Highlights:  Monday, May 9, 2011

·                     7:30 Opening Song:     Hail holy Queen 195-Glory and Praise

·                     Opening Prayer: God our Father, Maker of all, the crown of your creation was the Son of Man, Born of a woman, but without beginning: He suffered for us but lives forever.  Praise to you, Jesus, my resin Savior! You will show me the path to life, abounding in your presence, the delights at your hand forever.  Amen.

·                     7:40     Introductions

·                     7:50      Introduce Maury as witness.  Maury explained that we are going to do things a little different, watch a short video by Frank James Unger and read his poem, “Forgiveness”.  We met as small groups to discuss questions based on the concept of forgiveness.  Then, we returned to the larger group to share our witness about forgiveness in our own lives.

·                     9:00     Father Pete Alliata did the wrap up.

·                     9:10  Old/New News

o         April 30, Sponsorship Workshop at St. Teresa of Avila – attendees reported that the event was very educational and gave a deeper understanding of the sponsor’s role in Cursillo.

o         May 12 - 15, 2011 Women's 204th Cursillo Weekend Washington Retreat House; theme is “Enter the Gate of Abundant Life”.  Lists of team members & candidates were distributed to group and sent via email to Calvert Ultreya.

·                     9:15p.m. Final prayer:  Risen and loving Lord, we look forward to our resurrection for you have made us your sons and daughters, and restored the joy of our youth.  Amen.

·                     Petitions and Our Father, followed by food and fellowship.

Forgiveness: The Peace Core

 

Once upon a sandy beach,

I watched the waves at play;

I saw the shells come up to shore

And then be washed away.

 

But back they came, persistently,

Like many sins of mine,

Only to be cleansed by God

Each and every time.

 

Just as He carries shells to sea,

God wipes away my tears;

Mercifully, He washes me

Dispelling all my fears.

 

But, as I ponder all of this

God tells me how to live:

"Pardon all your enemies,

Then you I will forgive."

 

"There's your old friend, Bill," He says, "To whom you never speak, and

That cranky neighbor right next door Whom you refuse to greet."

 

"And the checker at the super mart

Who wronged you just one time,

And you scowled back and said,"

'You shortchanged me a dime.'

 

 

"And there's that man at Sunday Mass

Who always prays too loud;

You never have acknowledged him

Because you're awfully proud."

 

Then God clarifies one more time:

"First forgive the others,

Then I'll forgive as you forgive

Your sisters and your brothers."

 

Still, each time I come to Him

With my indiscretions,

He washes me as always,

Embracing my confessions.

 

So as I watch those many shells

Tumbling on the beach,

I'm touched by God's serenity,

His everlasting peace.

 

For I have learned

The true connection,

Between mine and God's forgiveness;

If I leave my anger out at sea,

It will be drowned in nothingness.

 

And then I know 1 will be cleansed

As I reach the final shore

Where I will rest eternally,

And I will sin no more.

 

Frank James Unger

 

Questions to ponder:

When/how have you been the person too proud to speak to the neighbor, or felt shortchanged by the cashier? How can you achieve peace within yourself if you don't forgive others?

What aids do I have to help me follow the path like that of the shells?

-To forgive and then be forgiven

-Pardon enemies then He will forgive

-Forgiven as I forgive others

-Leave anger at sea and it will drown

Who in our life have I not forgiven?