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I can’t improve my golf game if I don’t practice or stay fit if I don’t eat right and work out, so why would I think my faith life and relationship with Christ would improve if I didn’t invest time and effort into it? I believe in the concept that we get out of something what we put into it and that goes for my faith life and spirituality too. Therefore, I took the plunge recently and attended a multi-day retreat and had a wonderful experience filled with Scripture, prayer, Sacraments, brotherhood, and time to take stock of my journey to know Jesus more deeply. 

I was part of Cursillo Men’s Weekend (#56) a few weeks ago. Cursillo is Spanish for “short course” and was founded in Spain back in 1944. It has been in existence in the Diocese of Albany since 1970 and is a movement in Christianity to help us grow in our relationship with Jesus. It is a three-day journey designed to help us grow in Christ’s love and to be Christ in the world. 

The Cursillo Movement’s tagline hits the nail on the head: “Make a friend. Be a friend. Bring your friend to Christ.” To me, that is the essence of evangelization and discipleship. The Cursillo Movement provides a structured and time-tested method to not only help us grow in faith, but also serves as a conduit to form lasting and virtuous friendships. In my opinion, especially for men, it’s easy for our relationships to be superficial — we focus on typical “guy stuff,” but many times do not have the courage or experience to go deeper. It is easier to operate from the head and focus on the intellect, but we must transition from the head to the heart where authentic friendships and true brotherly and sisterly love exist. Cursillo is a starting point and venue for those looking to be part of a greater community of people outside of their current networks. 

I would be remiss if I didn’t thank all of the dedicated men and women that spent many hours preparing to lead the weekend as well as Sister Sue Zemgulis and her staff at the Dominican Retreat and Conference Center in Niskayuna for their outstanding hospitality. If you’d like more information about Cursillo, I encourage you to visit AlbanyCursillo.org. The Women’s Weekend will be held on Sept. 30 through Oct. 3. There are still a few spots available and information can be found on their website.  Unfortunately, the men will have to wait until 2022 for the next one. 

A beautiful takeaway from my Cursillo weekend was the reminder that God loves us unconditionally and there’s nothing we can do about it! So, the next time you feel alone or unloved, remember that you are never alone and you are loved beyond measure.

Please contact me with any questions about boosting evangelization efforts at your parish at [email protected] or by visiting https://www.rcda.org/evangelization. Follow me on ­Instagram: tom_rcda

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