Cursillos in Christianity is a Movement which, by its own Method, attempts from within the Church, to give life to the essential Christian truths in the singularity, originality, and creativity of the person. In discovering their potential and accepting their limitations, they will direct their freedom with their conviction, reinforce their will with decisiveness and direct their friendship with the virtue of constancy in their day-to-day life, personally and with others. The Founder of the Cursillo Movement was Eduardo Bonnín Aguiló. In the Diocese of Tucson, the Cursillo Movement is bilingual in English and Spanish. Although we are one Cursillo, each language has their own secretariat and their own fellowship.
Make a friend, be a friend, bring a friend to Christ. The purpose of the Cursillo Movement is to bring about a change in the environments. The Cursillo Movement is a deliberate act to bring Jesus Christ into the world. Cursillistas (those that have gone through the 3-Days and are living the Cursillo method) become agents for change in their families, work situations, neighborhoods, social gatherings, etc. Cursillistas are the part of the Christian community (communal) that links together with others (teamwork) to bring Jesus Christ to the world.
The Cursillo movement is strong in the Diocese of Tucson. We have four secretariats (two English and two Spanish). They are made up of Cursillistas from the Yuma area and the Tucson area. The Lay Director for the English Cursillo is Alma Clark and the Lay Director for the Spanish Cursillo is Malena Amaya.
To become a Cursillista one must live the Cursillo weekend. The 3-day retreat begins Thursday evening and ends Sunday evening. This is a cloistered retreat with a men's weekend and a women's weekend. The 3-day Cursillo weekend is an important part of understanding the Cursillo Method but is not the essential part of Cursillo. Cursillo is about supporting Catholics in their walk with Jesus Christ. It is about building a solid, loving, informed understanding of God's call and putting our lives into action.
The weekend focuses on how piety, study, and action are all essential parts of a solid foundation and how small groups can support us in our walk.
To attend, you must have a sponsor who has made a weekend in the past, is willing to help you find a group and will encourage you after your 3-Day.
To get a sponsor, join us at Ultreya or ask a Cursillista you know to sponsor you. (You must be a Catholic able to receive the sacraments to attend).
Although it is encouraged that the weekend be lived, the movement can also be experienced by joining an existing reunion group or attending an Ultreya.
The weekend is the launch pad of the Cursillo movement. Cursillo’s real strength is its method of helping Christians to grow through prayer, study and action and enabling them to share God’s love. Meeting with small groups to share the weeks triumphs, struggles and close moments. As well as sharing in study and action. Once a month, there a mini version of the weekend where we gather and listen to a lay talk and deacon summary. Chance to meet with others who have a live of Christ and the Catholic Religion.
If you have questions, wish to obtain more information about Cursillo Community you can visit our Diocese of Tucson English Cursillo webpage.
The Tucson English Secretariat meets on the 2nd Saturday of the month from 10A-12P. This is a public meeting and all our are welcomed to attend. Agendas are posted on Facebook and sent via email. Please contact Lay Director Alma Clark.
Yuma English Ultreyas are held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Tucson English Ultreyas are held on the last Saturday of the month. There are also Ultreyas in Casa Grande and Sierra Vista. Please contact Alma Clark for specific dates and times.
What is the Focolare Movement?
The Focolare Movement began in 1943 during the Second World War as a current of spiritual and social renewal. ‘A people born from the Gospel,’ is how it was defined by its foundress Chiara Lubich (1920-2008), a charismatic and significant woman of the 20th century.
The Focolare Movement, whose official name is the Work of Mary, was approved by the Holy See in 1962 and is now present everywhere in the world, like a vast and varied family.
Its members are people of every age and vocation, coming from different social backgrounds, cultures, ethnic groups and religions. These are composed mainly of laypersons: adults, families, youth, teenagers, and children, but also includes men and women religious, priests, and bishops.
Today the Movement is present in 182 countries. It has approximately 2 million adherents and people who are sympathetic to its goals – the majority being Roman Catholic. There are a growing number of those of other Christian faith traditions from 350 churches and ecclesial communities. The Movement also includes many from other world faiths such as Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs. There are also those in the Movement who do not adhere to any particular religious faith.
What is its Purpose?
The purpose of the Movement is to foster in others the gift of unity, according to the prayer of Jesus to the Father: "that they may all be one" (John 17:21). Its members are committed to working, first and foremost, for an ever deeper unity among the faithful of the Catholic Church. They strive to establish relationships of fraternal communion and of common witness with other Christian sisters and brothers, as a contribution to the restoration of full unity.
Its members also endeavor to achieve, through dialogue with persons of other religions, and through activities of common interest, the deepest possible union in God among all believers.
They establish relationships and dialogue with persons of no religious affiliation, and work together with them towards common goals in order to strengthen universal brotherhood throughout the world and to open up their hearts to Christ.
Is the Movement Present in the Diocese of Tucson?
In 1980, the Focolare Movement arrived in Tucson, Arizona. Since then, a small community of laypersons has grown and spread to the Diocese of Phoenix. The Arizona Communities are part of the life that is flourishing throughout the western US, in California cities like Los Angeles, Madera, San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco; and a presence in the states of Washington, Montana, and Hawaii.
The Focolare Communities foster a greater understanding of how it is possible to put the Gospel into practice in everyday life — in the family, with neighbors, co-workers, classmates, everyone!
How may I be a part of the Movement?
Each month there is an informal gathering in Tucson where the community comes together to update and encourage each other through personal experiences of putting the Gospel into practice in concrete ways. A tool to support this goal is the monthly Word of Life. The Word of Life is a sentence of Scripture with an accompanying commentary that is prepared by the Focolare and offered monthly as a guide and inspiration for daily life. The Word of Life is translated into 96 different languages and dialects and reaches more than 14 million people worldwide through print, radio and TV media.
What are the benefits of Living the Word of Life?
As Chiara Lubich once said that living the Word of Life brings the following fruits:
What are other opportunities available?
Locally, a one-day Mariapolis (City of Mary) is held periodically. The participants enjoy fellowship, programs, personal testimonials, and activities that further explore the Focolare’s Spirituality of Unity. Duel program topics and activities appropriately provided for adults and youth ensure that there will be topics of interest for everyone.
Larger multi-day annual Summer Mariapolises are held in California in a variety of settings and with different programs. Each of these temporary “Cities of Mary” is a portion of society renewed by evangelical love. Cultural, racial, religious and generational differences disappear in this mosaic of humanity made one family by a common desire to build unity and to provide a sustainable answer to the prayer of Jesus to the Father: "that they may all be one" (John 17:21).
These Mariapolises provide an occasion to gather with others and, in a dialogue of true openness, learn to be a gift for one another.
Would you like to know more?
If you have questions, wish to obtain more information about Focolare Community activities in the Diocese of Tucson, or to receive the Word of Life, please contact:
Elizabeth Solinsky, Co-coordinator at (520) 603-3700
Philip Solinsky, Co-coordinator at (520) 444-4500
More information about the Focolare Movement is available on www.focolare.org/usa.
The Arcoiris movement has its roots in Mexico where it was established in 1985 when a young couple who completed a Cursillo Weekend wondered if something similar could be offered for the youth and young people. While the Arcoiris movement is not directly related to the Cursillo, it is similar in its goals for religious nurturing and evangelization: to evangelize young person to young person; to evangelize young person to families; to foster vocations to the priesthood and to religious life; and to expand the movement. Among parishes with active groups in the past are:
This began as local outreach by Lourdes Catholic High School in Nogales to the Kino Border Initiative and expanded to Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson. The groups involve teens engaged in hands-on activities at the border including workshops, immersion experiences and political advocacy.
Life Teen is a movement within the Roman Catholic Church that leads teenagers and their families into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. Among parishes with active groups in the past are:
Among parishes with active groups in the past are:
Located at the University of Arizona in Tucson, the Saint Thomas More Catholic Newman Center is run by the Order of Preacher and intertwines their charism into the local ministries: Prayer, Community, Service, and Preaching. In addition to regular Mass times, liturgical ministries, and opportunities to receive the Sacraments, the Newman Center is also home to the Knights of Columbus Council #16061, Young Adult Community for those ages 22 to 35, and the Newman Book Club.
www.marriageretornocpr.org
A marriage preparation program which continues through the first year(s) of marriage covering: Family of Origin, Finances & Career Planning, Marital Communication, Interfaith Marriage, Parenting, Couples who are living together, Blended Families, Prayer, Marital Spirituality,…
If you are looking to Explore, Rediscover and Reconnect in your marriage, get away from everyday distractions and focus on each other at a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. The Encounter Weekend is a positive and personal couple experience, offering a loving communication technique that helps couples deepen and strengthen their relationship with each other and with God.
For Information & To Register:
Call 520-477-2121 or visit www.wwmearizona.com.
Para los fines de semana en español, por favor visite
Encuentro Matrimonial Mundial,
www.emm14.org,
928-210-3162
Tucson
Father Raúl Valencia
520-294-2694
raulvg2@hotmail.com
Tucson/Yuma
Alejandro & Fatima Carlos
928-210-3162
The primary goal is to provide help for couples who live in the disappointment and pain of marriage problems. The weekend provides a safe setting, encouraging couples to learn communication in marriage in a respectful manner. The post-weekend phase of the Retrouvaille program is as critical to a couple experiencing marital problems as the initial weekend experience. Hurting marriages cannot be healed in one weekend. Restoration takes time. The post-weekend sessions provide support as couples discuss concepts of the importance of communication in marriage, intimacy, and many other topics. Today's unchallenged acceptance of divorce suggests only limited support for marriages. Retrouvaille is a program that is solely dedicated to providing the necessary support to help save marriages.
ROSA Information & Registration:
1-800-470-2230 or local 1-520-216-0360 4003@retrouvaille.org,
http://marriageretornocpr.org/
Marriage Retorno means turning toward God as a couple. The goal of Marriage Retorno is to provide an atmosphere, a context, in which the couple can open themselves, both as individuals and as a couple to a dialogue with God through Scripture. It is a weekend prayer experience for husband and wife, facilitated by a married couple and a Catholic priest. It provides participating couples with an opportunity for a renewal of their relationship as a couple with God.
For Information & To Register:
Werner and Annie Mammen, marriageretornocpr@gmail.com, or marriageretornocpr.org
Hope and Healing for the Catholic Family! You are not alone. There's no such thing as "Catholic divorce" but the bad news is Catholics do civilly divorce. Surviving Divorce is there to help, and to encourage healing through the Sacraments where you'll personally encounter Christ - with all His love and tender mercies. And that's the REALLY good news.
Contact: Felicia Klein
Phone: (520) 425-6529
Email: csdtucson@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.catholicsdivorce.com/
A Wedding is a Day, A Marriage is a Lifetime! Catholic Engaged Encounter Inc. is a community of Catholics serving engaged couples by sharing their experiences of living out the values of a sacramental marriage. They host weekend retreats for engaged couples incorporating presentations, self-reflection, and couple's dialogue.
Local Chapter: Catholic Engaged Encounter of Tucson
Contacts: Juan and Gina DeLaOssa
Email: tucson@engagedencounter.com
Website: Tucson Catholic Engaged Encounter
The FOCCUS Pre-Marriage Inventory is a comprehensive, user-friendly tool for use by lay individuals, couples or professionals who are helping couples prepare for marriage, and who become trained as FOCCUS Facilitators. The FOCCUS Inventory is designed to help engaged couples appreciate their unique relationship, learn more about themselves, and discuss topics important to their lifelong marriage.
Website: http://foccusinc.com/foccus-inventory.aspx
Now-a-days, "date nights" are popular across our country. Couples taking time out to have fun together is important, very important. But, there’s more. 10 Great Dates offers you Great Dates that are not only fun but also help you build and strengthen your relationship for the long haul.
Website: https://www.10greatdates.org/
The REFOCCUS Marriage Enrichment Inventory is a packet of five questionnaires that a married couple can use and score by themselves, as part of a weekend retreat, or in five weekly evenings in which the general topical areas are discussed with other couples. REFOCCUS is ideal for married couples who wish to spend time and energy on their relationship, but desire a little direction and skill building assistance in doing so.
Website: http://foccusinc.com/refoccus-inventory.aspx