Aug. 14, 2024 Eight years later, it’s still changing my life. In 2016, I was blessed to attend a Cursillo weekend held at Wadhams Hall. At the time, I had just returned to the Church from an extended period – around a decade – of not practicing any faith. I was desperate for a faith community, for people to walk with on this journey to Christ and to (hopefully) heaven. To be completely honest, if you had talked to me in the days or weeks immediately after the weekend, I would’ve said it was great, but I didn’t know how I felt about the movement and the people involved in it here in the North Country, and I certainly didn’t see it as life changing. But it was. An acquaintance and I became much deeper friends – she’s now one of my best friends – because she was invited to the same Cursillo weekend I attended. She didn’t want to go without knowing someone else there, and I attended mostly because of her. Now, we talk, text or get together for dinner regularly. I can’t imagine my life without her in it. If I look through the last several months of text messages, phone logs and social media messages, at least three people I would consider part of my “inner circle” are people I know only through Cursillo. These are people with whom I regularly pray, laugh, share struggles and get support. One of them has an uncanny ability to know when I’m struggling and randomly reaches out to offer support and love. I try to support him, as well, though I think he helps me more than I help him. He’s helped me immensely. Cursillo has also given me a layer of accountability. When gathering with other Cursillistas in small groups or other gatherings, it’s common to talk about what we’ve done for “piety, study and action” since we last met. It’s inspiring hearing what others have to offer, and it makes me think about how I’m living those aspects of my faith in the day-to-day. Talking to Cursillo Lay Director Michael Neaton about his experience at the movement’s National Encounter (click here to see the story on page 5), he talked about the major takeaway of the event being “energy.” While Cursillo regularly helps me energize my spiritual life, if you asked me what my key takeaways were/are, I’d say “love of Christ and each other.” Please join North Country Cursillo (and hopefully me) at a picnic scheduled for Aug. 17 at St. Patrick’s Church in Port Henry. Get to know the movement. I can’t guarantee it, but maybe it’ll change your life, too. |
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