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On August 12, the Church celebrates the life and legacy of an extraordinary woman who lived a remarkably full life with its share of ups, downs, and everything else in between.
Born in 1572, Jane’s mother died when she was just 18 months old and was raised by a father who prioritized a solid education for Jane. At the age of twenty, Jane married the Baron de Chantal, with whom she gave birth to six children, the first two of whom died as infants. Nine years later, Jane experienced more loss when a hunting accident resulted in her husband’s death. After becoming a widow, Jane and her four surviving children moved in with her father-in-law, where she brought some modicum of stability and financial sustainability to this previously chaotic household.
Jane first encountered Francis de Sales when she attended a Lenten mission he preached in Dijon, France, in 1604. Over time their friendship grew, and after a long period of conversation, prayer, and discernment, Jane and Francis established Sisters of the Visitation in 1610. By the time Francis de Sales died in 1622, thirteen communities had been founded; upon Jane’s death in 1641, that number had surged to 86 monasteries!
While not an easy life by any measure, she clearly embodied the Salesian dictum, “The measure of love is to love without measure.”
In the introduction to the book, “Francis de Sales, Jane de Chantal: Letters of Spiritual Direction,” the following is written about this remarkable woman and saint who, among other attributes, developed an eye for talent in others:
“Jane de Chantal continued with her work of overseeing both her own adult children as well as the large family of religious to whom she was the chief spiritual mother. She wrote ardent letters to superiors, novice-mistresses and novices, procurators, and others which reflect her commitment to institute a way in which the authentic Salesian spirit might come to be observed and experienced everywhere.”
“In her correspondence (where her concern was to stay close to the very Salesian spirit of
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beginning right where one is and with the facts at hand), Jane de Chantal continued to show herself as a masterful mentor. She brought to this ministry her own life experiences and temperament. The motherhood and management were chief among those experiences.
Since her youth, she had been engaged in the art of mothering, and in midlife, she developed her spiritual and apostolic maternity. The correspondence she maintained with the superiors and key stakeholders of the Visitation reflects a self-conscious, intentional cultivation of attitudes and skills she believed were congruent with maternal care. Superiors, in particular, were enjoined to be true mothers, tolerant of their children’s weaknesses, encouraging their small steps, never overly ambitious for their advancement until they themselves grew into the maturity of spiritual wisdom…This task of cultivating and disseminating this spirit of motherly wisdom and direction occupied Jane de Chantal for decades. It was part of her long-term effort to ensure the survival – both institutional and spiritual – of the Salesian charism in its manifestation as the Order of the Visitation.” (LSD, p. 32)
Jane de Chantal shows us a sure and certain method for bringing out the good in others. Her approach included:
- Focusing on where others actually are, in the here and now,
- Starting with the facts at hand,
- Being a source of encouragement,
- Leading by example,
- Acknowledging others’ “growing edges,”
- Emphasizing the importance of incremental growth, and
- Allowing others to reach their full potential at their own pace.
We are the beneficiaries of Jane de Chantal’s efforts to pass along the power, promise, and potential of the Salesian charism. How might we pick up where she left off — just today?
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Prayer to St. Jane Frances de Chantal
O God, who inspired St. Jane Frances de Chantal to found the Order of the Visitation and to live a life of deep devotion and service, grant that we may follow her example of humility and love. Through her intercession, help us to embrace simplicity in our own lives and to serve others with compassion and grace. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Earlier this summer, SJN’s Racial Justice Ministry offered the JustFaith program Faith & Immigration Justice to parishioners. To be honest, initially, I was quite reluctant to sign up. I knew it would be difficult, costing both time and emotional resources: the course was not light work, meeting two hours every Monday for eight weeks – particularly at the end of the school year when our minds are telling us it is time for vacation! But I also recognized that I found myself lacking the ability to competently discuss our immigration system and overwhelmed by contradictory information I was reading in the news. So, I decided to “get comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
For me, one idea this program confirmed is that the immigration system is beyond arduous. It is a myth that people who come to the U.S. seeking safety and human dignity without documentation intentionally evade the system because they are lazy, conniving, or criminals. The reality is that the path to legal status is not simple and to many, it is truly inaccessible, but their poverty, desperation, and unsafe living conditions are a persistent reality. The choices they must make and the risks they must take are excruciating. There are very few paths for undocumented immigrants, outside or inside the U.S., to become lawful permanent U.S. residents, a status most must hold for at least five years before becoming eligible to apply for citizenship. According to the American Immigration Council, more than four million children are living with one undocumented parent. If deported, they must make a heart wrenching decision whether to leave their children in the U.S. where they were born or take them back to the place they desperately fled.
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| |  | Watching “Harvest of Empire” for this program, I learned more about the depth of the historical actions of the United States that contributed to political situations, particularly in Mexico and Central America, resulting in adverse and unsafe living conditions for families. Through foreign policy actions, our government supported the establishment of multiple exploitive commodity industries and helped topple legitimate governments, contributing to mass migrations. At our final session, Michelle Islas from Restoration Immigration Legal Aid (RILA) in Alexandria shared her current real-life experiences. She told us, “Immigrants aren’t leaving their countries for a better life, but for a life.” Like you and me, they want their children to be safe, to have a future – they, themselves, want a life. I dare to think that the only thing that truly makes my choices different is the circumstances I was born into, and should those have been different, I would also desperately seek a better life away from dangerous or untenable conditions. In the end, I was left with the question I felt I could wrap my head around: how can we accompany our fellow humans seeking life and dignity in our nation right now?
Other parishioners who participated in Faith & Immigration Justice have shared their experience with the topic. Many, like me, expressed their interest in learning more about immigration in order to be informed and able to discuss this or understand a different perspective. One participant said, “Participating in the program has deepened my understanding of the complexities of the immigration issue from a humanitarian, policy, and faith perspective. The program provided additional context with which to evaluate the rapidly changing environment around immigration in the United States. The knowledge I have gained will be helpful in moving forward with action, advocacy, and conversation with those who may have a different perspective on the issue.”
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Another participant shared, “During the 8-week Faith & Immigration Justice program we learned about the history of U.S. immigration, why people leave their own countries, and the fear, hardships, and tragedies they experience searching for a better life. We now understand better the onerous steps this country asks of them, and we realize that many have no pathway to citizenship. We know now that many contribute much in terms of taxes while receiving no government support services, they are employed in hard-to-fill jobs, and culturally they build the vibrancy of our ‘nation of immigrants.’ They are not the ‘other’…they are our brothers and sisters, worthy of our compassion and support.”
“Although immigration presents a complex situation and substantive policy is complex and contradictory, the Faith & Immigration Justice program solidified for me that current U.S. immigration enforcement policies are harming our brothers and sisters and their children and are contrary to the entire teaching of Scripture and the Church. The policies are contrary to the fundamental documents of the United States, even though sadly consistent with the darkest periods in U.S. history. Finally, these policies are contrary to basic economic teaching and common sense,” added a participant.
“I decided to register for this course because I am concerned and angry about the current attitude and actions toward immigrants and the U.S. immigration program. Learning about our country’s immigration history and laws has been both enlightening and horrifying. I am personally much better prepared to discuss issues of immigration, advocate for immigrants with elected officials, and work to update our laws,” said one. Another added, “I was surprised to learn that past actions of our U.S. Government in the western hemisphere caused a great deal of the political unrest that has resulted in the migration of asylum seekers to our southern border. Solving these complicated issues will require empathy, compassion, and creativity.”
“Faith & Immigration Justice offered a balanced look at immigration to the United States through the lens of Catholic social teaching,” a participant summarized. “It is clear that issues of immigration are not political, although they have been made so. As we saw in the course, Jesus presented us on several occasions with examples of how we are to care for those from other countries than our own, treating those on the margins of our American society, with love and grace, as individuals, not commodities.” Another participant reflected, “An opened mind and heart has been the byproduct of this class. It is important to learn and grow, but also to be a conduit in helping my community.”
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| | | Finally, a participant shared, “I’d had some experience with immigration issues, and that experience had left me with the impression that it was easier to get into our country illegally than it was to get in legally. What I learned is that WHY a person immigrates is far more important than HOW a person immigrates. I came to appreciate that the decision to leave one’s home, one’s family, community, nation, and culture is often driven by hopelessness. I read how this unimaginable decision usually involves a willingness to take desperate measures to implement it, and this willingness then leaves immigrants immensely vulnerable. Regardless of how we feel about immigration limits and the enforcement thereof, we Christians are called to treat immigrants with great care and concern, as they constitute some of the most vulnerable people in our society. As I listened to Michelle Islas describe what RILA does, I thought, ‘Wow, this is what the Church is called to do.’ Not just helping immigrants with their forms and giving them legal advice, but having meals with them, inviting their children to football games with our children, befriending them, accompanying them in their dire situations throughout the entire course of their journey.” We are called to do this.
When we finished Faith & Immigration Justice at the end of June, we were given actions to commit ourselves to, i.e., write a letter to the bishop, participate in peaceful protests, attend Spanish Mass to better understand and show support, volunteer for RILA or other organizations supporting immigrants, teach ESOL, become an advocate, etc.
The truth is, as Catholics, we don’t fit into either side of what has become a divisive political issue. Our calling is one of compassion, dignity, and respect for life. In July, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the USCCB, wrote about immigration, “The Catholic Church’s teaching to uphold human dignity and the common good compels us to redouble our efforts and offer concrete help to those who will be in greater need and continue to advocate for legislative efforts that will provide better possibilities in the future for those in need.”
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It is true, this is a very complex issue, but the basic truths of Scripture and Catholic Social Teaching are clear. Matthew 25:35 instructs, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” There is not a conditional clause to the Gospel, “Only if you have documents or use the proper channels, welcome me.” The tradition of Catholic Social Teaching instructs us that “We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world. At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace.” Our teaching is simple: Be the hands and feet of Christ to ALL of God’s children. Even on the local level, we can make a difference – even right here in our own faith community.
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Immunization Awareness Month
by Susan Infeld, R.N.
August is “Back to School” and the perfect time for National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). Vaccines remain the standard public health preventive measure for serious communicable diseases and have helped eradicate or nearly eradicate deadly diseases such as Smallpox, Polio, and Mumps. Measles, however, has made a resurgence in the United States due to lapses in vaccination rates or refusal to be vaccinated. This year, the increase in measles cases is the largest in 25 years, a direct result of a decline in immunization rates. This has Public Health officials alarmed.
Public schools in the state of Virginia require all children to be vaccinated.* Routine vaccinations are an evidence-based tool for children, adolescents, and adults to help prevent the spread of disease and decrease the instances of illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths. They are especially important for vulnerable populations such as infants, those with compromised immune systems, and older adults who are at higher risk for morbidity and mortality. There has been a rise in vaccine controversy, mostly related to “Thimerosal,” a vaccine additive (which is now removed from childhood vaccines). Several published articles previously cited a relationship between childhood vaccines and autism, but there was not enough substantial evidence to prove that relationship.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends keeping vaccines up to date for all children. It is essential to discuss any vaccination concerns and schedules with your trusted healthcare provider and NOT rely on the internet or political discussions for information. Immunizations are available by appointment at local medical offices, health departments, and, in some cases, pharmacies. Always keep copies of you and your child’s immunization history up to date. Prevention of communicable disease is both a personal and societal responsibility. For more information, visit the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization.
* Exemptions: A physician documented medical contraindication, an affidavit stating that vaccination conflicts with religious beliefs, or personal belief in the case of the HPV vaccine, which parents have discretion over.
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The Ordinary Became Extraordinary
by Elizabeth Connell Wright
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If you were to ask most Catholics about the needs of the Church today, it is fair to predict the response would be “more young people.” This Jubilee Year of Hope is bringing highly anticipated canonizations that are already inspiring young Catholics around the world, which fills all of us with hope.
In the April newsletter, I told you about the upcoming canonization of Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, which was previously scheduled for April 27, 2025. Instead, on April 26, over 250,000 people from around the world flocked to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis. After the election of Pope Leo XIV, he announced in June that the anticipated canonizations of both Carlo and Pier Giorgio Frassati would be rescheduled for September 7, 2025. What is remarkable about Frassati is that in many ways he was ordinary, and in this year of hope, that is extraordinary. That is hope.
Pier Giorgio Frassati was born in Turin, Italy, on April 6, 1901. His father, Alfredo Frassati, was a prominent member of society as founder of the newspaper, La Stampa, and later Italian ambassador to Germany. His mother was a gifted painter, and he had one younger sister, Luciana. Pier had many talents, but Latin was not among them. In 1913, at the age of twelve, he failed his Latin exams and was sent to Istituto Sociale, a school operated by the Jesuits. At the time, he wrote his father, “I am also sorry that I have to stay behind, and I am ashamed in front of my classmates and my sister who have gone ahead of me.” However, it is because of his time at Istituto Sociale that he joined both the Company of the Blessed Sacrament and the Eucharistic Crusade and began receiving the Eucharist daily, causing his spiritual life to blossom. After a year, he returned to the Italian state school, but in 1917, he again failed his Latin exams and returned to Istituto Sociale to complete his high school certificate.
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Pier Giorgio enrolled in the Faculty of Industrial Mechanical Engineering at the Royal Polytechnic of Turin, specializing in mining engineering, the same year World War I ended. He watched as soldiers came home wounded and in need, prompting him to join the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and he came to embody the charitable spirit of St. Vincent de Paul with his whole heart. He frequently spent time in the poorest areas of Turin offering aid to those less fortunate than himself, and he is said to have often arrived home late to dinner because he gave his bus fare to the poor.
Despite the ending of the war, the political climate in Italy was tense with the rising threat of fascism and anti-Catholic sentiments. When Pope Benedict XV allowed Italian Catholics to become involved in politics, Pier Giorgio became active with Catholic Action and the Italian Popular Party, which promoted the Church’s teaching based on the encyclical “Rerum Novarum.” He was greatly concerned about the conditions of workers and frequently participated in public gatherings in support of workers. “Charity is not enough,” he would say. “We need social reform.” He was arrested in Rome during a Young Catholic Workers Congress demonstration against fascism. In 1922, Pier Giorgio joined the Dominican Third Order (Secular), taking the name Fra Girolamo and vowing to participate in the Dominican life through prayer and preaching as a member of the laity.
Besides the Jesuit Fathers and the Dominicans, the Salesian Fathers also influenced Pier Giorgio’s spirituality. Fr. Cojazzi, a Salesian priest, privately tutored Pier Giorgio in Latin and another Salesian, Fr. Felice Cane, was confessor to Pier Giorgio for the last ten years of his life. He says of Pier Giorgio, “Pier Giorgio left me with a profound impression of his sanctity and purity...I was the one who brought the news of his death to Cardinal Gamba in July 1925 and when he heard the sad news he said, ‘A saint has died.’”
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Pier Giorgio used his short, but vibrant, life to touch others in many ways. He was an avid mountaineer, athlete, poet, and prankster. He had a boisterous and animated personality that captivated those around him, and with that, he often delivered them into relationship with God. He is said to have always carried a handwritten copy of “St. Paul’s Hymn of Charity” with him, and rather than keep his devotions private, he encouraged his friends “to the heights” (Verso l’alto) as he led them on excursions to mountaintops to pray while openly displaying his enthusiasm for Christ.
It is his calling to the poor that ultimately brought his early death. It is believed that through his work in the slums of Turin he was exposed to polio and after six days of suffering, succumbed on July 4, 1925. At his funeral, hundreds joined the procession to honor the man who had loved the Lord and served his people.
On March 21, 1981, upon the exhumation of his body, it was found to be intact and incorrupt.
In 1989, documentation of his first miracle received final approval. In 1933, Domenico Sellan, who was paralyzed and dying from tuberculosis, received a prayer card for Pier Giorgio Frassati from a visiting priest. Sellan prayed for his intercession and that same year received a miraculous cure allowing him to live another 35 years.
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On May 20, 1990, Pope John Paul II beatified Pier Giorgio Frassati saying, “He repeats that it is really worth giving up everything to serve the Lord. He testifies that holiness is possible for everyone, and that only the revolution of charity can enkindle the hope of a better future in the hearts of people.”
In 2017, the second miracle required for canonization happened. Juan Gutierrez, a seminarian in Los Angeles was playing basketball with friends when his ankle “popped,” and an MRI confirmed a torn Achilles tendon. As he waited for his surgery consultation date, he decided to pray a novena, and the he says the Holy Spirit prompted him to pray specifically for the intercession of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. During the novena, he was praying before Christ in Eucharistic Adoration when he felt warmth spread across his injury. A few days later at his surgery consultation, there was no sign of the tear. Reportedly, the surgeon told him, “You must have someone in heaven who likes you.” It seems he did indeed. As required, the healing was verified by a diocesan inquiry and the examination of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints’ medical board as well as bishops, cardinals, and theologians. A truly beautiful element of this miracle is that, like Piers Giorgio's life, it was something ordinary that became extraordinary. A torn Achilles isn't life threatening or uncommon — but Gutierrez (who is now an ordained priest) trusted the Lord with a little thing, which is an amazing reminder that we don't have to prioritize our prayers. Trusting God with this small aspect of his life allowed God to work a miracle that is now rippling across the world.
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July 4 of this year was the 100th anniversary of Pier Giorgio Frassati’s death and crowds packed the Turin Cathedral where the daughter of Luciana, Pier Giorgio’s 93-year-old niece, Giovanna Gilardini, sat in the front pew for her uncle’s Mass. This week, during the Jubilee of Youth, the body of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati is at the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva for veneration, and in just over a month, he will be a canonized saint.
Pier Giorgio Frassati wasn’t heroic or blessed with charismatic gifts like so many saints before him, but he was unwavering in his faith, devoted to charity, and a magnetic force for God. The extraordinary power of “ordinary” saints is that they speak to our hearts in ways that inspire us to be better. Saints like Pier Giorgio encourage us in our daily lives, in the words of Mother Teresa, "to do little things with great love.” This is what Pier Giorgio embodied: radical love. More than ever, young and old alike need to see that boundless love and charity is a path to sainthood. For Pier Giorgio Frassati, his ordinary acts of charity gave birth to an extraordinary legacy of love and inspiration.
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Act of Charity
O my God,
I love you with my whole heart
and above all things,
because You are infinitely good and perfect;
and I love my neighbor as myself
for love of You.
Grant that I may love You more and more in this life,
and in the next for all eternity. Amen.
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The Cursillo
By Peter N. Roth
Cursillo [cur SEE yo] is a lay Catholic movement for men and women. Our purpose is to live Christ in Friendship. Sounds like Francis de Sales, eh?
We take our name from the short seminar we present. Our movement began in Spain, and the Spanish call short seminars Cursillos.
Purpose
At his first Mass as Pope Leo XIV, the Holy Father spoke of the challenges facing us as a missionary church. “There are many settings in which the Christian faith is considered absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent — settings where other securities are preferred, like technology, money, success, power, and pleasure.” These are places, he added, “where it is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to the truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised, or at best tolerated and pitied. Yet these are precisely the places where the missionary outreach of the Church is desperately needed.
So how do we respond? The answer is Jesus Christ — to have a relationship with the Lord in a daily commitment to conversion.” Through its Method, the Cursillo provides a way to live this relationship.
Friendship
Jesus said, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15 ).
But this isn’t abstract friendship — every week, in small groups of friends, we hold ourselves accountable in the areas of Piety, Study, and Action. The idea is to compare what we said we were going to do with what we actually did. We also note what is, and what isn’t, working for us. Then we share what we plan as our next step in each area. We call this process of taking steps and sharing the results Group Reunion. By doing this in prayer, we rely on Jesus’ promise, “Where two or three gather together in my name, there am I in their midst.” Our weekly conversations have meat in them, about issues that are important to us. We’re sharing the reality of our lives, and we listen to each other!
Piety are those practices, those actions, we do to grow in holiness. God wants us to be holy, and said so. “Be holy, as I am holy.”(1 Peter 1:6). A typical sharing on this topic begins with the question, “What was your closest moment to Christ this past week?”
By Study, we learn of God, His Church, and our brothers and sisters, and so grow in knowledge and wisdom. Study is the bridge between holiness and helping our neighbor. We “study” God, and we “study” or “observe” our neighbor.
The third area is Action, and our concern is what we are doing to “Christianize our environment”. This doesn’t mean we turn our workplace into a monastery, but rather that we bring our Christian values to bear, where we are. We do this in response to Jesus’s charge to love our neighbors as ourselves.
The Seminar
The Cursillo begins Thursday evening, held over a weekend. We consider this seminar so important that we label the phases of our life in relation to it: before the weekend is Precursillo; the seminar is the Cursillo; and the phase after the weekend is PostCursillo. You may also hear this phase referred to as The 4th Day, to indicate that the practices introduced in the three-day seminar are on-going.
Thus, Cursillo differs from a Retreat in three ways. Through the practice of Group Reunion, the Lord helps us to: maintain our life in the spirit, continue the practices that began on the weekend, and persevere as Christians. The Cursillo focuses on Jesus. It’s Unisex – we hold Men’s Cursillos separate from Women’s Cursillos because the way we communicate is different.
A team of Laymen and Spiritual Directors coordinate the weekend. One of the Spiritual Directors is a priest; the other may be a deacon, vowed religious, or lay person with appropriate training. The laymen on team are active in Cursillo and the church. We’re realistic, we know what life in the real world is all about - we’re living it in our own environments. The team also pays the tuition for the weekend. Yep, we’re doing this at our expense because we think it’s worth it. Speaking of tuition: it covers all expenses for room, meals and materials. At present, it is $300 for the three days and nights.
The Three Days
The weekend begins with a short Silent Retreat Thursday evening through Friday morning. You have become a Cursillista. After breakfast, we spend the rest of Friday on the encounter of Self. In this exercise, you discover for yourself “where you are.” Saturday, we focus the encounter on Christ, and Sunday, the focus is with the Christian Community.
During each day, the presenting team gives short talks in the community room. As a Cursillista, you sit at one of several round tables for the purpose of discussing. During this time, you’re encouraged to examine where you are in relation to the subject at hand. While you’re hearing what others think, you are also heard! In the evening, the team and attendees gather for a session in which each table summarizes their discussions. We do all the weekend activities together, so you live in, and experience, Christian community from the beginning. The Spiritual Directors present doctrinal Meditations, usually in the chapel.
Anything else?
Yes! We celebrate daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Priest is available for Spiritual Direction at virtually any time. While you’re making the weekend, others in the community are praying and sacrificing for you. In addition to consideration of profound issues, the weekend is also a time of great joy and fun! There’s a lot of music and singing –if you play an instrument, bring it!
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How is the movement linked to the Church?
We focus on Jesus Christ. St. Paul is our patron saint. Our mission is the Church’s mission. We’re fully Catholic and obedient to the Magesterium. We are joined to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops through our liaison, Most Rev. Carlos A. Sevilla, S.J., National Episcopal Advisor. Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI have mentioned Cursillo as one of the hopes for the Church. Bishop Emeritus Paul Loverde is a Cursillista and supports us. Many of us are active in our parishes. However, the aim of Cursillo is to help you live the Christian life, rather than to make you a “parish employee.” Your Apostolate may be in the parish, maybe not.
This sounds interesting. Should I attend?
All are welcome! Thomas Aquinas divided growth in charity into three states of increased holiness: The Beginner, The Progressing, and The Perfect. (his terms).
· The Beginner is primarily involved in avoiding sin.
· The primary interest for The Progressing lies in growing in charity.
· The Perfect emphasizes the experience and enjoyment of God.
We’ve found that, at whatever level we are, we can improve, and benefit from the Cursillo experience. However, the Cursillo is not group therapy, nor a place to solve psychological problems.
In the spring and fall, we usually present a Cursillo weekend for males and another for females. Stay tuned to the Cursillo page on the SJN website for scheduled dates.
Looks like there’s a lot going on. If I attend, how much time does Cursillo ask of me?
If you attend the weekend, we ask you to stay for the entire seventy-two hours. Clearly, we invite you to make Group Reunion a high priority to help you persevere in the Christian life. We hope you will accept that invitation. But it is that: an invitation. You may get involved in the Cursillo Movement as much or as little as you decide. To quote Jesus, “Come and see.”
What’s my next step?
You need a Sponsor, a friend who invites you to a Cursillo, arranges transportation for you to and from the weekend site, prays for you before, during, and after the weekend, and gets you into a Group Reunion. A Cursillista in the parish is your best bet. For additional assistance, contact Peter N. Roth, peternroth@gmail.com, with “Cursillo” in the subject line.
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The Pope's Intention for
Prayer and Action for August
For mutual coexistence
Let us pray that societies where coexistence seems more difficult might not succumb to the temptation of confrontation for ethnic, political, religious, or ideological reasons.
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Current Mass Times
Saturday: 5 p.m.
Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m. (Spanish), 5 p.m.
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.
Watch a livestreamed or recorded Mass
Confession
Saturday: 10 a.m.-10:30 a.m. (English)
Sunday: 3 p.m.- 4 p.m. (Spanish)
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