News

REGION XII SPRING MEETING (February 22, 2009)

By Natalie Vieira, Lay Director Seattle, C.M.

The Region XII Spring Meeting will be held on Feb 27th & 28th beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The Seattle Archdiocese Cursillo Movement will be hosting this meeting to be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, in Everett, WA. This will be a wonderful opportunity for you to hear our National Staff sharing with us this weekend. Victor Lugo (National Director of the C. M.) and Cef Aguillon (the English Speaking Coordinator for the C.M.) will be giving talks on Saturday. Bishop Eusebio Elizondo is our newly appointed Episcopal Advisor to the C. M. will be giving a talk at 4:00 p.m. and celebrating mass with us at 5:00 pm Saturday. Our Ultreya will be at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday. If you would like to attend we do have a limited amount of space available for the talks so please call Natalie Vieira as soon as possible at (253)537-4877 to reserve a spot. Mass will be in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church.
Peace, Joy & Love, Natalie

Bishop Elizondo To Serve National Cursillo (December 18, 2008)

From National Cursillo Center

It is with great joy that we announce a special Advent gift for the Cursillo community. Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, M.Sp.S. has graciously accepted our invitation to serve as the National Episcopal Advisor for the Cursillo Movement in the United States.

Bishop Elizondo called the National Cursillo® Center on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Monday, December 8, 2008, to inform us that after much prayer and reflection, he felt called to response positively to our invitation. We feel blessed by the intercession of our Mother Mary for Bishop Elizondo’s response of "yes".

Bishop Elizondo is a native of Monterrey, Mexico. He received a bachelor's degree in theology and a canon law degree from the Gregorian University in Rome. In 1984, he was ordained a priest of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit, a religious congregation of men consecrated to God for the service of the Church, who provide spiritual direction for priests and consecrated religious. He was assigned to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Bothell, Washington in 2000 to provide ministry to the growing Hispanic community in Western Washington upon the request of Archbishop Brunett. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle by Pope Benedict XVI on May 12, 2005 and was ordained by Archbishop Brunett on June 6, 2005. Bishop Elizondo is the first Hispanic bishop in Seattle. Archbishop Brunett has appointed him Vicar General and Vicar of Hispanic Ministries, as well as Vocations Director of the Archdiocese.

Bishop Elizondo lived his Cursillo in Victoria, Mexico in 1975. As National Episcopal Adviser, Bishop Elizondo will become a member of the National Secretariat. Furthermore, he will be the Episcopal Representative of the National Cursillo® Movement at the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.

With gratitude to God, we welcome Bishop Elizondo as our Episcopal Advisor, and look forward to receiving the fruits of his wisdom, counsel, and guidance.

Bishop Elizondo To Visit New Eastside Ultreya in January  (December 14, 2008)

By Tony Ruiz, Pre-Cursillo

The Cursillo Movement at St. Madeleine Sophie Catholic Church in Bellevue, WA is sponsoring an Ultreya for Eastside Cursillistas, the third Friday of the month at 7:30 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. To help kick off the 2009 year, Bishop Elizondo has graciously agreed to attend and participate in the January 23, 2009 Ultreya to provide spiritual direction to Cursillistas in the area.

We invite and welcome all Cursillistas in the greater Seattle area, especially Group Reunions presently meeting and those that were previously meeting in the greater Eastside to join us in welcoming the Bishop and to renew friendships with brothers and sisters previously established. This is a very important and historic evening for the Cursillistas of St Madeline Sophie and the greater Eastside since Ultreyas have been dormant for some eighteen years.

St Madeleine Sophie Catholic Church is located at:
St. Madeleine Sophie Church
4400--130th Place SE
Bellevue, WA 98006


Ultreya is every third Friday of each month

For more information contact:
   John Hines, Parish Ultreya Coordinator, 425-228-3563
   Tony Ruiz, Parish Cursillo Coordinator, 206-399-4916

Cursillo Secretariat Planning Retreat  (December 14, 2008)

By Tony Ruiz, Pre-Cursillo

The Archdiocese of Seattle Cursillo Secretariat is scheduling its third planning retreat on January 24, 2009 at St Madeleine Sophie Church, 4400 130th Pl. SE, Bellevue, WA 98006 from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. This is a very important planning meeting for development the movement. The purpose of the planning retreat is to assess our accomplishments as a Movement during 2008 and to set a plan for 2009. The members of the planning committee, which involve Cursillo representatives from throughout the Archdiocese, will focus on administrative, Pre-Cursillo, Cursillo, and Post-Cursillo strategies and activities for the 2009 year and beyond. We encourage input from the general Cursillo community and as such welcome your participation and/or written comments. Please send your comments to Anthony Ruiz at the mailing address below. Members and individuals planning to attend will be sent an agenda and specific questions for their consideration. In order to help us plan for the number of lunches that will be required, we ask you to please RSVP Anthony Ruiz, at ruizandassociates@comcast.net or call 425-562-0609. Thank you very much for your consideration and God bless you.

Anthony Ruiz
Planning Session Coordinator
Seattle Cursillo Movement
13604 SE 54th Place
Bellevue, WA 98006
425-562-0609
ruizandassociatesr@comcast.net

2009 Cursillo Weekend Schedule at Camp Don Bosco  (December 14, 2008)

By Pre-Cursillo Leaders

Sponsors, please feel free to begin identifying potential candidates for all the Cursillo weekend this coming year and to refer both Spanish and English speaking candidate to the Secretariat Pre-Cursillo Coordinator. The Coordinator is Anthony Ruiz at ruizandassociates@comcast.net or call 425-562-0609. Applications can be obtained at seattlecursillo.org. Plan on inviting your candidate to your group reunion in order to develop the relationship required to support him or her after the weekend.

Padrinos y Madrinas por favor comiencen a identificar candidato y candidatas potenciales para los Cursillos en español o Ingles del siguiente ano y refrénelos al Coordinador de Pre-Cursillo del Secretariado. El Coordinador es Antonio Ruiz, dirección electrónica: ruizandassociates@comcast.net o llame a 425-562-0609. Aplicaciones se obtienen del website: seattlecursillo.org. Procure de invitar a su candidato o candidata a su reunión de grupo para establecer las relaciones apropiadas para apoyar a el o ella después del fin de semana.

Spring Dates/Fechas

Spanish Men	April 2-5
Spanish Women	April 16-19
English Men	May 14-17
English Women	June 11-14

Fall Dates/Fechas

Spanish Men	September 17-20
Spanish Women	September 24-27
English Men	October 8-11
English Women	October 15-18

De Colores

Grand Spanish Ultreya.  (December 14, 2008)

By José Blakeley

The Ultreya was held Saturday, October 4th, 12-3 pm at St. Madeleine Sophie. This was the Grand Ultreya after the recent Spanish Weekends. We had a record assistance of over 150 participants. Witnesses were given by José Rendón and Carmen López. Deacon Ted Rodriguez gave the reflection.

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe 2008 (December 13, 2008)

José Blakeley

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Americas, celebrated on Saturday, December 6, 2008 continued a tradition of tremendous success for the Catholic community of Seattle. The feast, organized by the Office of the Vicar for Clergy led by The Very Reverend Paul Magnano had broad participation from various communities in the archdiocese.

The event started at St Mary Parish, Seattle, with a blessing from Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo followed by a prayer of the Rossary in multiple languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and an American Indian dialect. The event continued with a procession through the streets of Seattle to St. James Cathedral which featured typical dances. The Mass at St. James Cathedral was presided by The Most Reverend Alex J. Brunett, Archbishop of Seattle concelebrated with Auxiliary Bishops Eusebio Elizondo and Joseph Tyson. Deacons Ted Rodriguez and Tony Cabazos were deacons at the Mass.

The Seattle Cursillo community was well represented during the event with over 50 participants. The feast concluded with a reception at St James Parish Hall attended by the three bishops, Rev. Magnano and several ethnic communities including English, Spanish, and Vietnamese and was accompanied by music from Mariachi Juvenil Voces de México and a typical Mexican meal of tamales, beans and rice provided by El Toreros Restaurant, Bellevue, and Restaurant Las Margaritas, Everett. The Spanish Cursillo community served the meals at the reception.

Your Brother in Christ,
José Blakeley

.

Men Spanish Cursillo #5 in Seattle.  (Decemer 10, 2008)

By José Blakeley

The fifth men Spanish Cursillo Weekend in the Archdiocese of Seattle was held on September 18-21, 2008 at Camp Don Bosco, Carnation, WA. The Cursillo Movement received 41 new cursillistas from many parishes in the Seattle area. Rafael del Pozo was the rector assisted by Esteban Peña and Ramón Murillo as vice-rectors. Deacon Anselmo Pardo was the Spiritual Director assisted by Deacon Ted Rodriguez. The team consisted of 27 cursillistas members of the Seattle Spanish School of Leaders. Fernando González served as kitchen team lead, José M. Pérez served as palanca team lead, and Edgar Santiago served as music team lead. Fr. Simon Grillo presided the Mass on Friday, Bishop Eusebio Elizondo presided the Mass on Saturday and gave parts of the Sacraments rollo, Fr. Dick Gallagher presided the Sunday Mass. Fr. Raymund Cleaveland and Fr. Robert Evanson minister the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturday. Armando Escamilla and Carlos Luna, from Easter Washington, provided special assistance to the rector.

Women Spanish Cursillo #5 in Seattle.  (December 10, 2008)

By Jose Blakely

The fifth women Spanish Cursillo Weekend in the Archdiocese of Seattle was held September 25-28, 2008 at Camp Don Bosco, Carnation, WA. We received 47 new cursillistas. Esmeralda Silva served as rectora assisted by Aida de la Peña and Sofia Tapia as vice-Rectoras. Deacon Ted Rodriguez was the spiritual director assisted by Deacon Andres Escamilla from Eastern, WA. Masses were presided by Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, and Father Dick Gallagher. Confessions were ministered by Father Guadalupe Dueñas.

Invite a Friend to Cursillo  (September 29, 2008)

By Tony Ruiz, Pre-Cursillo

Dear Brothers and Sisters,  In just three weeks, October 16-19, we will be celebrating our Men’s Cursillo and the following week, October 23-26, our Women’s Cursillo at Camp Don Bosco. For many of you who have heard our Lord’s call to go into the vineyard and have accepted His invitation to labor for Him and have harvested the fruits of the field, you have been blessed. For most of us who continue to labor with limited results, we are blessed because we still have about two and one-half weeks to bring in the harvest. For some of us who aren’t sure if you know how to labor, fear not for our Lord has said in Matthew 17:19 "For amen I say to you, if you have faith like a mustard seed, you will say to the mountain, Move from here to there and it will move. And nothing will be impossible to you." We all have the faith. All we need to do is to just allow our Lord to guide you and carry us as necessary.

With three weeks left, please begin mailing in you applications to Seattle Cursillo, Post Office Box 68803, Seattle, WA 98168-0803. If you wish to fax the application to me, directly, you can do so by calling 425-562-0609. Please call me at the same number before you fax the application, so that I can set my fax machine to accept the fax. I am usually home and available in the evening hours after 7pm Tuesday through Friday.
God bless you, all.
De Colores,
Tony

A Valentine Thank You   (June 30, 2008)

By Natalie Vieira, Lay Director

Dear Cursillistas:   Thank you for replying to our Valentines Day Donation Letter. You have been very generous to the movement. To date we have received $8920 in donations. This money will help with supplies, books, facilities & food for the weekends. Currently we have scheduled 4 weekends for 2008 for Spanish and English at Camp Don Bosco. We also scheduled 8 weekends for 2009 so, we will have lots of expenses coming up and these funds will help. The high cost of gas in this state, raises the price of everything we do for the weekend. We THANK ALL who donated to this letter and if you missed us and would like to send a donation, please send it to our address at: Seattle Cursillo Movement, P.O. Box 68803, Seattle, WA 98168

We sent out letters for your tax purposes this past week and if you did not receive a letter please call our Treasurer Melinda Affronte at 425-481-5296. She will check the list and our account for your donation and send a letter to you.

Remember to do Palanca for the weekend Teams & Candidates. We are accepting application for all weekends. Please send them in as soon as possible to PreCursillo Chairperson in care of our P.O. Box 68803 Seattle, WA 98168

Thank you again for your donations may God Bless You in a Special Way for your gift.

Peace, Joy & Love, Natalie

Help and Palanca For Fall Cursillos  (May 30, 2008)

By John and Darlene George

The fall Cursillo's will be held at Camp Don Bosco:

Spanish Weekends:
Men on Sept 18-21 and
Women on Sept 25-28

English Weekends:
Men on Oct 16-19 and
Women on Oct 23-26

Applications are available on the Cursillo website: http://www.seattlecursillo.org

If you have made a friend and are thinking of inviting your friend to Christ, through the Cursillo method. I invite you, to invite your friend to group with you first, and bring them to an Ultryea so they will know that there is a commitment. The three days are just the means to give each of us the opportunity to have a group of friends to help us to remain on our journey of faith of Piety, Holiness, Study, Formation and Action, Evangelization.

If their is anyone who is not grouping, and would like to find a group, John and Darlene George are the ones to contact as the Post Cursillo Chairpersons. We would love to help you discover, if we can, someone to share your life of Christ with thru the tripod.

Every Cursillo weekend as we all know needs a lot of palanca. Please help us to shower those candidates that will be making the upcoming weekends with prayers, Mass and Communion, Rosaries, Adoration, or what ever you offer to the Lord for the success of the weekends. If you want to get the PALANCA to the weekends, feel free to send your palanca to this e-mail and we will make a poster and get it to each Cursillo weekend that you have offered the Palanca up for.

These are only a few Cursillo names that I have on my computer, so if you know more Cursillista that are not included here, please feel free to pass this information on.

Our prayers is that we can truly make Cursillo reach to all who can and will change their envirnoment, that is remember wherever they find themselves to bring Christ into the center of it. We need your help if we are to succeed in changing our World for CHRIST.

Please let us know if we can be of help.

DE COLORES!

John and Darlene
georgefj@verizon.net, 425-775-1247

Help and Palanca Needed     (February 10, 2008)

By Natalie Vieira, Lay Director

We have Cursillo 3-Day Weekends in March, April, September, and October and could use some help. If you would like to work on any of these weekends, we would be happy to talk with you about how you might help. Please call Natalie Vieira, Lay Director for Cursillo at 253-537-4877 or email nauticalnat@msn.com. Please do Palanca for each of the weekends and send the Palanca to Cursillo Movement, PO Box 68803, Seattle WA 98168, or if you have registered on the Web site, you can send Palanca from the "Members Area".   --Peace, Joy & Love, Natalie

Eduardo Bonnin, Founder of Cursillo, Passes On  (February 7, 2008)

Email from National Cursillo Center:

From: Victor Lugo, National Cursillo Center
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 7:48AM
To: nationalcursillo.center@verizon.net
Subject: Eduardo Bonnin

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

I send this message with a heart full of Christ’s mercy and joy, to inform you of the passing to eternal life of our beloved friend, EDUARDO BONNIN, founder of the Cursillos of Christianity, today, Wednesday, February 6, 2008, at 9:00 AM, CST, which is 4 PM in Mallorca. I will post the details of his funeral on the National Cursillo Movement website as soon as it becomes available. Please contact the Lay Directors in your region and ask them to inform their Cursillo Community of the passing of EDUARDO.

Let us pray for the repose of the soul of EDUARDO BONNIN.

De Colores!
Victor

Pray in Thanksgiving for the Gift God gave to him in the Cursillo Movement. Thanks also for giving it to each of us who have made a Cursillo. Peace, Joy & Love Natalie Vieira

Spanish Cursillo Weekends and Ultreyas (October 17, 2007)

By Jose Blakeley

Men Spanish Cursillo #3 in Seattle. The third Men's Spanish Cursillo Weekend in the Archdiocese of Seattle was held on September 20-23, 2007 at Camp Don Bosco, Carnation, WA. The Cursillo Movement received 26 new cursillistas from various parishes in the Seattle area, including St. Michael, St Louise, Christ the King, Holy Family, Holy Apostoles, Wenatchee, WA, St. Anthony, St Pius, St Mary of the Valley, St Charles, St. Mary, and Immaculate Conception. The team was formed from cursillistas from the dioceses of Seattle and Yakima. Rafael del Pozo and César Galindo-Legaria from the Spanish Seattle Cursillo served as Rector and Vice-Rector, respectively. Deacon Ted Rodriguez served as resident Spiritual Director for the weekend. Additional spiritual directors included Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, Seattle, WA; Rev. Gary Zender, St. Anthony, Renton; Rev. Agustin Rodriguez, St Elizabeth Ann Seton, Bothell; Deacon Anselmo Pardo, Holy Spirit, Kent; and Deacon Andres Escamilla, Warden, WA. We continued to be blessed by the support of our cursillista brothers from Eastern WA. Armando Escamilla, Carlos Luna, Luis Ocampo, José González, Rosendo Montes, and Antonio Mendoza contributed deep Cursillo experience and helped us with rollos, meditations, and music. This was the first Spanish weekend whose palanca and kitchen teams formed exclusively from Seattle cursillistas. Esteban Peña served as kitchen lead and Antonio Mendoza served as palanca lead.

Women Spanish Cursillo #3 in Seattle. The third women Spanish Cursillo Weekend in Seattle was held September 27-30, 2007 at Camp Don Bosco, Carnation, WA. We received 30 new cursillistas. The women’s team was formed primarily from Eastern WA cursillistas. Diana Martinez (Warden) served as Rectora. Deacons Anselmo Pardo and Paco Martinez served as Spiritual Directors for the weekend. Additional spiritual directors included Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, Seattle, WA; Rev. Guadalupe Dueñas, Des Moines; and Rev. Agustin Rodriguez, St Elizabeth Ann Seton, Bothell. Without the generous help from our cursillista sisters from Eastern, WA, this cursillo could not have happened.

GRAND SPANISH ULTREYA. The monthly October 2007 Ultreya at St. Madeleine Sophie Parish was designated as the Grand Ultreya to introduce the new cursillistas from the recent September 2007 weekends to the 4th day. This was the 13th consecutive monthly Spanish Ultreya. David Cruz was the coordinator assisted by Sofia Tapia. Esteban and Ana Leticia Peña gave witnesses. Juan Zavala gave a follow on witness. Deacon Anselmo Pardo served as Spiritual Director. The Ultreya was attended by nearly 90 cursillistas and concluded with a pot luck lunch. We invite all cursillistas to join us to this monthly Ultreya the first Saturday of the month at St. Madeleine Sophie Parish, 12-3 pm. The next Ultreya is Saturday, Nov 3rd.

Building Our Schools of Leaders  (October 2, 2007)

By Natalie Vieira, Lay Director for the Cursillo Movement

DeColores! At our last Secretariat meeting we talked about communication and how we could use the Tripod and the Website to get information to the Cursillistas in western Washington. I decided why not try it and see what happens. One of the topics I feel is very important is our SOL (School of Leaders). This brought me to the point of saying "What is the history of the SOL in the Seattle Archdiocese and what is the purpose?"

Let’s look at the history and how I became involved in the Cursillo Movement. I made my Cursillo in 1971 and shortly after I made the weekend I was invited to SOL in Seattle. I thought and prayed about it and decided to go and see what this was all about. I walked into a room and there were about 12 men and women sitting around a big table. They welcomed me to the group and began to share when they made their Cursillo weekends in the late 60's and now they were studying the Cursillo Movement and helping other people to experience the Cursillo. They shared that they were studying the Leaders Manual, the Rollos for the weekends, The Fundamental Ideas of the Cursillo Movement and Scripture and to be part of the team for the weekends. There was Community in this group and I wanted to be part of it and decided I wanted to make this Study of the movement part of my weekly life and joined the SOL.

I studied and was asked to work a team as a Cha-Cha which meant I ran all weekend long whenever we needed to communicate with the kitchen or palanca crew. I was tired when the weekend finished but so blessed to see others experience the Cursillo weekend that I just continued on studying and getting to know the movement better. I worked in several area of the weekend and began to put the pieces together and seeing how Piety, Study and Action all worked together. I also saw how each of the sections Pre-Cursillo, Cursillo and Post-Cursillo worked together in the SOL and Secretariat to accomplish the Cursillo weekends. I was completely involved in every aspect of the movement.

Then in the late 70s the movement slowed down and our SOL became smaller and smaller until there were only 3 people left. These 3 people were John George, Bill Shawver and myself (Natalie Vieira). We were determined to not let it fall apart. The 3 of us decided to study the movement right from the beginning again with the Leaders Manual and Fundamental Ideas every Monday night. Study, study, study and Pray, pray, pray we did. We also shared scripture and prayed for the movement. We decided that "YES" we were ready to start another SOL at St. Patrick’s Church in Seattle and began to invite people to join us. To our amazement within a year we had about 35 people all willing to Study, pray and prepare themselves to help sponsor candidates and work on weekends.

Years passed and we continued with our SOL. Due to the church needing the space we were using we had to move the school to St. Monica’s on Mercer Island. Due to distance and the 'Gas Crunch' we lost a few people but the School continued on. During the late 90's a group approached the Secretariat from the Poulsbo area and asked if they could start a SOL in there area to study the movement instead of commuting across the sound weekly. The Secretariat approved and this school became the PSOL (Poulsbo School of Leaders), We gave them all the information on what to study and helped establish the school. They also became part of teams for the Cursillo weekends. They are represented on the Secretariat which meets monthly in Bellevue.

In the fall of 2005, 3 people from the Spanish Community approached the Secretariat and asked to have Spanish Cursillo weekends. The Secretariat asked them to study the movement in Spanish and to ask others to join them. They studied for 6 months and began to get ready by asking English Cursillistas from Seattle and Spanish Cursillistas from Eastern WA to help them form the team for the first Spanish Cursillo Weekend in Seattle. This school is known by SSSOL (Seattle Spanish School of Leaders). They continue to study the movement and prepare themselves to help others experience the Cursillo in Spanish. They have a representative from the SSSOL on the Secretariat.

In the spring of 2006 a small group from Olympia asked the Secretariat if they could form a school in their area to study the movement so that they would not have to travel to Seattle. The Secretariat approved by giving them information on what to study etc. and that school is known as OESOL (Olympia English School of Leaders). They also work on Cursillo weekends in Seattle/Poulsbo area. They are represented on the Secretariat.

The SESOL (Seattle English School of Leaders) will mark there 37th year together. Now that is PERSERVERENCE, COMMUNITY AND COMMITMENT.

We are now asking each of you to ask yourselves, "Is the Lord calling you to learn about the movement, to study the Rollos, to learn about Evangelization, to work teams and to pass this wonderful Cursillo Movement on to others? Are you ready to say "Yes, Lord!" Then come and see and join us at one of our Schools. They are held on Monday Nights at the following places and times:

• St. Madeleine Sophie, Bellevue, 7-9pm Monday nights (English)
• St. Madeleine Sophie, Bellevue, 7-9pm Monday nights (Spanish)
• St. Olaf, Poulsbo, 7-9pm 2nd & 4th Monday nights (English)
• St. Michael Olympia, 6-8pm 2nd & 4th Monday nights (English)

We also had a Vietnamese School and would love to get that growing again, so please listen to the Lord calling you into action to help the schools grow.

We all need more Cursillistas in our schools. If you would like more information please call Natalie Vieira at 253-272-3090 or email at: In the subject line write "NEED INFO ON SOL" and I will make sure that I respond back to you. Looking forward to meeting soon.

Peace, Joy & Love,
Natalie Vieira
Lay Director Cursillo Movement

Spanish Ultreya Started  (March 15, 2007)

Spanish Ultreya
First Saturday of the month 12noon to 3pm
St. Madeleine Sophie Church
4400 130th Place S.E.
Bellevue, WA

Spanish Cursillo Heads into Second Year (January 5, 2007)

A friendship gathering of Cursillo prayer groups, with the theme of “Family", will be held Saturday, Jan. 6 from noon to 3 p.m. at St. Madeleine Sophie Church, 4400 130th Place S.E. All Catholics are invited. The monthly gathering, known as an “Ultreya” (Spanish for “onward”), is designed to build Christian community. An English-speaking version of the movement has been active in the Archdiocese of Seattle for more than 40 years. A Cursillo for Spanish-speaking Catholics was established last year. With the support of Seattle Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, M.Sp.S., and under the leadership of Tom Mahoney, John George and Jose Blakeley, a Spanish School of Leaders was started on Dec. 12, 2005, feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. For more information, contact Jose Blakeley at (425) 868-3342

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebrated (December 6, 2006)

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Americas, celebrated on Saturday, December 2, 2006 was a tremendous success for the Catholic community of Seattle. The feast, organized by the Office of the Vicar for Clergy led by Very Rev. Paul Magnano had broad participation from various communities in the archdiocese. 

The event started with mañanitas and a blessing led by Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo at the St. Ignatius Chapel at Seattle University. The event continued with a procession through the streets to St. James Cathedral which featured typical dances and a prayer of the Holy Rosary followed by a mass at St. James Cathedral presided by Most Rev. Alex J. Brunett, Archbishop of Seattle concelebrated with Auxiliary Bishops Eusebio Elizondo and Joseph Tyson, and Deacon Anselmo Pardo. 

The Seattle Cursillo community was well represented during the event with over 50 participants. The feast concluded with a reception at St James Parish Hall attended by the three bishops, Rev. Magnano and several Spanish and English communities and was accompanied by music from a Mariachi band and a typical Mexican meal of tamales and atole.

Spanish Ultreya (November 6, 2006)

The Seattle Spanish SOL (School of Leaders) organized an Ultreya on November 4, 2006 at St. Anthony Parish, Renton, WA. We had about 25 people attending the event from various areas of Bellevue, Seattle, Tacoma, Renton, Des Moines, Marysville, and Everett. Most members of the Spanish SOL (10/17) attended the event. The theme of the Ultreya was Missionating (our environments). Xóchitl Jimenez and Anthony Ruiz coordinated the event. Xóchitl served as MC; José Pérez read the scriptures; Francisco Javier Miramontes, who lived his Cursillo last September, shared his witness; and Deacon Ted Rodriguez provided the spiritual reflection and summarized the Ultreya.

The Spanish SOL will hold monthly Spanish Ultreya's the first Saturday of the month, 12-3pm, at St. Madeleine Sophie Parish, Bellevue. Please reserve these dates on your calendars. We will skip the first Saturday of Dec 2006 due to our participation at the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, but will resume on Jan. 6th, 2007. More details about the group reunions organizing each of these monthly Ultreya's will be coming soon.

Ultreya en Español. 

La Escuela de Dirigentes de Cursillo en Español organizó una Ultreya el 4 de noviembre de 2006 en la Parroquia de San Antonio, Renton, WA. Participaron en el evento aprox. 25 cursillistas de varias areas de Bellevue, Seattle, Tacoma, Renton, Des Moines, Marysville, y Everett. Participaron la mayoria de los miembros de la escuela (10/17). El tema de la Ultreya fué "misionar nuestros ambientes." Xóchitl Jiménez y Anthony Ruiz coordinaron el evento. Xóchitl sirvió como maestra de ceremonias, José Pérez leyó las escrituras, Francisco Javier Miramontes, quien vivió su Cursillo en septiembre pasado, dió su testimonio, y el Diácono Ted Rodriguez propocionó la reflexión espiritual y el resúmen de la Ultreya.

La Escuela de Dirigentes en español organizará Ultreyas el primer sábado del mes, 12-3 pm, el la parroquia de St. Madeleine Sophie, Bellevue, WA. Por favor reserven estas fechas en sus calendarios. Vamos a omitir la del primer sábado de diciembre 2006 debido a nuestra participacion en las festividades en honor a Nuestra Virgen de Guadalupe, pero continuaremos el 6 de enero de 2007. Más detalles acerca de las reuniones de amistad encargadas de organizar cada una de estas Ultreya's mensuales se darán a conocer pronto.

Archbishop Burnett Invites You to Celebration: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe-Mother of the Americas (November 1, 2006)

Estimados Hijos de María de Guadalupe

El título de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Madre de las Américas es una combinación de la devoción a Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe con el título que el Papa Juan Pablo II le dio a la imagen México durante la celebración inaugural de Ecclesia in America. La aparición de María al indio Juan Diego en la colina del Tepeyac, el año 1531, tuvo una repercusión decisiva para la evangelización. Este influjo va más allá de los confines de la nación mexicana, alcanzando todo el Continente. Y América, que históricamente ha sido y es crisol de pueblos, ha reconocido en el rostro mestizo de la Virgen del Tepeyac, "en Santa María de Guadalupe, un gran ejemplo de evangelización perfectamente inculturada". Por eso, no sólo en el Centro y en el Sur, sino también en el Norte del Continente, la Virgen de Guadalupe es venerada como Madre de toda América. Con esto en mente, los invito a que se unan conmigo y mis obispos auxiliares a honrar a Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Madre de las Américas el próximo 2 de diciembre del 2006.

Dear Sons and Daughters of Mary of Guadalupe

The title of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Americas is a blending of the devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe with the title Pope John Paul II gave to the image in Mexico during the inaugural celebration of Ecclesia in America. The appearance of Mary to the native Juan Diego on the hill of Tepeyac in 1531 had a decisive effect on evangelization. Its influence has move beyond the boundaries of Mexico, spreading to the whole Continent. America, which historically has been, and still is, a melting pot of peoples, has recognized in the mestiza face of the Virgin of Tepeyac, "in Blessed Mary of Guadalupe, an impressive example of a perfectly inculturated evangelization." Consequently, not only in Central and South America, but in North America as well, the Virgin of Guadalupe is venerated as Mother of all America. With this in mind, I invite you to join me and my auxiliary bishops to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Americas on December 2, 2006. 

--Most Rev. Alex J. Brunett, Archbishop of Seattle

First Women Spanish Cursillo in Seattle (October 3, 2006)

The first women Spanish Cursillo Weekend in the Archdiocese of Seattle was held on September 28--October 1, 2006, at Camp Don Bosco, Carnation, WA. This Cursillo built on the success of the men's Spanish Cursillo by receiving 55 new Spanish-speaking cursillistas from many parishes in the Seattle Archdiocese including St. Louise, Bellevue, WA; Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Woodinville, WA; St Elizabeth Ann Seton, Bothell, WA; Mary Queen of Peace, Sammamish, WA; St. Monica, Mercer Island, WA; Christ the King, Seattle, WA; St Olaf's, Poulsbo, WA; St. Anthony, Renton, WA; Holy Spirit, Kent, WA; St. Mary, Marysville, WA; as well as parishes from the Yakima diocese including Sacred Heart, Othello, WA, and Holy Apostles, Wenatchee, WA. The women's team was a collaborative effort of cursillistas from the dioceses of Yakima, Spokane, Seattle, Los Angeles, CA, and Nayarit, México. Spiritual Directors included Rev. Miguel Mejía, Sacred Heart, Othello, WA and Deacon Andrés Escamilla, Our Lady of Fatima, Warden, WA. Clara Suárez, Moses Lake, WA served as the Weekend Rectora. 

Training for New 3-Day Weekend Manual is Available (September 28, 2006)

Do you want to grow deeper in the living of what you received on your Cursillo 3-day Weekend? Do you have a desire to share what you received on your weekend? If you answer yes to these two questions then the Seattle Secretariat invites you to join the other Cursillistas who will begin to study the new Weekend Manual starting in January. There are some real differences in this manual from what we have been doing. 2007 weekends will use the new manual and only those who are familiar with it will be able to work on those weekends. Email Lay Director, Natalie Vieira, at or call her at to tell her of your interest or to ask for more information.

We Need Help For Distributing the TRIPOD! (September 27, 2006)

Can Your Group Reunion Take this On? The Seattle School of Leaders (SESOL) is asking for a Group Reunion to take over responsibility for getting the TRIPOD printed newsletter mailed out. This includes picking the newsletters up from the printer, labeling, and taking them to the Post Office. With five or six dedicated workers this is a two to three hour commitment three times a year. Any Group Reunion that is interested should contact Natalie Vieira for details.

Ultreya Español-Announcing Spanish Ultreya (September 27, 2006)

Queridos hermanos y hermanas Cursillistas, Los invitamos a la Ultreya en español que se realizará el día 7 de octubre de 2006 de 11:00 a.m. a 1:00 p.m. en las instalaciones de la Parroquia St. Madeleine Sophie, 4400 130th Place SE, Bellevue, WA 98006. Esta Ultreya se organiza para darles la bienvenida a su 4º. Día a todos los cursillistas que participaron en los fines de semana en español durante el mes de septiembre de 2006.Todos los cursillistas del Estado de Washington están invitados. Announcing Spanish Ultreya. A Spanish Ultreya to welcome all new men and women cursillistas from the recent Spanish weekends will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2006, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm at St Madeleine Sophie Parish, 4400 130th Place SE, Bellevue, WA 98006. All Spanish-speaking cursillistas from the State of Washington are invited.

First Men Spanish Cursillo in Seattle (September 19, 2006)

The first men Spanish Cursillo Weekend in the Archdiocese of Seattle was held on September 14-17, 2006 at Camp Don Bosco, Carnation, WA. The Cursillo Movement received 21 new Spanish-speaking cursillistas from various parishes in the area, including St. Louise, St. Madeleine Sophie in Bellevue, WA; St Elizabeth Ann Seton, Bothell, WA; Christ the King, Seattle, WA; St Olaf's, Poulsbo, WA; St. Anthony and Holy Spirit, Renton, WA; as well as St. Mary, Marysville, WA; Sacred Heart, Othello, WA, and Holy Apostles, Wenatchee, WA. The team was formed from cursillistas from the dioceses of Yakima, Spokane, and Seattle. Spiritual Directors included Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, Seattle, WA; Rev. Miguel Mejía, Sacred Heart, Othello, WA; Rev. Scott Connolly, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Woodinville, WA; Deacon Francisco Martinez, Spiritual Director of the Cursillo Secretariat of Yakima; and Deacon Anselmo Pardo, Holy Spirit, Renton. Armando Escamilla from Moses Lake, WA who served as the Weekend Rector. Click here for larger picture.

New Leaders Assume Responsibilities (May 28, 2006)

The Seattle Cursillo Movement announces new leaders.

• New Lay Director: Natalie Vieira
• New Treasurer: Andrea Collard
• New Post Cursillo: Rose Souza
• New Spiritual Advisors: Fr. James Dalton and Deacon Gene Vanderzanden

Please add Natalie, Andrea, Rose, Fr. Dalton, and Deacon Vanderzanden to your prayer list!

Spanish-speaking Cursillo Weekends Announced (April 11, 2006)

The Spanish Cursillo Movement in Seattle has started. The dates for the first Spanish Cursillo weekends are September 14-17 for men and September 28-October 1, 2006 for women. Both of these weekends will be at Camp Don Bosco (near Carnation, WA).

"Gentle evangelizer" led local Cursillo Movement (January 29, 2006)

An article about Pete Jancola published in The Catholic Northwest Progress, January 26, 2006.

The Passing of Pete Jancola, Lay Director of the Seattle Cursillo Movement (January 17, 2006)

Please keep Pete Jancola and his family in your prayers. Pete died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident on January 14th. A Mass of Christian Burial for Pete will be celebrated at 1:00pm on Saturday, January 21st, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 1310 Madison Avenue North, (corner of High School Road and Madison) on Bainbridge Island. It’s easy to get to, from the ferry follow the main road (Olympic/WA-305) and turn left at the second light (High School Road) and then it’s right at the round-about. There is a 12:20pm ferry that should get you there on time. There will be a reception following the Mass in the parish hall. Return ferries are at 4:35pm, 5:30pm, and 6:30pm. 

At St. Cecilia’s on Friday, January 20th, there will be a Visitation from 4pm to 7pm with a Rosary to begin at 7pm. Internment will be on Monday at Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 Southeast 240th Street, Kent, WA 98042, telephone: (425) 413-9614. Memorial contributions can be made to: Seattle Cursillo Movement, Rails-to-Trails, or a charity of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to Kass & Cook Family Funeral Home on Bainbridge Island. 

Link to Obituary 

As Pete always says, "God is With Us."

Women's Weekend at Camp Don Bosco(October 24, 2004)

Men's Weekend at Camp Don Bosco(October 17, 2004)

English Men's Weekend at Belfair, WA (June 1, 2002)