Hugo Valverde gave the keynote address at the National Encounter in August on “Unity in Diversity.” He described unity as being combined into one and diversity as the inclusion of individuals. Hugo went on to say that we are the mystical body of Christ. He referenced 1 Corinthians chapter 12, where Paul describes this body as “one, though it has many parts.” We need to understand that we each have a unique set of gifts, talents and interests. Living in community, we need to respect one another. God places us where he wants us. Each of us is important for sustaining the Cursillo movement and for the work of the Lord.

Uniformity is not the same as unity in diversity. We need to have openness of heart without condemnation of others. The beauty of the Church is in unity: individuals united as one body. Further, Hugo explained that tolerance is not the same as acceptance.

After hearing this keynote address, we reflected on how we see unity in diversity alive in our Archdiocesan Cursillo movement. We thought about the recent Vietnamese women’s weekend. Their leaders were comfortable in asking for the assistance they needed from our community. Many in our community supported the Vietnamese by doing palanca and attending the Clausura.

The February 2018 Cursillo weekends at St. Joachim and Anne in Shakopee were supported by a liaison team from the Spanish community. They, along with other members of their community, did a great job supporting the English community for those two weekends.

We also see unity in diversity alive in the various leadership positions within our Archdiocesan Cursillo movement. Each member of Secretariat is an individual who uses their talents and abilities for the support and building up of our movement. Likewise, our Ultreya reps, Parish Ambassadors and countless others support our movement in various roles, using the gifts and talents that God has given them.

How can we do a better job in living out the challenge of unity in diversity? It begins in our environments. How do we welcome new neighbors? Do we make an effort to stop by their house and introduce ourselves? How about a new coworker? Do we try to get to know them by inviting them to lunch or coffee? Think of the various meetings that you attend, whether it’s in the workplace, church, or organizations in which you volunteer. Make an effort to really listen to others’ points of view, their ideas. Get to know one new person at each meeting.

In all the environments in which we live, (e.g. our family, neighborhood, work place) we should strive to resolve our differences, respecting each individual. There is strength in unity. We need to be light in the world, sharing the Good News, making Jesus Christ known and loved. How do we do this? By reaching out to others, bridging our differences, and making friends one at a time.

Yours in Christ,

Tom & Diane Repucci