The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1958-04-18
New Retreat League
Conducted byLaymen
Gets Good Results

was held from Oct. " TO 10
1857, in the knights Of Co
lumbus Hall between Mission
and McAlIen. Bernardo and
Augusfin combined their ef-
forts to give the lectures that
are usually given by six men.
And in those first three days,
something astounding happen.
ed.
One man described it this
way: Before / came here,
Thought / was a good Catholic.
Now / know / wasn't. / thought
/ knew a lot about my religion.
/ found out here that | know
nothing. ! thought ! was a good
husband. ! know now that ]
wasn't"
Every one of the first IL men
finished the retreat with one
major objective in mind: to get
their relatives and friends in
terested in making the next one.
On Nov. 10 the second Cursil.
los program was held, with &c
men present. The third had an
attendance of 33. The same pro-
gram was conducted again and
again, and each time it was at.
tended by more men of the area,
December was q critical
month for the program be-
cause Bernardo and Avsvstin
returned to Spain. This meant
fhe program had to depend
entirely on the new members.
Men from Mission and Meal.
len had TO accept the respon-
sibiIity Of leading the others.
They worked, studied and
prayed.
The prayers were answered.
The first retreat composed of
local men was handled smooth
ly, with favorable results.
The actual results of the Cur
sillos program cannot be eSti-
mated because they involve the
deep capitalization and revival
ization of every man who at
tends. But the parish figures in
Mission do prove the success in
another way.
In the parish of Our Lady of
Guadalupe in Mission, there are
now 100 daily communicates.
Previously there were Is. On
First Fridays there are 400 COM
municants. Between Ash We'd
nesday and Holy Saturday TO-
1000 persons received commun-
ion.
TIE men are bringing their
families and friends with them
when they come to Mass. Entire
families pray and worship to.
gether now. During the past
Lenten season, the average
number of daily communicate
was 300.
There are 102 men in the
Cursillos program now, IS pei
cent of whom are daily com
municants. These men 60 to
homes in their town, help to
validate marriages, bring others
back to the sacraments and
build a better community life.
The essential difference be.
tween a cursilIo and . retreat
is THAT in . retreat the priest
gives all conferences, both
doetrinaI and practical. In .
c~ursiIIo, The priest gives only
The doctrinaI eonfere ness.
Lsymen talk about the prac-
ticaI application Of doctrine
In everyday life, using their
own Experiences or research
as the basis for their advice.
The men hear other men from
oil walks Of life telling how
Christian doctrines can &C.
tvaIIy be lived.
There are five "rollos" or lee
lures each day, two given by
the priest on doctrinal matters
and three given by laymen.
These lectures are prepared by
the Cursillo center in Spain, ant
are adapted to various levels o.
intelligence.
One unusual assignment giver
to each man is to have hin
sketch the ideas of the lecture
on a piece of cardboard, K
make the ideas concrete in
drawing. Between lectures, ant
during meals, there are singing
Jokes and other social a~ctivitie!
designed to relax the men.
Mass IL celebrated for The
retrsafants every morning.
with . meditation following.
In The evening, Rosary and
night prayers are reeitsd. The
rest Of The time is spent in
studying doctrines that The
men are not sure they under.
stand. During this iims the
priest Is also available for
conferences.
In commenting on the pro
gram, Father Petru said: Il TN
derstand now why Bernardo ant
Agustin could not fully explain
at the outset what the Cursillo'
were. There is simply no natura
Explanation for the many mir
acles of Gods grace which com
pletely change a mans life with
in three short days. Here IS
mixture Of psychology win tn
supernatural force of God