After attending the reunion for the last set of weekends, we are again struck by the sense of community. We attended mass with the parish community of Mary, Mother of the Church, and Fr. Jim Perkl gave a homily that included references to the Cursillo weekend and its mountain top experience which was very coincidental since the Gospel was the Transfiguration. A few of the apostles got a glimpse of heaven that day. The candidates and team had a similar view on the weekend.

Have you really thought about how were we able to make this happen on a 3-Day Encounter Weekend? A team of people came together, prayed a lot, and through a common focus and energy, created a view of heaven on earth. Obviously, the Holy Spirit did all the heavy lifting, but worked through the team that formed community in preparation for the weekend, and continued to form community with new Cursillistas as the weekend progressed.

It is fun to work weekends for the very reason of being on the mountaintop again. Most of the things we do in life do not involve visits to the mountaintop. Our journey is always to climb a little higher with our friends, learning from the struggles and enjoying the blessings as we go.

As Cursillistas we are called to come together, not only in our small groups, but in our Ultreyas and School of Leaders, and through the Holy Spirit form community and welcome people into our lives. That is what apostolic action is all about and how the Cursillo method works. We are called to make friends, both new people and Cursillistas, individually and through community, to accompany us up the mountain.

As we journey along, Ultreya and School of Leaders are not optional things that we do when we feel like it. They are our response to God calling us to come up the mountain, just as He called Jonah to journey to proclaim the message to Nineveh. We are graced with what we need in these places, we grace others with what they need, and God goes before us preparing the way.

Work with God’s plan, don’t run from His call. This Lent, sacrifices like fasting, penance, and almsgiving can teach you much for the journey. Please also consider giving the gift of your presence to His people regularly in grouping, attending Ultreya, and School of Leaders. Be open to the people He puts in your path, to accept and love them as brothers and sisters in Christ. We are all travelers on the journey to the mountain of heaven.

God bless you friends!

Larry & Jeanne Bendzinski