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 person: Karen Nash
                           E:Mail: karensnash@hotmail.com

Officers: President, Karen Nash
                              250 Lakeview Dr., Gloster 71030
                       
               Treasurer, Suzanne Crouch, St. Timothy's, Alexandria
               Registrar, Melinda Zolzer, Trinity, Natchitoches
               Secretary, Jenny Milligan, St. Paul's, Abbeville

Spiritual Director: The Rev'd Paul Martin, St. Paul's, Shreveport
Assistant Spiritual Director: To be announced

New Permanent Mailing Address: The Cursillo Movement, 193 Northwood Lane, Natchitoches, LA 71457-7843

Cursillo's Web site: www.wlacursillo.com

Daughters of the King
   The Daughters of the King is an Order for women who are communicants of the Episcopal Church, churches in communion with it, or churches who are in the Historic Episcopate. Members undertake a Rule of Life, incorporating the Rule of Prayer and the Rule of Service. By reaffirmation of the promises made at her Confirmation, a Daughter pledges herself to a lifelong program of prayer, service and evangelism, dedicated to the spread of Christ’s Kingdom and the strengthening of the spiritual life of her parish.
    The Order was founded on Easter Even, April 14, 1885 in Holy Sepulcher Church (now Church of the Resurrection), New York City.
    The National Council DOK is made up of an executive board, committee chairmen and eight provincial representatives. The national headquarters of the Order is in Marietta, Georgia. The Diocese of Western Louisiana is in Province VII, along with the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. Province VII is the fastest growing province in the Order.
    The Diocese of Western Louisiana currently has fifteen active chapters and one chapter for Daughters-at-Large. There are approximately 250 active DOK members in the diocese.
    The Order of the Daughters of the King is the fastest growing organization for women in the Episcopal Church according to a recent bulletin in The Anglican Digest.

Contact person: Anita Luff, President;1509 Oakwood Dr., Lake Charles, LA 70622
                             Telephone: (337) 217-9487
                             E-mail: GREYHUND1937@msn.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.

Contact person: Kathy Dugan 318-443-3363
                             4110 Wellington Blvd., Alexandria, LA 71303
                             Telephone: (318) 443-3363
                             E-mail: Harmona@earthlink.net

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 Maryse 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: Cathie Fincher, President-elect

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
318-487-0982
E-Mail: brendamilam@suddenlink.net

link to Sewanee http://www.sewanee.edu/EFM/EFMhome.html