I made my Cursillo weekend on March 20-23, 1980. I was ordained eight years at the time and like most good things that I have done in my life, I did not say yes the first time that I was asked. In fact it took about eight years of encouragement by friends for me to clear the calendar and go on the three-plus day retreat called the “Little Course in Christianity” or, in Spanish, Cursillo.

Recently the experience all came back to me when I was asked to visit the Flaget Center on a Saturday morning and greet those women from throughout the archdiocese who were making their weekend. It was a joy.

Back in 1996 when I became a pastor of a parish in Bethlehem, Pa., Notre Dame of Bethlehem, I became convinced that the surest way to engage parishioners in the life of the parish and the Church was to urge them to go to this weekend retreat. I became convinced of this because of the formation that is provided by spiritual renewal experiences like Cursillo.

I spent nine years in seminary, preparing for the life and ministry of a priest. That time of formation established a solid base for a lifelong commitment. Sadly so many Catholics live such hectic lives that their only formation is Sunday Mass itself. Without some additional foundation, the Sunday celebration of the Holy Eucharist — called by Vatican Council II Fathers “the source and summit of Christian life” — can be reduced to an obligation. Cursillo is a way to deepen that commitment.

You might ask why I needed Cursillo when I had already nine years of formation under my belt. As I look back at the experience, I identify two very concrete realities. First, it was my entrance to sharing a spiritual journey with laity. I had already served lay men and women for eight years as a priest, but with Cursillo I was walking the journey of faith with them. This experience added a new dimension to my life and revealed the importance of mutual support in faith.

Secondly, it was an encounter with Christ that was so refreshing. We need sparks like this if we are to nourish our encounter with Christ that begins with our baptism.

Our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has said so often that our faith is about a person, the person of Jesus Christ and our encounter with him in a life changing way. He has spoken of the need for firsthand experiences of Christ in our lives.

While secondhand clothes can be economical and even fun, we cannot go through life as a person of faith with only a secondhand experience of faith. We can begin to be a person of faith at the encouragement of a parent or to please a spouse, but a sustained and fruitful life of faith requires and deserves a firsthand experience of the Lord Jesus.

The eight years that it took for me to say yes to Cursillo reminds me of something I learned in the seminary: Christ invites but never imposes. The winning invitation today is usually given by one whose life shows evidence of conversion.

So often with evangelization, we seek first to be welcomed into the lives of those we are called to serve. As the formula made famous by the Cursillo Movement states, “make a friend, be a friend, bring a friend to Christ.” Every step of that sequence is important and cannot be skipped if we are to be apostles of the Lord. Even with members of our own family, we must first seek to make a friend before we can hope to bring a person to Christ.

The women’s Cursillo was not large — less than a dozen candidates and about the same number on the team. However, most good things have that personal aspect. I would list Cursillo among that list of best kept secrets. If you are interested, call Dianne Manias at 502-267-5011, Ken Jackey at 502-491-5307, or Pat Williams at 270-268-8735.

Speaking of renewal, I read that this year marks the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Vianney — the Cure of Ars and patron of parish priests. Pope Benedict announced that he will open a “Year of Priesthood” on June 19; the French cleric’s feast is marked on the anniversary of his death, Aug. 4, 1859.

Pope Benedict called for all to “promote and coordinate the various spiritual and pastoral initiatives that would appear useful to make better known the importance of the role and mission of the priest in the church and contemporary society.”

One special role of the priest is the privilege to provide the Sacrament of Reconciliation, so traditionally the focus of these Lenten days. The Cure of Ars was known for his hours upon hours of “hearing confession” — an encounter with the forgiving Christ. As the days of Lent wear on, check the list of Lenten Penance Services in your area; many are listed on our archdiocesan Web site at www.archlou.org. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday on April 5, just 10 days from now.

Pray for continued renewal within the archdiocese and in your life. Consider Cursillo, pray for your priests, and seek the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Holy Week begins.