Questions to Share

From Our Spiritual Advisor              

Dear Brother and Sister Cursillistas We’ve just finished the tremendously spiritual season of Lent and its preparation for the experience of Holy Week and Easter.  There were a lot of gatherings to pull us together to grow in faith and in the friendship of one another.  That builds our personal sense of our faith merits and demonstrates how that builds community and a sense of belonging. 

Now we have another kind of experience to share when we’re often pretty much more alone and have time to relax and remember some of the good times we just shared, to let those affect us in our lives more deeply!  All of this is the human way of life with its business and quietness intermixing so we can stay alive and have fun. 

My thought for this month’s ARK is that we can share with some family and friends. A couple of thoughts that inspire us to share with others, - the faith gifts we experienced, - be good and fun instruments in the hands of The Savior Jesus  to give the world.  We each have a way to experience friendship in gentle timing and most likely some “surprising” thoughts!  TAKE THE TIME TO PONDER EACH QUESTION.

Here are some QUESTIONS TO PONDER so we can share:  

What Is Your Favorite Part Of Spring? 

 What Is The Last Thing That Made You Smile?   

Favorite Springtime Sport? 

What If You Had An Extra Hour In Every Day, How Would You Spend It?       

What Do You Value Most In  A Friendship?

Got ya all in prayer as we experience this fun time at the same time!!! 

I might be on a beach with a beverage in my hands when you read this,               

Fr. Skip

The Journey

From Our Lay Director,  

Happy Easter!!  He Is Risen!! We pray that your Lenten journey was fruitful. Dying to self in order to rise with Christ this Easter. 

Jesus knew very well about dying to himself. How many times in scripture do we read about Jesus doing his Fathers will, not his own. I think about this lent and the giving up that I did. No, I didn’t give up stuff this year. I gave up my time to help others, especially when I was too busy. I gave up or offered my gifts, my talents to those who needed help, mostly in small ways. And I gave some of my treasure to those that needed it more. And I found that doing these things brought me joy. Not happiness, joy. There is a difference. Even when life throws a lot of muck your way you can still be joyful. Joy comes from knowing that God has all of life in His hands. The good, the bad and the ugly. And you come to know that even with sorrow and pain, there is a rainbow of love at the other end. You come to realize that all of this life's a journey. From the beginning to the end and all the highs and lows in between. Your life, my life is a dash, like on a headstone 1958 - 2075.What we do with our dash is what we will be judged for at the end of time.  When you go through the rough and hard times in life, as many of you know, it is the reliance on God that gets you through. Jesus had to die in order to rise from the grave. He had to die so that the Father could send us the Holy Spirit, The Advocate. Jesus knew that we would need help! I certainly can't do it on my own. But with God’s help I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Life is so much easier if I would get out of God’s way and let Him show me what I need to do, and listen to what He tells me. But I want to be able to control some of my life! 🙂 And we all know where that leads us. I can’t help but think; where does all of this lead me?   

I think it comes back to the stool. Piety, study and action. After all, isn’t lent meant to help bring us closer to Christ? How have I been doing this? First putting myself quietly before God and trying to listen to His still, quiet voice. Second, picking up the bible and reading His love letter to me. Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth. And as I read trying to pick up on what God wants me to hear. And then third, going out and cheerfully sharing God with others. Nobody likes a grumpy Christian!!  For me , it has been a different lent this year, for a variety of reasons. As I finish lent while writing this, I look forward to the beautiful Easter Sunday! And all that it will bring. Celebrating the Lord rising from the grave and offering us new life! Let us run joyfully Jesus is King! Let us give Him our expectations and see what He does with them. May God bless you abundantly and grant you His peace!  May your lives overflow with His joy! And may your stool be solid to hold you in all of your endeavors!

Decolores! Ultreya! 

Your sister and brother in Christ, 

John Lyons,  Kathy Otermat

Lent, try something different, why not start today?

Ark Lay Directors’ Article  

Such a month of promise. March brings Daylight Savings Time (March 10th), the official start of Spring (March 19th), and this year, Easter (March 31st). Our days have been lengthening since December 21st, 2023, but somehow the days appear longer as we move closer to Spring with the clock moving forward, giving us more light in the evening. And the increased sunshine certainly adds more joy to each day as well.  

How are we looking at this month in terms of our faith? Since March mostly occurs during the season of Lent, how can we tie our feelings of promise with the exterior changes to our days with the interior feelings of promise that we are growing closer to Our Lord during this time also? Do we feel that our hearts are becoming lighter and brighter, that we are inching our way to a more intimate relationship with Jesus?  

I am making some progress with my Lenten promise. I try to choose something for Lent that will result in my growing closer to Jesus and more at peace with myself. (Those two things are typically tied together for me.) This year, I’m working on procrastination. Putting things off that might not be my favorite thing to do doesn’t make them go away; I know that. The peace that comes from getting things done far outweighs the fleeting “extra” time I get from not addressing them. Now to actually do that! 

This Lent, I am looking to be more methodical about my “to do” list. Taking time with God comes first, and I appreciate all the opportunities I have been given to spend time with Him. This includes surrendering myself to Jesus every day, asking Him to “take care of everything”. From Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Jesus has been very good at helping me to let go of what I can’t control (which is mostly everything). The peace I’ve been finding is helping me to use that newfound energy to address what I can do. I’m making very slow progress, but progress nonetheless. God is so good!  

I hope and pray that your Lent is moving forward to a great celebration at Easter, where you can look at your journey during Lent this year as a time of growth in your relationship with Jesus and growth in your understanding of yourself. Haven’t gotten on board with any Lenten resolutions yet? Or are your Lenten resolutions not helping your spiritual growth? There’s no time like the present. What might bring you closer to Jesus this Lent? If you are moved to try something different, why not start today?  

Your sister and brother in Christ, 

Kathy Otermat,  John Lyons