se extendio la inquietud
que el encuentro con Cristo y con los hermanos iba sucitando
por la cantidad de personas y ambientes que movia y removia.
Asi fue como comenzaron a proclamar y contagiar los Cursillos
extendiendosé por todo el mundo.
Los Cursillos llegaron a los Estados Unidos en 1957 a Waco,
Texas atravez de dos cadetes Españoles, Agustin Palomino y
Bernardo Vadell, quien estudiaban en una base aérea cerca de
Austin, Texas. Los dos cadetes fueron trasladados a Laredo,
Texas en 1959 y ellos, con la ayuda del Padre Vladimiro Manente como director spiritual, empezaron los Cursillo en Laredo
(entonces parte de la Diócesis de Corpus Christi). El Padre
Charles McNaboe con el Padre Manente y un grupo de hombres
de Corpus Christi en junio del mismo año 1959, pusieron un
cursillo en la Academia de los Benedictinos en Lantana Blvd.,
precisamente en seguida de donde ahora se ha construido el
nuevo centro de cursillos. Después de veinte (20) cursillos
de hombres, un grupo de mujeres decidieron ir a la dióceses
de Austin en Round Rock y vivieron su cursillo. Ese grupo
fue el que con el permiso del Senor Obispo Mariano Garriga
empezaron los cursillos de mujeres en la Diócesis de Corpus
Christi en 1964.
Bajo la dirección del Padre Tomás Fernandez y la
escuela de dirigentes de español traducieron los rollos del
cursillo y pusieron el primer cursillo de inglés para hombres
en la diócesis. Tubieron mucho éxito, y en 1966 se llevo acabo
el primer cursillo para mujeres en Inglés en la Casa de Retiros
“Bishop Elliot” de Rockport, Texas. El Msgr. Albert Schmitt
de la Catedral, quien asistió al Padre Fernandez en el cursillo,
fue nombrado el director espiritual del Movimiento para los de
habla inglés. Después de la muerte del Senor Obispo Garriga,
vino el Obispo Thomas J. Drury a la diócesis. El fue el que
apoyó y animó mucho a la comunidad cursillista. El presente
Obispo Edmond Carmody, DD. es el que hizo posible que los
cursillos tubieran un centro nuevo para seguir adelante hoy
dia. El Señor Obispo Carmody nos ofreció un terreno donde
hemos podido construir el “Thomas J. Drury Cursillo Center”.
Alli será la FIESTA DE COLORES donde celebraremos el 50
Aniversario.
Gracias a todos los directores espirituales que se comprometieron a ayudar en el movimiento como: el Padre Vladimiro
Manente, P. Tomas Fernandez, P. Angel Villalba, P. Juan Suarez,
P. Juan Ayerbe, Jairo Mota,
Fr. Vladimire Manente, P. Angel Montano, P. Jose
Director Expiritual de los Angel Ortiz, P. Oscar VilCursillos de Cristiandad lalobos, P. Naul Ordones, P.
en la Diocesis de Corpus Henry Flores y P. Edwardo
Montemayor y nuestro
Christi.
presente Director Espiritual P. Fernando Gamez, quien appreciamos muchisimo por
su constante servicio y ayuda. Muchos diáconos han ayudado
y siguen ayudando, como son,
D. Juan Vasquez, D. Manny Maldonado, D. Mario Rivera, D.
Manuel Carranco, y el D. Armando Botello y muchos mas dificil
de nombrar aqui, les agradecemos profundamente.
El Movimiento de Cursillos llegó a la diócesis como un
valioso instrumento de Envangelización, un Nuevo Pentecostes. En los años 60’s y 70’s las Iglesias solían estar vacias,
el efecto de los cursillos comenzaron a llenar los templos. El
movimiento infundia espiritu y vida, trayendo conocimiento
del infinito valor de ser hijos de Dios y la dicha de vivir la
Gracia. El Cursillo concientizó la convivencia de lo fundamental Cristiano trans-formando y evangelizando individuos,
familias, ambientes; envolviendo a los laicos con sus familias
en los ministerios de las parroquias; produciendo vocaciones
en la diocesis de religiosas, sacerdotes y diáconos. Muchos
movimientos nacieron en la Iglesia asimi-lando la eficacia del
modelo y método del movimiento de los Cursillos de Cristiandad. Gracias a Dios, hoy dia la Iglesia esta rica de muchos
vehiculos de renovación.
Hemos celebrado 308 Cursillos para hombres y 247 para
mujeres en Español y en Inglés. Aproximadamente, arriba
de 8,000 hombres y 7,500 mujeres han pasado un cursillo. Le
damos gracias a Dios por todo lo conseguido en estos pasados
cincuenta años y un profundo agradecimiento a todos los que
se han sacrificado, a los que tuvieron la valentía de comprometerse, a cuantos han venido colaborando y ayudando, a
los que han resado multitud de oraciones para poder seguir
adelante. Invitamos a toda la diócesis, vengan a celebrar el 50
aniversario en la “Fiesta DeColores” que se llevara acabo en
el Nuevo Centro de Cursillo; “Bishop Thomas J. Drury, 1200
Lantana Blvd, Corpus Christi, Texas, el 27 de Julio, 2008.
Habrá música en vivo, mucha comida, juegos, etc! Vengan a
ver a muchos hermanos Cursillistas que tienen muchos años
de no verlos. Podrán gozar de una inolvidable convivencia!
…De Colores !
First Mens
Spanish
Cursillo in the
Diocese of
Corpus Christi
in 1957
First womens
Spanish
Cursillo in the
Diocese of
Corpus Christi
in 1964
Weekly Leader School and Ultreyas Spanish and English.
“Ustedes no me
escogieron a mi, soy
Yo Quien los escogi a
ustedes”
– (Jn. 15:16).
Cursillo Fiesta de Colores
The Cursillo movement of the Diocese Of Corpus Christi will be celebrating its 50th anniversary
with a Fiesta de Colores, Sunday, July 27, from
9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Bishop T. Drury Cursillo
Center, 1200 Lantana Rd. in Corpus Christi. We
will be having barbecue chicken plate with all the
trimmings. A queen contest - will be coronated at
the event and a raffle fund raiser (can be purchased
from any member.) There will be children’s games
consisting of: moonwalk, darts, spin-the-wheel,
dunking booth to name a few, cake walk, silent
auction, rummage sale, lots of food and of course
live music. Come enjoy sharing: music, food, raffle,
games, barbeque...etc!!
Special attraction:
Linda Escobar y Eligio Escobar Jr.
Vengan a celebrar el 50
anniversario de los Cursillos
en Ntra. Diocesis. Ven a
compartir y convivir con
todos los hermanos.
“Cristo Cuenta Contigo”
Weekly Ultreyas Groups
Spanish Weekly Ultreyas Groups meet in: Alice
at St. Joseph Parish on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.; in
Corpus Christi at the Bishop Cursillo Center on the
last Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.(sharing); in
Mathis at Sagrado Corazon on Friday, at 7:00 p.m.; in
Beeville at St. James Parish on Monday at 7:00 p.m.; in
Kingsville at St. Joseph Parish on Saturday at 7:30 a.m.
(sharing); in Sinton at Guadalupe Hall on Wednesday
at 7:00 p.m. Para más información, favor de llamar
a la persona encargada del pre-cursillo, Juanita
Escobar al 361-241-6185.
English Weekly Ultreyas Groups meet in: Corpus
Christi at Holy Family Parish on Monday, at 7:00
p.m. (bilingual) and in Corpus Christi at Our Lady of
Perpetual Help Parish on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of
the month at 7:00 p.m.; in Robstown at St. Mary’s Mission on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. For
more information call: Dan Serrato at 361-815-6846
or Connie Serrato at 361-813-4665.
Fundraiser activity and Barbeque
Cursillo trip to Progresso