By Mary Altermatt, Miles City
While flipping through my basic TV channels recently, I was fortunate to find Father Joseph Mary Wolfe, Spiritual Director of EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network), interviewing several people who were involved with the Cursillo movement in this country. Their enthusiasm and deep faith were obvious, and I couldn’t help but thank God for EWTN and the Cursillo message and my own journey.
I made my Cursillo in Miles City in 1970, and now, forty-six years later, am honored and more than a little overawed to be serving as Rectora for the Women’s Cum Christo weekend in Miles City on June 12-15, 2016. It all began when, while living in Terry, my husband Vic was invited by his Miles City sponsor to attend a Cursillo (Spanish for “short course”) in June of 1970. He came home from that experience “on fire.” Needless to say, his enthusiasm was not contagious as I thought he was a bit “out there” when he returned, wearing an ever present Spirit-filled saintly glow, albeit tight-lipped about the three days. On the following Thursday, the morning I was to go to Miles City for my three-day weekend, my washing machine quit – abruptly. With seven kids (ages 2-12) and a lot of laundry lying in piles on the utility floor, I called Vic at work and told him, “Okay, that’s it; God does not want me there!” He was home in record time and had the machine up and running – so, no excuses. After arriving Thursday evening, and ready to bolt, it took me awhile to get with the program. But by the end of the three days I was filled with the Spirit, and knew that what I experienced would be a valued aid on my spiritual journey for the rest of my life. Less than three months after we made our weekends, Vic had a serious heart attack (at age 40), and often said that by the grace of God and the Cursillo experience, he was able to cope with his illness. We did not remain active in the movement after several years but, as a result of it, became very involved and active in our Catholic community in Terry. After Cum Christo was reintroduced here in Miles City about four years ago, I started attending Ultreyas and joined a small group and I thank God for this blessing!
Big Sky Cum Christo (Latin for “with Christ”) grew out of the Cursillo movement in 1984, and is a three-day weekend filled with talks given by priests and lay people, with daily Mass, visits to the Blessed Sacrament, spiritual direction, interaction with fellow Christians and an outpouring of graces. It is not a retreat and can be made only once in a lifetime. During the three days, the teachings of Jesus Christ are discussed in a climate of joy, with music and laughter (and awesome meals). The Cursillo/Cum Christo movement has been a powerful instrument of renewal in the Catholic Church with the goal that Christ be the prime influence in our society.
What would a weekend benefit you? It could be: a closer relationship with Jesus Christ; guidance in growing as His disciple; new relationships with others in regular small group gatherings; a renewal of God’s love for you and insights into His will for you; and an enthusiasm for serving God by serving others in your parish and other areas where God leads you. After the original experience of the Cum Christo, attending Ultreyas and small group reunions are the means of continuing spiritual growth. In Miles City, and many of the parishes in our Diocese, these groups are very active.
Please prayerfully consider making a Cum Christo weekend and add a spark of life to your faith walk with Christ and His people. Our Miles City weekends in 2016 are: Men’s June 2-5, Women’s June 12-15. Contacts for the weekends are: Rector David Nation (406-232-1134) and Rectora Mary Altermatt (406-234-4035). For dates of upcoming weekends in your area, visit bigskycumchristo.org.
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