The following are 3 messages we have
received for all Cursillistas:
Yesterday our entire country, as well as many other countries, were
devastated by the horrific events of the attacks and subsequent destruction
that was levied against people, property and symbols. Today many of us are
still in a state of shock and disbelief.
I ask all of you to join together to pray for the countless lives that were
so abruptly taken from all of us. Also, we pray for the hundreds of
individuals that are contiinuing to put their own lives at risk in an
attempt to hopefully recover individuals who may still be alive.
We pray for all the families and friends who are suffering the loss of a
loved one. We pray for all who are still unsure if they have lost a loved
one or not.
Most of all, we pray for the leaders of our great nation that they will
exercise restraint in dealing with this situation. All of us were greatly
angered by what happened and it is very natural to want to strike out. We
must pray that our leaders do not engage in any activity which may bring
about pain, suffering or even death to innocent individuals.
We are a country that is founded on the principles of freedom and justice
for all. We must pray that justice does not get replaced by revenge.
At times such as this, we all ask ourselves, "What can I do?"
First of
all, the best thing that we can do is to pray. Next we need to talk to our
loved ones and let them know how precious they are to us. In addition, we
can contact the various volunteer organizations in order to find out what
efforts are being made and how we may be able to help. Also, we can give
the gift of life. Besides blood, there will be a great need for
platelettes
and apheresis (to assist burn victims). Finally, we can pray some
more.
May God Bless America and all it stands for. May He bless each and
everyone of us during this devastating time and may He provide us with the
strength and courage to rebuild our resiliency.
Your Servant in Christ,
Thomas E. Sarg
National Executive Director
+++
From Monsignor Joseph McCloskey
This message was sent to the National Office last Thursday.
What a surprise to discover today's gospel was about love your enemies and
do good to those that hurt you. Examining my heart I realize I would be
paying only lip service to these words of Christ if I give into the thoughts
of getting even that are being tossed around by so many people.
The ordering of 11,000 body bags makes all too real the enormity of the
crime that has been committed against my country. The avenging of a loss has
been part of the heritage of being human. It is so natural that one has to
wonder about what Christ is saying. That he really meant what he said comes
out in the follow up. The way you measure will be measured to you.
I can almost enter into the minds and the hearts of those who have lost a
dear one. My nephew worked on the 41st floor of the world trade. He was not
in the building by the barest of margins. On Tuesday he brings his children
to school before he goes to work. He came out of the subway to see the
building falling. He was 300 yards away from the collapsing building when he
ran for safety. I did not know he was safe for five hours and
seeing the collapse I had given up hope on his being alive. The sigh of
relief and the awareness that I was not going to find myself short of
opportunity to say to him how special he is, gave birth to my intention
never to take a family member for granted. How awful the loss is for those
who will not have had enough time for their loved ones.
The tragedy to our family could have been even worse because my cousin and
his daughter and son were scheduled to take the plane that took down one of
the buildings. They missed the plane because the daughter overslept. Little
events that are often annoying and give rise to wanting to change saved
their lives. Those who were not saved become my tragedy now. What is the
proper way to mourn those who died a meaningless
death.
"Vengeance is mine" says the Lord. How do I let go of the desire to
punish
and allow God to be in charge of the world? He sent his son to die for each
of us and for the wrong we do. Martyrs offer their lives for those who are
killing them. "Forgive them because they do not know what they are doing
"
was the prayer of St. Stephen. Anger destroys and is an ulcer that eats up
the heart of the vengeful one. There is good anger and bad anger. Good anger
is the pain we offer to God for the injustices of our world. Bad anger is
the descending to the level of the one who has hurt us. The Palestinians and
the Israelites are living on bad anger. They are destroying themselves even
as they would destroy each other.
It is truly God-like to forgive. Yet forgiveness does not mean that we
leave ourselves open to be hurt again. "Turning the other cheek"
means we
try to do something about the situations that give rise to anger which make
people crazy. We head off the stampede at the pass while it is still
possible to do something about a situation. Bad anger feeds the fire. The
Christian way of getting even is to do good for those who hurt us. The
"heaping of coals of fire" on the one who offends us is done by the
good we
do for them. Anyone can make a difference in the world by the good they do.
Goodness is the solution. Anger expressed makes us part of the problem. We
are all good to those who love us. It is a child of God that makes a
difference in our world. Martin Luther King’s six principles of
nonviolence are where the answer lies.
1.Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people.
2.Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding.
3.Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice, not people.
4.Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform.
5.Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate.
6.Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice.
Let us rejoice that the Cross of Christ has conquered injustice. Let us
live our lives in the hope of the Resurrection. Let us believe that our love
can make a difference in our world. Let us not flee in fear from the victory
already won in the Resurrection. Let us pray for our enemies and do good to
those who do not understand the meaning of goodness and the truth of how
Christ has conquered the world by his Cross.
+++
Message from the United Kingdom:
On behalf of all Cursillistas in England and Wales please accept our
prayers and palanca for the American people, especially those who died, the
bereaved and for those who are still missing. I am sure that, at this
time,
you have been uplifted by the knowledge that so many people care and want to
do all they can to help. All most of us can do is pray. Pray that
some
good will come from this tragedy and pray that the world may become a better
place in the future.
Love and prayers,
Mary Peters
President - National Cursillo Movement
Message from our North
American/Caribbean Spirtiual Advisor
Dear Cursillistas
God's Peace and consolation at this time of national mourning!
Your brothers and sisters in the Caribbean are deeply affected by the
tragedy of September 11th which has claimed so many innocent lives. We bear
you up in prayer as cursillistas know how to through masses which will be
celebrated for your intentions, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, rosaries
and other ways of offering palanca. We pray for the consolation of God for
the families of the victims and wisdom for the gov't of the United States as
it processes a response to the perpetrators of such evil.
I myself am praying and shall meet with the students of the Kingstown
Medical College
tomorrow, Thursday, September 13th for a period of prayer and counselling.
I believe their are students who have lost relatives. We will keep in touch.
God bless.
De Colores!
Fr. Mike
Msgr. Michael Stewart
Cathedral Administrator
P O Box 860
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Phone: 784 456 1408
Fax: 784 456 2251
The following was
forwarded to me from the Region VII Cursillo leaders (Region VII is the region
of the United States that we in Mississippi belong to):
We have received prayer support from the President of the OMCC (the world
body that oversees the Cursillo Movement) and also the Spiritual Advisor
from Brisbane, Australia.
I wish to pass these on to each of you and ask you to forward these to as
many cursillistas as you can.
Your Servant in Christ,
Tom Sarg
OMCC Organismo Mundial de Cursillo de Cristiandad
Tom Sarg
Executive Director of the Cursillo Movement
in the United States of America
Landshut, Germany September 12th 2001
Dear Tom, dear National Coordinators,
beloved Brother - and Sister Cursillistas in the US.
A very horrifying attack has struck the whole Nation of the Unite
States
of America. The values of peace and freedom worldwide were assaulted
by
this terrible crime.
We look on and feel completely helpless and yet as Christians we can do
something. I have written to the International Groups of OMCC to join me
in
prayer for the victims of this detestable crime, for their families and
friends.
I know all Cursillistas in the world will stand in solidarity with your
entire nation. We will use abundantly the weapons available to us,
our
palanca, our prayers and intercessions for all victims, the dead fire- and
policemen and their families, the injured and all who are
stricken by the
loss of a loved one.
The free nations of the world will stand in solidarity with the United
States.
I think we should all pray for the leaders of your Country that they
may
choose the right measures in answer to this terrible and devastating crime.
May the Holy Spirit guide them in their decisions.
P. Martin Bialas C.P. sends his prayers and is united with you in Holy
Eucharist
In deep solidarity
Frances Ruppert
OMCC Coordinator
From Australia:
As the Spiritual Adviser to the Cursillo Movement here in the
Archdiocese of Brisbane (Australia), I write to assure you of the prayers
of the Cursillistas here in the face of the tragedy that has befallen your
country.
Know that we shall continue to offer prayers and masses on your behalf and
especially of those who have lost loved ones.
With all our love and sympathy
De Colores
Fr Adrian Farrelly
Canadian Conference
Conférence Canadienne
of Catholic Cursillos
THE NATIONAL SECRETARIAT
FOR CANADA Des Cursillos Catholiques
LE SECRÉTARIAT NATIONAL
DU CANADA
7400 ST. LAURENT BLVD. STE. 614, MONTREAL, QUEBEC, H2R 2Y1
Phone/Fax (514) 278 9873 e-mail cccc@qc.aira.com
Tom Sarg, Executive Director VIA E-mail September 14, 2001
National Cursillo Movement
P.O Box 210226,
Dallas, Texas, USA
75211
Dear Tom,
On behalf of the entire Canadian Cursillo Movement, I wish to convey to
you our deepest and most heartfelt sympathies for the evil that has befallen
your nation.
No words, actions, thoughts or tears, can possibly do justice to conveying
the sense of utter revulsion and sorrow that has gripped our hearts and
those of your brothers and sisters around the world.
We can only hope and pray that where evil abounds, faith and grace abound
likewise, and that as your nation picks up this enormous cross and continues
to follow GOD (in Whom You Trust,) your "tears will be turned into
dancing".
We join our prayers and Palanca with those of men of good will from every
religious stripe and every nation, that your leaders are strengthened and
guided by wisdom and compassion as they lead you out of this darkness, and
that you will be spared further sorrows of this kind.
Your brother in Christ,
Barry R. Guihan
Lay Director