INDEX

Preparation and logistics distract. Attention to the clock for three days is tiring. Short nights are wearing. Disrupted personal Rollo discussions are unsatisfying. And improvising to expand Sunday afternoon content drains an already tired mind. I personally thanked God that we had no major decision-requiring events.
    And then Clausura. The introduction of Cursillo 100 to the diocese of Oklahoma was humbling. The thoughts expressed by the new pilgrims as they stood before their fellow Cursillistas left me awestruck. God had indeed used the team as his instrument.
    Clausura ended and I wrapped the cord around the wireless microphone (my companion for three days). I thought, "It's over." I felt tired. I felt let down. I felt relieved.
    For me that weekend was a tremendous emotional wave. There were events that caused surges of emotions with the ebb still higher than before. But it was Monday when I began my serious reflection. I knew I had forgotten many of the details and nuances of the past few days. But, my introspection truly began. God and I had many discussions. Sometimes they were quite long. The middle-of-the-night talks left me sleepy and tired. I don't know how God faired.
    But, Cursillo is Cursillo. You can use your own adjectives and superlatives. That picture you paint in your own mind will be more meaningful to you. Your picture might be a Grand Canyon or a heaven touching mountain. But, it's your picture. It has your meaning. It has your memories.
   But Cursillo 100? Did this, the one hundredth weekend in Oklahoma, have special meaning? Frankly, I hadn't given it much thought until I made this attempt to express it in words. Yes, this particular weekend did have added symbolic meaning. One hundred weekends surely marks success. Success gives us the right to call Cursillo worthwhile. Success allows and even demands dreams of the future. This pilgrimage marked the determination and commitment of our diocesan leaders to provide us with tools for our spiritual growth. It also reminds us of how enduring the Cursillo movement is throughout the world. One hundred teams, one hundred pilgrimages, so many Fourth Days and uncountable spiritual growth. How many times has St Crispin's heard "Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts..."?
    Again, yes, number one hundred was special. It marked a moment as we progress to that day when everyone will have responded "... and I on Him."

In the last issue of "The Rooster Tale" we told of the hope of going to full scholarship funding for future diocesan Cursillos. To date, that goal has not been achieved. The reasons given for desiring full scholarship financing were, "Our current financing of Cursillo places the burden directly on the candidates and team members. Some do not attend because they cannot afford it, and for team members to receive training in a step-by-step manner involves recurring expenses preventing some of the most capable from participating because of the costs. We have no provisions for logistical support to replace worn out or expendable items."
    The Diocesan Cursillo Secretariat, in its last meeting, decided that it would be necessary to return to participants paying their own way. However, the contributions that have been received will be used as intended, to scholarship those who cannot afford to otherwise participate and to replace worn out or expendable items. Continued tax-deductible contributions are encouraged and will be applied in the same manner.

I can't imagine facing the Fourth Day without the last three.

Come with an open mind, and boy did that help.

Thank you for all the spiritual valentines you've given me.

One of the clear memories as a boy growing up in McAlester, OK during the 1950's, was going into our small town post office and always seeing some kind of poster, usually with "Uncle Sam" pointing a finger at the passerby with an inscription saying something like "America Needs You ­ Enlist in the Army". I grew up during a time when American males were taught at an early age that just as our fathers had served our country in World War II and Korea, it was our patriotic duty to serve our nation by volunteering for military service. This was something that I and thousands of others did without regret, although many of us did not understand the full implications when we entered on that path.
    I believe we can draw some lines from that idea of voluntary military service to what is occurring with the Fourth Day Movement in Oklahoma. In the past few years Cursillo has been revitalized and enhanced in many ways. The fact that our weekends have been well organized and supported is a testimony to many people giving tirelessly for the good of others in order to promote and develop Christian leaders.
    One fact that does surprise me in this process is that the leaders of the church we are developing in fewer numbers, the men of the Episcopal Church. While we have filled each women's weekend held the past few years, we have struggled to find a large number of men for their weekends, and women have been predominate in number at our coed weekend held each fall. The church needs good leadership, from both men and women. If you agree with me that Cursillo is one of the best methods available for that development, won't you please give prayerful consideration to sponsoring a person for a weekend this winter. I urge you to consider especially men who have spiritual potential but have never been awakened to a deeper relationship with God.
    Remember the "Uncle Sam" poster I mentioned at the beginning? You have the opportunity now to visit directly with someone. Tell them a little of your own journey on this short course and ask them to volunteer. You can be the poster child for Cursillo. God delights when we are willing to share our blessings with others. I invite you to be a recruiter and a sponsor for a candidate waiting in Oklahoma for your kind word of encouragement.
Ultreya, Allen Mann

Two modern day revisions of St. Benedict's Rule have recently been published. Both are excellent resources for anyone wanting to establish a daily routine of meditation and prayer. The style of each is very distinctive.  I heartily recommend both.
    First, The Divine Hours, authored by Phyllis Tickle, provides a daily format for Morning Office, Noonday Prayers, Vespers and Compline. Written in four volumes (winter, spring, summer and fall), The Divine Hours blend the Psalms, Old and New Testament scripture with prayers from the Book of Common Prayer. Even if you can't use all four offices each day, you can pick either morning, noon or evening to establish a daily spiritual routine.
   The other book, Always We Begin Again, by John McQuiston, II, is a more basic book of meditations and guidelines to assist in developing a daily routine. His adaptation offers the flexibility for each person to develop their own meditation schedule. The small book "offers a way to incorporate St. Benedict's timeless wisdom in addition to time for work, friendship, growth of the mind and nurturing of the spirit through meditation and prayerfulness."

Here is a list of items you may wish to supply: Prayer, fresh fruit, including grapes, bananas, apples, oranges; all kinds of pop; Kleenex, both big boxes and little packets; placemats; colorful napkins; small soaps and shampoos; new color markers; big scissors; loose leaf notebook paper; paper flowers for Agape; various colors of construction paper; small sticky pads, 2x2 and 1x1; candles, both tall and the small, unscented 8 hour votives.

Little angels, placemats decorated with rainbows or roosters, pencils with De Colores, or bookmarks with an inspirational message. These are just a few of the table palanca that you might have collected during your Cursillo weekend. It was always an adventure going into the dining room and seeing what was on the table.
    How do these items get to Cursillo? Many people have taken on this ministry of table palanca. They make it their mission to provide various items to make a Cursillo a memorable one for candidates and team members. Reunion groups have also taken on this ministry as a way to continue their 4th day.
    If you would like to make or distribute something at any of the upcoming Cursillos, you might consider a few things. A full Cursillo usually consists of 45-50 people. If you are sending something for table palanca, please make enough for everyone involved. Make sure you mark it as table palanca so that the Chachas and Chachos will be able to specify it as such. If you know of a team member that will be attending the Cursillo, you may send the items with them. You could also send it with a sponsor of a candidate if he or she will be traveling to St. Crispin's to take the candidate. If those options aren't available, you may contact Pam Foutch, the Palanca chairperson for the Secretariat.  She will be able to get any items to the Cursillo.
    Please consider taking on this ministry for the upcoming Cursillos. It means so much to the candidates and team members to get this special palanca from all over the state.