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.
The application
form requires the Adobe® Acrobat®
Reader. Click on the Adobe logo for
a free software download.
Contact person:
Rita Haldeman
E:Mail:
ritahaldeman@bellsouth.net
Officers: President, Dale Dimos
2134 Maywood Drive, Monroe, LA 71201
E-mail:
ddimos@bellsouth.net
Treasurer,
Suzanne Crouch
Registrar,Melinda
Zolzer
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: Sandra Edwards, President-elect, Holy Trinity, Sulphur
2112
N. Rose Park Ave., Sulphur, LA 70663
Telephone:
(337) 625-7143
E-mail:nuts4garfield@suddenlink.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
318-487-0982
E-Mail: brendamilam@suddenlink.net
link to Sewanee http://www.sewanee.edu/EFM/EFMhome.html