IRIS is the regular newsletter of Southwark Anglican
Cursillo produced quarterly to inform cursillistas
about our
activities and events.
Extracts from recent editions can be found
here.
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ACTION FOR ADVENT? The season of Advent is upon us – the beginning of a new Christian year. Perhaps this might be a time when we in the Cursillo movement examine our Christian lives and consider how our involvement with Cursillo both supports and challenges us. There is a danger that we come to think that the purpose of Cursillo is to run weekends. For many of us the weekend has been a turning point in our Christian lives, but it must be seen only as a beginning, perhaps of a new phase. The purpose of the weekend is to equip us for our Fourth Day; but what sustains us in our Fourth Day? Our regular Group Reunions should provide both the support and the challenge. Group Reunions have three parts, the first two, Piety and Study, prepare us for the third which is Apostolic Action. This intimidating title, Apostolic Action, means seeking to further the growth of the Kingdom; that Kingdom for whose coming we pray every time we say the Lord’s Prayer. Do we have a plan to do this? Has our study given us ideas as to where we might promote the Kingdom? Perhaps if we are honest we would admit that this is the most challenging and difficult part of Cursillo. It was following the recognition of this that the recent day conference ‘Faith Speaks’ was conceived. The ability to speak about our personal faith is one vital tool for Apostolic Action; we were greatly encouraged that day. How and when do we expect, and indeed plan, to speak about our faith? Some of us will have clear ideas about how we feel called to promote the Kingdom. For others this will be more difficult. In seeking to address this I would like to start by considering how Cursillo should sit within the life of the Church. Cursillo must never be an end in itself. It should be a tool of the Church as the Church seeks to fulfil its mission to preach the Kingdom. At diocesan level Cursillo should be guided by the Bishop as to how it might contribute to the Mission of the Diocese. Currently an effective working relationship at this level is not in place. We could, however, make a start in this direction. Even if your Parish Priest is not a Cursillista the questions can and should be asked - ‘How can the Cursillistas in the parish support and further the mission of the parish?’; ‘What does the parish see as its mission areas and are there Cursillistas who could be encouraged to get involved in these areas?’ Perhaps potential Pilgrims could be identified who might be sponsored to go on a weekend to be empowered to fulfil identified roles?This relates to another aspect of Apostolic Action. Do we tend always to regard this as a matter for the individual? Might a Group Reunion decide to take some action together? Perhaps this is happening already. I leave these thoughts with
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Southwark Anglican
Cursillo Charity Reg No1095400
Affiliated
with British Anglican Cursillo.