Welcome to Cursillo in the Diocese of Southern Queensland, 2024.

2023 was a milestone in our Cursillo history, as we embarked on our first combined Cursillo weekend at The Glennie School, Toowoomba. This weekend was lauded by all as a great success. Thank you to the Lay Director Carolyn Smith from Toowoomba West parish and her team for leading this very positive weekend. Also, thanks to Garry and Sandra Franks for superbly leading the Follow Up Day for the new Cursillistas. The 2024 weekend will also be a combined weekend and based at The Glennie School in Toowoomba. September 19 – 22 is the date for your calendar.  

 

2023 was also a year of deliberation and conversations regarding the future of Cursillo. Within our diocese, we addressed the notion of change in September and had much valuable feedback from Cursillistas throughout the Diocese. Then, in October, the National Secretariat Meeting, held in Sunbury Melbourne, addressed the notion of change with the theme of ‘What’s important, what’s not?’. This promoted much discussion. Delegates were encouraged to take discussions back to their dioceses and ‘tweak’ weekends with care to keep them ‘authentic’. Our diocese continues its commitment to address the concept of change. Peter Victor and I represented Cursillo Southern Queensland, while our just retired Post Cursillo Coordinator, Kay Self was commissioned as Secretary to National Cursillo for the next three years.

 

2024 has a bright future in our diocese. A self-drive pilgrimage to Warwick during the May long weekend (May 4 – 6) and 5 Ultreyas (so far), the Combined weekend #83 in September, in the Garden City of Toowoomba (during Carnival of Flowers) along with the Diocesan Ultreya on November 2.

 

We are truly blessed to have Rev’d Pauline Harley (Toowoomba West) and Rev’d Nicole Anderson (Carindale) join our Secretariat and Servant Community teams and we look forward to working with both. Another new Secretariat member is Diane Catto (Wynnum Parish). Di will take on PreCursillo, following Sally Turnbull’s retirement from that position, however Sally is not going anywhere, she will be the new PR and Pilgrimage member of Secretariat.

I give thanks to our gracious God for all of our Parish Contacts in every parish. Your support is crucial as you communicate with your parish Cursillistas.

 

Finally, thank you to all in the Fourth Day Community, may our group continue to grow as we spread the love of Christ. Remember to ‘make a friend, be that friend and bring your friend to Jesus’ as you contemplate candidates for 2024. We are into a new year, so let’s renew our commitment to growing spiritually as we meet in Group Reunions and home groups throughout the diocese.

Our Cursillo bible vision comes from John 15:16. You did not choose me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you. I believe that this sums up the Cursillo movement beautifully.

 

Let’s continue to grow and let’s do it together!  ONwards and UPwards we go!

 

Marg Carr (W33, 1993). Diocesan Lay Director of Cursillo Southern Queensland.