Metuchen Cursillo Movement

It’s amazing how your outlook can change when a new person comes into your life.

I changed parishes when my granddaughters transferred into St. John Vianney grade school. At the time, we were still in the throes of COVID—masks, social distancing, and all that came with it. I was reeling from everything going on and no longer felt happy in my parish. Mass had become a weekly obligation, made fulfilling only because I was in the choir. But COVID put a halt to that, too, and when we were finally allowed to return, our wonderful choir master had stepped down. The choir fell apart.

Around that time, I began dropping the girls off at their new school, SJV, and decided to start attending daily Mass. I felt at home at St. John Vianney. I also knew they had a choir, and I was looking forward to joining. Eventually, it was up and running again. It was there that I met my first friend at my new parish. I sat down next to a woman wearing a mask and a veil.

You know when you meet someone and just instantly like them? That person was Denyse Gianone.

We would talk after choir (sometimes during!) and after daily Mass. I quickly realized she knew so much about our faith—so much “stuff” I had never heard. I went to Catholic school, I watch EWTN—I thought I knew a lot. But Denyse would tell me things about saints, priests, or Church happenings, and I’d always ask, “How come I don’t know this?”

One day after Mass, she said, “Would you like to join the Legion of Mary?”

“Sure,” I said—and I did. There, I met more “holy” people who knew so much about the faith.

Then one day, she asked if I’d like to go to an Encounter with her.

“Sure,” I said again. Did I ask her what it was? No. If Denyse was going, I was going too.

Then I left for my sister’s in Florida for two and a half months and completely forgot about it. Toward the end of February, she sent me a text asking when I’d be back. Itold her, and she said, “Good. You’ll be back to sing with me and Laurie at the Encounter.”

Not only was I going to an Encounter—I was singing at it. And I still had no idea what it was!

So I went. Father Luke Mary was there. I have a deep love for the Grey Friars and their work. My son David struggles with drug addiction, and they saved his life—physically and spiritually. Hearing Father Luke speak filled my heart with joy.

I met Mary, RJ, Ken, and had my first “Encounter” with Bill! He looked at Denyse and asked, “Is she going to make her Cursillo?”

Denyse looked at me. I said, “Sure!”

It seems like Denyse had been guiding me on a journey all along.

Last April, I lived my Cursillo. Let me say a few words about Piety, Study, and Action.

Piety

Cursillo is life- and soul-enriching. It’s hard to describe how your heart and mind feel like they might just burst being around a group of women who really love God—and love talking about Him and His Blessed Mother.

While I’ve always prayed, I now have a deeper sense that Our Lord truly loves me, that He chose me, and that He knows my name. That’s profound. Prayer is different now.

Study

Books, books, books! I want to know everything. I don’t even know how many books I took home that weekend.

There were so many conversations about authors, priests, saints, holy people—even angels. I was determined to learn it all.

Now, whenever someone mentions a book, I’m on Amazon in a flash:

Linda was reading about angels—got it.

Denyse recommended I Choose God—got it.

Carla mentioned Dating God—had to have it.

I cleaned out my bookcase. Goodbye cookbooks, hello JMJ bookshelf!

Now I just have to read them. All of them.

Action

This really took root in my small group. I wasn’t entirely sure what “action” meant at first. But being around these proudly Catholic women has made me brave.

BC (Before Cursillo), I would drive with my windows open on nice days, listening to the Rosary on the Hallow app with Mark Wahlberg or Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike. But when I came to a stoplight, I’d turn the volume down so the car next to me wouldn’t hear.

I didn’t talk openly about my faith—not because I was ashamed, but because I felt it was private. I didn’t want people—friends, coworkers, even family—to think I was some kind of “Jesus weirdo.”

AC (After Cursillo), I’m all in. I have no problem handing out Green Scapulars (Fr. Greg is my supplier!). My niece Georgia is a potter, so I asked her to make little lidded jars with “HOLY SALT” written on them. This past Christmas, my whole family got one—blessed salt included—along with a Green Scapular.

And my daughter Katie? She’ll be making her Cursillo in October.

There’s a prayer I say daily, attributed to St. Benedict, that I think encapsulates Cursillo:

Gracious and Holy Father, 

give us the wisdom to discover You,

the intelligence to understand You,

the diligence to seek after You,

the patience to wait for You,

eyes to behold You,

a heart to meditate upon You,

and a life to proclaim You. Amen.

So Denyse—Jesus put you in my path, and you’ve taken me on this beautiful journey.

But it’s not over yet.

De Colores!

- Eileen Walsh

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