Organizations in the Diocese of Western Louisiana
Cursillo
A Cursillo is an encounter with Jesus Christ. It is an apostolic movement
of Christians who view as their primary vocation in life the leavening of
their environments. The Cursillo Movement seeks to do this by selecting men
and women who are natural leaders in their communities and spiritually developing
and sustaining them in the work of Christian evangelization.
What is Cursillo? The Cursillo is an encounter with Christ. Correctly applied,
the Cursillo Movement can have very positive results in the spiritual revitalization
of the world. The Christian likeness in a few good people is contagious. Cursillo
(pronounced kur-see-yo) is a Spanish word meaning "little" or "short course."
It begins on a Thursday evening and ends the following Sunday night. During
those three days, those attending live and work together listening to talks
given by priests and laity. They also share the Eucharist and pray together.
The titles of the weekend talks indicate their content: Ideal, Grace, Laity,
Faith, Holiness, Formation, the Sacraments, Evangelization, Obstacles to a
life of Grace, Leaders, Evangelization of the Environment, Christian Life,
Christian Community and Group Reunion. Each talk is followed by a discussion
period.
The "after activity" of the Cursillo is known as the Fourth Day. During this
time, perseverance is important just as it is in any method of renewal. In
the Cursillo Movement, the community spirit is continued after the three days
through the "Ultreya" or reunions of the community. These are available weekly
as a means of growth in understanding and zeal within the Christian community.
Reunions of smaller groups of friends are also available in order for them
to encourage one another in spiritual improvement and the Christian apostolate.
A Cursillo is an encounter with Christ. That sounds too simple, but it's not.
Think about it. A real meeting with Christ. If that is understood, then the
power, beauty and joy of the Cursillo Movement will be understood. Interested?
Talk to your parish priest. Talk with someone who has already made a Cursillo.
Attend one!
A
printable application may be downloaded by
clicking here.
A printable application for Cursillo staff may be downloaded
by clicking here.
These applications require the
Adobe® Acrobat® Reader. Click on the Adobe logo for
a free software download.
Contact persons:
Acadiana
Convocation: Daniel & Suzanne LeBoeuf
acadianaconvocation@yahoo.com
Alexandria
Convocation: Pam Childress
alexandriaultreya@gmail.com
Lake
Charles Convocation: Sharon George & Roxanne Myers
sgeorge45@aol.com roxannemyers@gmail.com
Monroe: Convocation:
Dale Dimos
ddimos@bellsouth.net
Shreveport
Convocation: Denise Shelton
shreveportultreya@gmail.com
Officers: President of the Secretariat,
Cathie Fincher
Treasurer,
Lisa Lewis
Registrar,
Melinda Zolzer
Secretary,
Barbara Alexander
Spiritual Director: The
Rev'd Paul Martin, St. Paul's, Shreveport
275
Southfield Road, Shreveport, LA 71105
Telephone:
(318) 865-8469
E-Mail:
frpaul@stpauls-shreveport.org
New Permanent Mailing Address: The Cursillo Movement, 193 Northwood
Lane, Natchitoches, LA 71457-7843
Cursillo's Web site: www.wlacursillo.com
Diocesan
Altar Guild
The Diocesan Altar Guild works for, and at the direction of the bishop in
support of the liturgical needs of his Episcopacy.
In that capacity we wash and iron, polish, clean up, check and store away
linens, altar dressings and vestments. We perform these tasks wherever we
are needed.
The Diocesan Altar Guild is open to all communicants in good standing
and no special skills are needed by those wishing to serve.
Kairos
Kairos is the interdenominational ministry introduced in Louisiana in 1993
at Angola, which now operates in twenty-seven states plus Australia, Canada,
England, and the Republic of South Africa. The ministry continues to be introduced
into additional correctional institutions, and on most weekends at least one
Kairos short course in Christianity is spreading the love of Jesus Christ
somewhere in the world. Kairos has presented over 3,000 weekends.
Statistics show that 97% of incarcerated men and women will eventually be
released. That means for every 100,000 prisoners, 97,000 will be released
and will therefore be potential recidivists. Statistics show that attendance
at a Kairos short- course in Christianity reduces recidivism by 10%. Multplying
9,700 people at $26,000 a year (cost of incarceration) equals a savings of
252 million dollars in one year alone! And surely some of these ex-offenders
will remain out of prison for more than one year.
In Louisiana, Kairos continues to offer Three-Day Short Courses in Christianity,
Two-Day Residents’ Retreats, Monthly Reunions, and help with weekly Share-and-Prayer
Group sessions in Angola, Louisiana Correctional Institution for Women (St.
Gabriel), Wade (Homer), and Winn (Winnfield).
Kairos Outside, which is for female family members of incarcerated men
and women, was introduced in the fall of 1999. In 2000 the ministry was extended
into Oakdale, a federal prison southwest of Alexandria, and the first Kairos
Discipleship Weekends in South Louisiana.
Contact
person: Bradley L. Drell, 2123 Marye Street, Alexandria, LA 71301
(318)445-6471
E-mail:
bdrell@goldweems.com
Diocesan
Episcopal Churchwomen
Diocesan ECW Purpose Statement …with the help of Almighty
God, to inspire and enable the ECW to express in word and
deed their love for God and their love for neighbor. We
pray to accomplish this by continuing to offer churchwomen
the following services:
WORSHIP: Worship is the inspiration for all our life
and ministry. It is the way we remember who we are as the
people of God, living responsively and celebrating the diversity
among us that is the great strength of our Christian community.
EDUCATION: (Provide) leadership training, financial
planning, program planning, consciousness raising through
programs on outreach ministries and opportunities for service
inside and outside the parish, theological education, etc.
NURTURE: Affirm women where they are, doing what they
are doing, recognizing their many and diverse ministries.
Affirm the unique role of women as full partners in the
ministry of the Church. Offer opportunities for personal and spiritual
growth, etc.
COMMUNICATION: To serve as the link between the branches,
between the diocese and the branches, between the national
church and the branches. To promote better understanding
within the ECW and the whole Church through communicating
one with another in fellowship.
MISSION: The Diocesan ECW is an intergenerational community
of women seeking spiritual wholeness and personal development.
Together we strive to help each other become the women God
called us to be.
EPISCOPAL
CHURCHWOMEN’S PRAYER
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, bless we pray Thee our work for the
extension of Thy kingdom, and make us so thankful for the precious gift of
Thy beloved Son, that we may pray fervently, labor diligently, and give liberally
to make Him known to all nations as Savior and their King, through the same
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Contact
person: Beverly Rasbeary, President
2448
Walker Road, Sulphur, LA 70663
E-Mail:
barasbery@camtel.net
EFM
Education for Ministry
EFM is the theological education extension program of the
School of Theology of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Completion
of the program takes 
four
years, during which participants study the Old and New Testaments, church
history, and twentieth century theology. Participants commit one year at a
time and meet weekly in seminars led by a trained mentor. EFM is for the laity
of the church. Every baptized person is called to ministry. EFM provides the
basis of a theological education in order to develop knowledge and confidence
about the ministry we all share. Since its beginning in 1975, EFM's 24,000
plus graduates have become a source of informed, committed and prepared leadership
for the church.
There are currently four active groups in our diocese:
St. Marks Cathedral, Shreveport, (Eydie Comeaux 318-226-4029) ;
Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Charles, (Martha Hoskins 337-527-7144);
St James, Alexandria, and St Michael's, Pineville, (Brenda Milam 318-487-0982)
Diocesan Coordinator: Brenda Milam,
5301
Horseshoe Drive, Alexandria, La. 71302
Telephone:
( 318) 487-0982
E-Mail:
brendamilam@suddenlink.net
link to Sewanee http://www.sewanee.edu/EFM/EFMhome.html
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