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I’ve always loved how Easter coincides with Spring, the message of new life in Christ amplified by nature coming alive all around us.  It’s as if, after the death of winter, Creation itself proclaims the rising of the Son of God by bursting into life anew!

It feels especially so this year, as we start to emerge from the isolation of this past year.  On Holy Saturday, when I am able, I like to spend the day in the tomb with Jesus.  Just sit in the darkness with Him, as if I didn’t know about the light about to stream forth.  It’s often a time of profound reflection, to ponder, if only for a moment, where I would be without the light of Christ.  But if I use the time well, I can see everything broken, everything that needs to be healed.  And soon enough the joy follows.  Jesus touches my wounds, and I touch His.  We are joined together in the miracle of the resurrection, and death is no more.  Only transformation.  New life.  The kingdom of God.

In some ways this whole past year seems like one long day in the tomb, and I find myself asking who I am as it comes to an end.  Am I the same person who locked down a year ago?  If not, what has changed?  Where was God in all of it?  What kind of experience of faith did the pandemic bring to my life?

God invites us to intimacy every minute of every day, but we don’t always take the opportunity to respond.  We all had a different experience of this past year.  Some have experienced loss that they may not yet even begun to process.  Others faced the dangers presented with courage and faith.  For me, it was an opportunity to respond to Christ.  To sit with him, expose my fears, explore my brokenness, gather strength from Him, and deepen our connection.  So no, I can’t possibly be the same person I was a year ago.  I have once again been transformed by His unconditional love and grace.  My Lord and my God!

He is Risen, truly He is.  Alleluia!

 

On March 24, 2021, the tenth session of the St. Paul’s Spiritual Enhancement Series was held over Zoom conferencing. The theme was, “The Gift of the Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday & Easter Sunday.” Joe Amato led a discussion with Men’s Cursillo Spiritual Team Member, Deacon Pat Gerace.

Deacon Patrick Gerace is currently serving at St. Mark’s Roman Catholic Church in Shoreham, NY, bringing with him over 30 years involvement with the Cursillo experience. Pat spent 20 years as a Police Officer in the NYPD, receiving 12 medals and numerous commendations. His assignments included time at the 48th and the 103rd precincts, with eventual retirement after 12 years from the NYPD’s ESU (Emergency Service Unit), which required EMT training. Pat has been on staff at Hope House Ministries in Port Jefferson, NY, for over 30 years. With a bachelor’s degree in counseling, he is a CASAC (certified drug and alcohol counselor). His years of service to the Hope House Ministries family includes launching the Montfort House program where he was the  Program Director, serving as Program Director at Pax Christi Hospitality Center, working as House Manager at the Hope House Community House, and currently working as a Substance Abuse Counselor at the Counseling Center and Hope Academy. Hope House is truly blessed to have this remarkable, kind, compassionate and loving gentleman on board. Deacon Pat has been a wonderfully positive influence for so many whom he has helped on their way to recovery.

Joe asked Deacon Pat about his Cursillo, his career as a NYC Police Officer, his family & his call to ministries as a deacon and his work at Hope House. They spent time going through Holy Week—Church traditions, their emotion connections to each day & their personal experiences. This was a beautiful way to prepare for & enter Holy Week.  Joe concluded the evening with reflective questions on The Last Seven Words of Jesus.

If you were unable to join us that night, I highly recommend watching it. The session has been posted on our YouTube channel (“St. Paul’s Cursillo Community”) at the link below. Take some time to watch our  previously recorded sessions as well and please share it with others!

https://youtu.be/0DyE_V6BQRo

 

On February 24, 2021, the ninth session of the St. Paul’s Spiritual Enhancement    Series was held over Zoom conferencing. The theme was, “The Gift of Life In God’s Friendship: Grace, Gratitude, Prayer.” Joe Amato led the discussion with three Cursillistas: Peggy Bergin–Sementilli, Doreen Mullarney & Michael Hoffner.

Peggy Bergin-Sementilli holds a Master’s Degree in Systematic Theology from St. John’s University and has been a faculty member at St. Francis Preparatory School for over 30 years, where she has enjoyed teaching Religious Education. While teaching has always been her calling, Peggy previously worked as a corporate event planner while volunteering in parish work and youth ministry through the Module Youth Program and a YACA team member. In addition to being a lifelong student of theology and spirituality, Peggy enjoys travel, cooking, dance, yoga and trying to garden—all  activities which have helped to deepen and express her relationship with God. Her greatest joys are in her relationships as a friend, sister, mother to two wonderful daughters and as wife to her husband of 25 years.

Doreen (Baxter) Mullarney made her YACA weekend in 1980. She was a Team member for the YACA program and Rectora for the ODAT retreats. She moved to NJ 30 years ago & is a mom to three grown children. Doreen worked as a therapist for 37 years and, for the last 24 years, is working as a school counselor in a high school. She works with teens and families struggling with substance use and mental health issues.

Michael Hoffner received his Master’s Degree in Social Work from Fordham University. He is the director and co-founder of the Community Growth Center, a non-profit center for spiritual and personal growth. Michael is the author of the book God’s Presence in the Present: Contemplative Prayer and the Healing Process. Michael also works with Adelphi University as the Coordinator of Spirituality Services. Michael’s professional purpose and calling is to bridge mental health, personal development and spiritual growth into one integrated process, in order to help facilitate growth and transformation.

Joe  challenged his guests to share experiences of Grace —and all shared personal and extremely vulnerable times in their lives. Despite deep, life-altering challenges, each shared the profound gratitude that they have in their lives and how God is a constant presence for them—and the need for prayer to maintain that relationship.

If you were unable to join us that night, I highly recommend watching it. The session has been posted on our YouTube channel (“St. Paul’s Cursillo Community”) at the link below. Take some time to watch our  previously recorded sessions as well and please share it with others!

https://youtu.be/UinMMajl5Zc

 

Unable to meet in person due to the Covid pandemic, our Married Couples’ team put together a one day retreat via ZOOM on Saturday, February 27th. We had a total of sixteen couples in attendance. The retreat began just before 9:00 am and ended at 5:30pm.

The talks for the retreat were based on chapters from the book, “Tips for a Happy Marriage.” Each of our team couples presented reflections from one of the topics that spoke to them. They shared their own stories as they related how they have grown together and how they continue to try to meet the challenges of growing in love together.

Ed and MaryAnne Caskin’s talk was entitled, “Check Your Expectations at the Door.” They asked the couples to discuss when they have had their expectations exceeded and when they may have had to adjust expectations.  Rich and Rosemary Maikis gave a talk entitled, “Make a Decision to Love.” Questions Rich and Rosemary raised included, “What couple decision can we make to get closer to each other?” and “What form of selfishness keeps us from making the decision to love?” Rob and Liz Palumbo spoke about, “Recognizing that Winning is for Losers.” Some questions that Rob & Liz raised were: “What are some trivial issues we can let go of?” and “What changes can we make in our style of arguing so that the marriage is the winner?” All of the talks identified the need to keep God at the center of the marriage.

After each talk, couples were given 25 minutes to discuss the questions raised with their spouse.  All the couples were then assigned to one of four Breakout Rooms where they  discussed their reactions to the talk and questions with the other couples in that group.

There was a two hour break for lunch and time away from the computer screen!  The afternoon also featured a fun game of “Name that Tune,”  generously hosted by Theresa McHugh.

The closing ritual was centered on praying together as a couple. Darlene and I gave a brief talk on the importance of praying together as a couple and our experiences with couple prayer, as well as our renewed commitment to pray together each day. The ritual was very moving and involved husband and wife touching various parts of each other’s body while praying for their spouse—i.e. touching each other’s mouth while praying, “May you speak with love, proclaim the truth and make your needs known.  May you laugh at the absurdities of life and taste life with joy and enthusiasm.”

The retreat closed with a big group share in which each participant had the chance to share on, “What happened between you, your spouse and God during this retreat?”

We are grateful to all the couples who braved a full day zoom together. We are so   thankful to our team couples for their continued help and support in making the retreats meaningful.  I personally get thanked far too often simply because I am part of “Darlene & Mike.”

I am grateful to my wife for all the time and effort she puts into making every Married Couples’ event a very productive and meaningful one. I am blessed by her love.

Here are some comments from some participants:

 “Rich and I would like to thank Darlene and Mike and all the speakers for the wonderful job on the couples retreat. It was the first time we participated and hope it will not be the last. The talks reminded us to invite GOD to our marriage by praying together, to be patient and forgiving to our spouses. One of the exercises took us to the day we were married bringing back wonderful memories.

Hope to see you all in person soon! Until then thanks to ZOOM and to all the dedicated people running the meetings. De Colores!”  – Rich and Norma Scally

 

“Each year at the married couples retreat, we are reminded of the day we married: the walk down the aisle, the vows, the honeymoon. It gives us a chance to remember how much we love each other and how far we have journeyed as husband and wife. And always it’s wonderful to be in retreat with other married couples who have    invited God into their marriage.”  – Liz and Rob Palombo

 

 

As I am writing this reflection two “important” dates are coming up: Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday.

Why would I put those two days as important or give them the same “weight” you may ask.  I believe they are related. Although in our secular world Valentine’s Day has become a day for showing love; candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine.  However, how can we look at only one day for showing love when every day we know the incredible love God has for each of us and we know it in our heart.  The heart that God has created in each of us; His heart in is our heart and our heart is in His.

This what the bible says about Valentine’s Day:  1 John 4:7-12. “Dear friends: let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

As each of us has experienced the Cursillo, the “heartbeat” of God comes out of the God’s Friendship talks on a weekend.  My experience is that once I know I am deeply loved by God I cannot un-know it, even when I try to forget it.  This is forever etched on my heart.  Is it etched on yours?

Ron Rolheiser, OMI writes “at the heart of our faith lies the deep truth that we are unconditionally loved by God.”

Do you believe that God looks down on your life and says:  You are my beloved child; in you I take delight?  Perhaps you do not doubt it but sometimes find it impossible to believe.

Do you still struggle with this knowing?  Knowing how deeply loved you are by God?

How do we discover the heart of God?  First, pursue time with Him in prayer.

I offer this reflection to get in touch with how deeply you are loved by God …

Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God …” We need stillness to find God, but we need God to find that stillness.

God of stillness and of quiet …

Still my anxiety, my heartaches, my worries, and stop me from always being outside the present moment. Give me the grace to know that you have pronounced my name in love, that my name is written in heaven, that I am free to live without anxiety.

Still in me the congenital fear that I’m unloved and that I’m unlovable, that love has to be earned that I need to be more worthy.  Give me the grace to know that I’m a beloved child of a God whose love need not be earned.

Still my heart so that I may know that you are God, that I may know that you create and sustain my every breath, that everyone, myself no less than everyone else, is your beloved.  Nothing falls outside of your love and care, and that everything and everybody is safe in your gentle, caring hands, in this world and in the next.

As we enter into the season of Lent, a time to journey with Christ to his crucifixion, if we don’t first know how deeply we are loved by God, we may not be able to fully experience a dying and a rising.  To live fully in His love and experience the joy of the Resurrection.

To actually believe that we are unconditionally loved by God, we first have to “die” to our own false images of who we are.  Perhaps it’s those tapes from the past that keep us from knowing ourselves as a beloved child of God, the attachments that keep us from living in our truth, the anger or resentment of something in the past that with the help of God in prayer, we can let go of.  You can name whatever it is that holds you or binds you and keeps you from fully living … John 10:10 “…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

This Lent is a time to look at what you need to be freed from in order to be freed for a deeper knowing of how much God loves you!

So I invite you to come to know how much you are loved by God so that you may live fully in His love.

De Colores, Ann Marie Dodd

 

On January 20, 2021, the eighth session of the St. Paul’s Spiritual Enhancement Series was held over Zoom conferencing. Our guest speakers with Joe Amato were Tom Leavens, Ann Marie Dodd & Pearse McDonnell. The theme of the evening was, “The Gift of Obstacles to Our Friendship with God.”

This session was like four friends sitting around a dinner table sharing great life experiences that brought each of them to where they are today (except it was over Zoom). Joe’s hope was to create a spark with all in our Cursillo Community by revisiting this pivotal talk from our weekends. He challenged each of the speakers to be honest & vulnerable.

All four members of this session shared two key connections—all four made Christian Awakening weekends in high school and each give the Obstacles to God’s Friendship talk on Cursillo weekends now. You would think that Joe would go easy on them—but not Joe! All four answered questions about the biggest obstacles in their   current lives and in their faith. They discussed   obstacles like control, self-worth, anger, fear— and how it all gets in the way of their relationship with God. The evening concluded with the song, “You Are Loved,” by Josh Groban, the reading of the classic, “The Master’s Touch” (included in this newsletter) and a beautiful prayer written by Pearse (also   included in this newsletter).

 If you were unable to join us that night, I highly recommend watching it. The session has been posted on our YouTube channel (“St. Paul’s Cursillo Community”) at the link below. Take some time to watch our previously recorded sessions as well and please share it with others!

https://youtu.be/_Ihe_3MTBaA

 

On the first of December, in lieu of our regularly scheduled Ultreya, St. Paul’s Cursillo had an Advent Reflection. In such a unique and creative way, Debbie Iomo-Whiffen, Darlene McGovern and Ann Marie Dodd used snippets from the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” to guide us through our evening of reflection. While “It’s a Wonderful Life” may not be everyone’s cup of tea, I think that everyone can agree when I say, “Poor George! Is he ever going to catch a break?”

George Bailey was a man with a plan. You know what they say though, ‘When you make plans, God laughs’ and God must have really been yucking it up with poor George. Every time George set about taking a step toward his life’s plan, he was interrupted by something or someone. George’s life was, and still is, a perfect example of what living life interrupted looks like. As I sat and reflected on the evening of reflection, I began to realize that I know how George felt because I too am living life interrupted because of the pandemic. Yet, as I sat in contemplation over this realization, I began to ask, “Are the interruptions really interruptions, or are they opportunities for God’s graces to live anew in me?”

George had every intention of leaving Bedford Falls, but when his father died, he remained in order to keep the family business from falling into the hands of the vile Mr. Potter. Still in Bedford Falls, he finds his plan once again changes as he falls in love with Mary and marries her even though he struggles with being tied to the town more. Yet again, when about to leave for their honeymoon, there is a bank run and the same business that stopped him from   fulfilling his dreams is once again interrupting George’s plans. In order to save his business and keep it afloat, he has to use the money for his honeymoon. In each of these scenes, George has to decide whether to follow his dreams or stay and deal with each interruption. From what we see, George deals with every interruption, albeit reluctantly at times. Can we blame him? Let’s be honest here. George sacrificed a lot in his life. So much so, you can’t help but want him to throw his hands up at some point and say to everyone, “You figure it out, I’m out of here!” Good old George instead gives of himself and, in doing so, often shows compassion and God’s grace at work in him.

It’s pretty easy to relate to George right now. This pandemic has interrupted so many aspects of my life. I have dealt with friends and family being sick with COVID-19 and have even lost some to it. I have felt frustration at the limitations of being stuck indoors or in virtual isolation from others. My plans for vacations, gatherings, work, events…they’ve all been laid to the wayside. The very life I have built and grown to love is gone to some extent and I am forced to embrace something different. But I am not alone. Many of you have suffered physically with illness, you have had to make choices you did not want to, you had to forgo what was planned to embrace what is, you have lost loved ones, suffered economic loss or uncertainty. You, too, have lost the ability to follow through on plans made. In fact, you have even lost the ability to plan at all at times! You have seen others suffer greatly and we ourselves are still suffering. We are certainly in the thick of it, like George often found himself. But like George, are we responding to our living life interrupted with compassion and God’s grace?

It is often difficult to see the blessing in the interruption, especially when they seem to just keep coming. But if we are lucky, like George, we can take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Once George steps back, he sees what all the interruptions gave him: a disguised blessing. For you see, George was not alone. He had friends, friends who showed him such great love, compassion, and grace in return. God did not ignore George’s interrupted life nor did God let George’s sacrifices go in vain. No, our God is an awesome God!

So maybe George’s interruptions weren’t interruptions at all. Maybe they were God’s redirections or invitations to go down a path that will lead us somewhere not yet seen or understood. Perhaps living life interrupted has nothing at all to do with the interruptions themselves but the opportunities to open ourselves to God’s grace at work in our lives. And so, this Advent Season, I pray to see the interruptions as opportunities to show compassion, acceptance and grace so, like George, I, too, can grow to be the richest person in town! In fact, may we all welcome Jesus again in our hearts this Advent Season as we stretch ourselves to live life interrupted as compassionately and gracefully as George.

 

On December 16, 2020, the seventh session of the St. Paul’s Spiritual Enhancement Series was held over Zoom conferencing. Our guest speaker with Joe Amato was Sr. Marie Mackey. And this session was called, “The Gift of Christmas: Jesus, Mary & Joseph.”

Sr. Marie Mackey, CSJ, made her Christian Awakening in February of 1979 while she was a Junior at the Mary Louis Academy and an active parishioner at Nativity BVM parish in Ozone Park. After her CA weekend she received an invitation to be a Table Team Member and her first CA Talk was Christian Community in Action – an apropos talk for a woman who, like St. Paul, is tireless in spreading the message of God’s Love to others – especially the young. She continued as a Team Member and Rectora during her 4 years at St. Joseph’s College. Sr. Marie taught at Bishop Kearney High School (where she stepped up to be a Moderator/Recruiter of the Girls Christian Awakening), St. Francis Prep (where again, she took leadership as Moderator and Recruiter for the program) and The Mary Louis Academy. She entered the Sisters of St.  Joseph in 1998. In her 32 years of high school teaching she has doubled as a Campus Minister and Retreat Leader. In 2016 she became the first Director of Young Adult Ministry for her Congregation in addition to her role as Vocation Director. Since 2019, S. Marie has also been working 3 days a week as Director of Campus Ministry at St. Joseph’s College- Brooklyn Campus. Since 2003,  S. Marie has petitioned her community to allow her to create a residential intentional faith community of young adults as well as a space for youth and young adult overnight retreats. In July 2020, with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Marie, once again wrote a proposal to her Leadership Team aware that a local Convent of her sisters was going to be vacant as of mid-September. Finally, 17 years and four proposals later, she was given a green light.

Joe Amato & Sr. Marie had a great discussion about the challenges that Mary & Joseph faced. Sr. Marie posed this very interesting question: “What does it mean to say ‘yes’ in an unknown future.” This was a great reflection question for Advent and all of us right now!

If you were unable to join us that night, I highly recommend watching it. The session has been posted on our YouTube channel (“St. Paul’s Cursillo             Community”) at the link below. Take some time to watch our previously recorded sessions as well and please share it with others!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_lb1RSwft8

 

 

“A thrill of hope, a weary world rejoices”

   Even though our holiday gatherings may look a little different this year due to the global pandemic, we can still hold on to some of our beloved Christmas traditions. We can hold on to the messages underlying those traditions and place all of our trust there. The ritual of lighting the advent candles and decorating our homes signifies that we are getting ready. As we inch closer, we are getting ready to receive the   greatest gift, to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  I don’t know about you, but I think a time of celebration, a world-wide one, is quite overdue this year. Haven’t we all, in our own ways, been seeking the themes of Advent all year long—love, joy, peace and hope.

   I have felt shaken about in God’s great snow globe, awoken to the new landscape of things, unfamiliar scenery and have been affected by fears and isolation. Being in the dark on so many different levels, I have felt the need to keep in the forefront of my mind that the Light is present in our world and allow that Light to guide my path. 

   In these somewhat dark moments, I have found that it has been the exact right time to praise God. There has been so much beauty found in slowing down, my own priorities have shifted as well and I’ve been able to pull back from a seemingly hectic pace which wasn’t very lifegiving. I have found many unexpected blessings in getting creative and being intentional and being still. 

   I have been contemplating about “The Star of Bethlehem”. With only a few other shepherds scattered about, in a pitch black field, in the middle of nowhere -they looked up to the night sky. Punctuated by only a few stars, placed by God since creation, an Angel of the Lord appeared and announced,  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” A multitude of heavenly hosts praised and glorified God, the Light entered the world and the light entered their hearts. The Light that would guide their way and still guides mine some 2,000 years later.  When you look up in the night sky this December 21, in hopes of catching a glimpse of the “Star of Bethlehem”, take a moment to feel in your heart, that so many others will be doing the same thing. Feel that connection to one another, connected by the Light of the World.

   Isn’t this a much needed message for 2020— A thrill of hope; a weary world rejoices. 

To you and yours, I wish you a very blessed Merry Christmas!!!

Theresa McHugh

 

On Wednesday, November 18, 2020, the sixth session of the St. Paul’s Spiritual Enhancement Series took place over Zoom Conferencing. This session was called, “The Gift of Scars.” Our Guest Speaker with Joe Amato was Deacon Rich Gilligan. Deacon Rich grew up in the East New York section of Brooklyn. He’s been married to his wife, Fran, for 53 years. They have two sons & two grandchildren. He made Men’s Cursillo #119 in February 1983 at St. Paul’s Center, Humboldt Street. Deacon Rich was ordained in May 1993. He was the Associate Director for St. Paul’s Center in Douglaston, NY from 2005 to 2010. He was a Team Member for the Men’s Cursillo and a Spiritual Team Member for both the Men’s & Women’s Cursillo. He has been (and is currently) assigned to St. Mary Gate of Heaven in Ozone Park.

Joe & Deacon Rich discussed the scars in their lives and how they still impact them in their present life. Joe Amato presented the following powerful questions following last: What are your scars? How were you wounded? How does it affect you today? How do you deal with your Anger? Disappointment? Jealousy? Hurt? Where is God in it all? Also, Joe posed the following reflection as well:

SOME PILLARS OF LOVE:

PATIENCE   *  KINDNESS  *  UNDERSTANDING  *  FORGIVENESS

If you struggle with any of these, follow the thread backward. There could be a scar that is preventing you from being those virtues to other people.

The evening concluded with powerful sharing from the Community. We thank Joe Amato for the love & preparation he puts into this series, and Deacon Rich for bringing his faith stories that show Christ to so many people!

The attendance for these sessions have been both steady & encouraging. Views on our YouTube page have been amazing! I encourage you to subscribe to our page. Go to the YouTube site & enter “St. Paul’s Cursillo Community” in the Search bar. Once connected to the St. Paul’s page, you will find five sessions posted. The link to our page is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVucRnZyIfWQi5GnyWO5-kQ?fbclid=IwAR2l4pCzzBiBFANV9GaPIZLFWpna3pJwIqP6KCODdDwdI6RTipydzVxF7Fo. Please continue to support this program—and invite friends!