| SPARK |
| November / December |
| 2004 |
The Spark is the Newsletter of the Fort Hood / Heart of Texas Cursillo. It is published by the Cursillo Community for the Cursillo Community and does not
reflect the opinion of the U.S. Government or any agency thereof.
reflect the opinion of the U.S. Government or any agency thereof.
Holiday Hospitality: A 4th Day Priority
By Greg Ganslen
“Love your fellow Christians always. Do not neglect to show hospitality, for by that
means some have entertained angels without knowing it” Hebrews 13:1-2
We are approaching the time of year when we take time to share with others, to express our love to
another, to do for others. We sometimes refer to this time of year as the “holiday season”; it is the
time of year when people are hospitable. Hospitable is defined as “cordial and generous to guests”
… “treating guests with warmth and generosity” – it is one of my favorite words as it provides
wonderful images.
There are occasions where I find being hospitable is very easy – when I am hosting an activity or I
am entertaining others; when I am being of service to others; and when I am in situations where I
am expected to be hospitable. Holiday parties, Ultreyas, and family gatherings are examples where
I am comfortable being hospitable.
Being hospitable is also being active and taking positive actions so there are fewer “missed
opportunities”. Perhaps you may have similar examples of being hospitable: every week at Church,
I saw in the congregation the same people seated across from me. One Sunday I was moved to
introduce myself to them. I now know their names and we acknowledge each other each week.
People entering into our worship center pass fellow parishioners who serve as greeters, welcoming
parishioners. Nametags worn by some facilitate conversations and make people feel comfortable
talking to others. Conversations have begun because of a smile, by holding the Church door open
for someone to pass.
“Hospitality” describes our efforts to make a friend, be a friend, and bring that friend to Christ. Use
your opportunities to be hospitable as a starting point for bigger opportunities; our spreading
Christ’s message through the testimony of our life and our words in all our environments is
evangelization, which is what we are asked to do.
By Greg Ganslen
“Love your fellow Christians always. Do not neglect to show hospitality, for by that
means some have entertained angels without knowing it” Hebrews 13:1-2
We are approaching the time of year when we take time to share with others, to express our love to
another, to do for others. We sometimes refer to this time of year as the “holiday season”; it is the
time of year when people are hospitable. Hospitable is defined as “cordial and generous to guests”
… “treating guests with warmth and generosity” – it is one of my favorite words as it provides
wonderful images.
There are occasions where I find being hospitable is very easy – when I am hosting an activity or I
am entertaining others; when I am being of service to others; and when I am in situations where I
am expected to be hospitable. Holiday parties, Ultreyas, and family gatherings are examples where
I am comfortable being hospitable.
Being hospitable is also being active and taking positive actions so there are fewer “missed
opportunities”. Perhaps you may have similar examples of being hospitable: every week at Church,
I saw in the congregation the same people seated across from me. One Sunday I was moved to
introduce myself to them. I now know their names and we acknowledge each other each week.
People entering into our worship center pass fellow parishioners who serve as greeters, welcoming
parishioners. Nametags worn by some facilitate conversations and make people feel comfortable
talking to others. Conversations have begun because of a smile, by holding the Church door open
for someone to pass.
“Hospitality” describes our efforts to make a friend, be a friend, and bring that friend to Christ. Use
your opportunities to be hospitable as a starting point for bigger opportunities; our spreading
Christ’s message through the testimony of our life and our words in all our environments is
evangelization, which is what we are asked to do.
The Lamb of God
by Sharon Barnes
What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
while shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary.
It is a fact of police and hospital life, that during this season of joy many people feel sad.
These departments of regulating our social life feel the brunt of this depression most
clearly. Attempted – and successful – suicides and murders are up. It is a strange thing
that, during these holidays, we are supposed to be enjoying buying gifts for friends and
family; yet the most common emotion in the stores is frustrated peevishness.
Most of the authorities conclude that the reason is because of the cyclical effects of
sunshine. During this time of winter, the days are getting shorter and shorter. People
miss the sunshine. The ancient Church was well aware of this when they chose this season
to celebrate Christ’s birth – after the 21st of December, the days will start getting longer
again. What better time to celebrate the return of the Light to the world?
However, I think there might be another reason.
Many years ago, when I was a teenager, I ran into an article on how the Passover lamb
was selected during ancient Jewish times. It was not supposed to be just any old lamb
dragged from the flock the night before. Instead, the family chose the prettiest, most
winsome lamb during the early spring, and took it into their household, and made it a
family pet. Then, when the time came for the lamb to be sacrificed for the Passover ritual,
in remembrance God’s leading the Israelites from Egypt, they would feel a sense of loss, a
wish maybe that salvation didn’t have to be like that. It would be a poignant reminder of
the results of sin.
We do something like that at the Christmas season. The story of the Christ Child is
repeated, and His lessons – of turning from sin and embracing the human family – are
repeated in all kinds of stories. However, there is a tendency to forget that this “tender
and mild” infant came into the world to be sacrificed for our sins.
Why lies he in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian fear, for sinners here, the silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear, shall pierce him through, the cross be borne for me, for you;
Hail, hail the Word made flesh, the Babe, the Son of Mary.
We see the “Word made flesh,” God’s promise to us fulfilled. It is a sign that our lives are
not going to be in vain, that God himself is going to come down and live among us, and to
take away the separation caused by our sins. We are united once again with the human
family, in an atmosphere not of judgment and punishment, but of forgiveness and charity.
And yet . . . the price is terribly high. We may wish it didn’t have to be this way. We may
feel a sense of loss, looking at the manger, at this beautiful Lamb of God who has become
our loved one, and will soon become our Passover sacrifice.
Even in this time of self-actualization, it is time to realize that some things are out of our
hands. Accept God’s gift of salvation. Love the child in the Manger, and shed a tear if you
feel sad, and then turn to smile at your neighbor in the pew.
So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh, come peasant, king, to own him,
The King of kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone him.
Raise, raise the song on high, the Virgin sings her lullaby;
Joy, joy, for Christ is born, the Babe, the Son of Mary.
by Sharon Barnes
What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
while shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary.
It is a fact of police and hospital life, that during this season of joy many people feel sad.
These departments of regulating our social life feel the brunt of this depression most
clearly. Attempted – and successful – suicides and murders are up. It is a strange thing
that, during these holidays, we are supposed to be enjoying buying gifts for friends and
family; yet the most common emotion in the stores is frustrated peevishness.
Most of the authorities conclude that the reason is because of the cyclical effects of
sunshine. During this time of winter, the days are getting shorter and shorter. People
miss the sunshine. The ancient Church was well aware of this when they chose this season
to celebrate Christ’s birth – after the 21st of December, the days will start getting longer
again. What better time to celebrate the return of the Light to the world?
However, I think there might be another reason.
Many years ago, when I was a teenager, I ran into an article on how the Passover lamb
was selected during ancient Jewish times. It was not supposed to be just any old lamb
dragged from the flock the night before. Instead, the family chose the prettiest, most
winsome lamb during the early spring, and took it into their household, and made it a
family pet. Then, when the time came for the lamb to be sacrificed for the Passover ritual,
in remembrance God’s leading the Israelites from Egypt, they would feel a sense of loss, a
wish maybe that salvation didn’t have to be like that. It would be a poignant reminder of
the results of sin.
We do something like that at the Christmas season. The story of the Christ Child is
repeated, and His lessons – of turning from sin and embracing the human family – are
repeated in all kinds of stories. However, there is a tendency to forget that this “tender
and mild” infant came into the world to be sacrificed for our sins.
Why lies he in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian fear, for sinners here, the silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear, shall pierce him through, the cross be borne for me, for you;
Hail, hail the Word made flesh, the Babe, the Son of Mary.
We see the “Word made flesh,” God’s promise to us fulfilled. It is a sign that our lives are
not going to be in vain, that God himself is going to come down and live among us, and to
take away the separation caused by our sins. We are united once again with the human
family, in an atmosphere not of judgment and punishment, but of forgiveness and charity.
And yet . . . the price is terribly high. We may wish it didn’t have to be this way. We may
feel a sense of loss, looking at the manger, at this beautiful Lamb of God who has become
our loved one, and will soon become our Passover sacrifice.
Even in this time of self-actualization, it is time to realize that some things are out of our
hands. Accept God’s gift of salvation. Love the child in the Manger, and shed a tear if you
feel sad, and then turn to smile at your neighbor in the pew.
So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh, come peasant, king, to own him,
The King of kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone him.
Raise, raise the song on high, the Virgin sings her lullaby;
Joy, joy, for Christ is born, the Babe, the Son of Mary.
Introducing Frank Squitteri
By Jim Barnes, Spark Editor
Over the past few months I have used a few of Frank Squiiteri’s articles in the Spark. All
were with his permission. However, I have never really introduced him to you, In order to
do that, I will let him speak for himself through this extract from an e-mail correspondence I
recently had with him.
Quoted from Frank's e-mail.
“I began my search for a deeper relationship with God early in life. Right out of high school,
I entered the Jesuit Order at St. Andrews-on-the Hudson, Poughkeepsie, NY. Today, St.
Andrews is the site of the Culinary Institute of America, the most prestigious school for
chefs. I often think to myself: Had my timing been better, I would have been at least a great
chef!
“Instead, after I left the Jesuit Order I spent many years in public relations and advertising.
In 1975, my wife and I made our Cursillo Weekends. I have held various positions in
Cursillo--Ultreya Rep, Lay Director, Member of Secretariat,* and the latest, Post-Cursillo
Chairperson.
In 1998, I felt that the Movement was putting too much emphasis on methodology and (I)
began searching and praying for a new insight into the Movement. I concluded that there
was a deep spirituality in Cursillo, but it had to be drawn out from the experience of the
Weekend. So, I wrote the article, "Recapturing the Vision of the Cursillo Founders" and
posted it on our web site. To my surprise, I got a response from one of the Cursillo founders
who was delighted with the article. Both appear (on our website) under the heading of the
Spiritual Development Program. Based on that endorsement, I convinced our Secretariat
that we should launch our Program, and I have been busy ever since writing articles.
Fortunately, I interested Fr. John Walsh, M.M. in my work and he reviews all material. Fr.
Walsh is a professor at Maryknol Seminary, a spiritual writer and a worldwide lecturer. So I
lucked out. He calls my endeavor a structured approach and a foundational spirituality. I
have summed up the Program in my latest talk, "Putting All the Pieces Together."
Peace of Christ be with you.” -Frank
*Editor's Note: What Frank refers to as the Secretariat is what his Cursillo organization (and
many others) call their coordinating body, which we call the Board of Directors.
Frank has invited us to read any and all of his material, so instead of reprinting it on this
site, you can reach his site by clicking on this link:
http://www.nycursillo.org/ultreyaedindex.html
There is also an excellent article on what Cursillo is about by Reverend Hugh R. Grace
Spiritual Director, Cursillo Movement English, Archdiocese of New York. This article is also
available on line at
http://www.nycursillo.org/Cursillo40th.html
By Jim Barnes, Spark Editor
Over the past few months I have used a few of Frank Squiiteri’s articles in the Spark. All
were with his permission. However, I have never really introduced him to you, In order to
do that, I will let him speak for himself through this extract from an e-mail correspondence I
recently had with him.
Quoted from Frank's e-mail.
“I began my search for a deeper relationship with God early in life. Right out of high school,
I entered the Jesuit Order at St. Andrews-on-the Hudson, Poughkeepsie, NY. Today, St.
Andrews is the site of the Culinary Institute of America, the most prestigious school for
chefs. I often think to myself: Had my timing been better, I would have been at least a great
chef!
“Instead, after I left the Jesuit Order I spent many years in public relations and advertising.
In 1975, my wife and I made our Cursillo Weekends. I have held various positions in
Cursillo--Ultreya Rep, Lay Director, Member of Secretariat,* and the latest, Post-Cursillo
Chairperson.
In 1998, I felt that the Movement was putting too much emphasis on methodology and (I)
began searching and praying for a new insight into the Movement. I concluded that there
was a deep spirituality in Cursillo, but it had to be drawn out from the experience of the
Weekend. So, I wrote the article, "Recapturing the Vision of the Cursillo Founders" and
posted it on our web site. To my surprise, I got a response from one of the Cursillo founders
who was delighted with the article. Both appear (on our website) under the heading of the
Spiritual Development Program. Based on that endorsement, I convinced our Secretariat
that we should launch our Program, and I have been busy ever since writing articles.
Fortunately, I interested Fr. John Walsh, M.M. in my work and he reviews all material. Fr.
Walsh is a professor at Maryknol Seminary, a spiritual writer and a worldwide lecturer. So I
lucked out. He calls my endeavor a structured approach and a foundational spirituality. I
have summed up the Program in my latest talk, "Putting All the Pieces Together."
Peace of Christ be with you.” -Frank
*Editor's Note: What Frank refers to as the Secretariat is what his Cursillo organization (and
many others) call their coordinating body, which we call the Board of Directors.
Frank has invited us to read any and all of his material, so instead of reprinting it on this
site, you can reach his site by clicking on this link:
http://www.nycursillo.org/ultreyaedindex.html
There is also an excellent article on what Cursillo is about by Reverend Hugh R. Grace
Spiritual Director, Cursillo Movement English, Archdiocese of New York. This article is also
available on line at
http://www.nycursillo.org/Cursillo40th.html