The eleventh St. Paul’s Spiritual Enhancement Series session took place on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at 7:30 PM over Zoom Conferencing. The theme was, “The Gift of Ministry, Putting Love Into Action.” Joe Amato led a discussion with Cursillo Spiritual Team Members, Darlene & Mike McGovern.

Darlene McGovern made her weekend at St. Paul’s on Humboldt Street in 1968. It was a weekend for teenagers called Encounter. Her Fourth Day was quiet. She married Mike in 1973 and they had four children between the years 1976-1986. She was called back to St. Paul’s when Deacon Lenny Sclafani and his wife, Cathie, came to Our Lady of the Snows parish. They spoke about  Cursillo and the Married Couples Weekend. By then, Darlene was busy with many ministries at OLS. She had just begun a career with the Department of Education. She became a paraprofessional to special needs emotionally disturbed high school students where she remained for 19 years until she retired. Darlene & Mike  attended their first Married Couples Weekend in 1997 and, within a couple of years, became part of the team. Darlene was an Angel for a Women’s Cursillo weekend in 2001. From there, she became Table Team, Rectora & Spiritual Team. Darlene & Mike currently are Directors for the Married Couples Weekend.

Mike McGovern made his Christian Awakening in 1968 at Humboldt Street in Brooklyn. It was called the Encounter at the time and, later, renamed the Christian Awakening. He has been a member of the Men’s Cursillo Team since 2001. Mike is a parishioner of Our Lady of the Snows since June 1957 or (as he likes to say) since before the Dodgers left Brooklyn for LA. He graduated from Our Lady of the Snows school, Holy Cross High School and St John’s University. He celebrated his marriage of 48 years to Darlene on May 5th.

Darlene & Mike have lived a life in ministry and have done so many things— and they are so humble about it. They were able to convey how ministry has been transforming for them, at times in their lives when they were both willing & unwilling to become involved. They talked about the sacrifices they made & the  impact it had on professional lives & family time. The clear message was how they accepted the call and how they needed to keep God in it.

If you were unable to be a part of the evening, please watch it on our YouTube channel (St. Paul’s Cursillo Community) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEGjmljEIbc. Share this & other Cursillo events & videos with the people in your life. Let’s continue to grow this Cursillo Community!