THE MARIPOSA
The Official Newsletter of the Filipino Cursillo Community Diocese of Oakland
Volume 2 - First Issue for (FY 2010-2011)
Editor – Myrla Raymundo, MBA
E-mail ligfinio.raymundo@sbcglobal.net
REPORT FROM TEAMS
Proposal of Bro. Walter Ancheta,
Team Rep, Our Lady of the Holy
Rosary
Bro. Walter Ancheta
Financial Contribution of Individual
Member to Filipino Cursilo
Community
Since the FCC do not have established
investments to generate income, this
proposal will generate fixed monetary
activity to create General Funds to
support the Men’s and Women’s 3-Day
Retreat and other Social Events
expenditures. The Financial
Contribution will be from the Group
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July 2010
Team Reunion submitted to FCC
The objective and purpose of the
Financial Contribution is to avoid
stressful fund raising activities, not to
disturb individual and business entities
for financial support and eliminates
particular personal pride for making
donations. It generates fair-shares and
responsibilities for each individual
member with common interest in
supporting the FCC.
*********************************
Progress of the Review of the FCC
Constitution and Bylaws
The FCC Constitution and Bylaws was
assigned to an Ad Hoc Committee for
review. The following are the members
of the Ad Hoc Committee: Nimia
Renovilla, Melga Rodriguez, Letty
Maglaya, Mario Camorongan and
Leader Willie Villarente. They will give
their report to the Secretariat for review.
*********************************
 MY 2010 EASTER AND ONWARD
By Vilma (Vee) P. Gaspar
Chosen Flock Team
The joyous Easter, a celebration of love,
really made a great impact on me. With
a burning desire, I find myself inspired
to write this article. It gave me pleasure
of sharing it with you, chosen people of
God. Christ is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
At a very tender age, I am so blessed to
have known God and thanks to my good
and loving parents who brought me into
this world. I am filled with gratitude
too, to the Holy Spirit teachers who
taught me, the SVD Fathers, my
Dominican spiritual confessor and
mentor, the Franciscan Missionaries of
Mary Mothers, who I was once with as a
postulant for two years and lastly, my
“St. Joseph” husband of 50 years, during
which time my spirituality blossomed
through the years by the grace of God.
In the past years, starting July 2007, my
husband and I had our share of big and
small crosses, for the most part, physical
sufferings and pains which we had
offered to our Crucified Christ. We
accepted and took those as blessings
from above. We felt loved by our
amazing, wonderful and merciful God.
My husband experienced heart surgery
for the second time since 1995 and I had
my UTI emergency encounter (which
my doctor said could have been fatal)
and thereafter, hip osteoarthritis that
required hip replacement. Combined
with sciatica pains, I felt that I was close
to dying; I could hardly stand and walk
without the need of a walker.
In my journey through Lent/Triduum,
more than ever, I never felt so compelled
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to take advantage of the rituals/liturgies
of our Holy Church because it was very
intense and of utmost compulsion not to
miss to get closer to our Lord Jesus
Christ.
In the celebration of our Lord’s last
supper, I participated in the washing of
the feet for the first time in my life. The
day before, I was thinking whom on
earth would I be able to wash the feet of
someone considering that I could hardly
bend due to my sciatica and
osteoarthritis pains? Besides, I am still
recuperating from my hip surgery.
Nevertheless, I had the desire and I
prayed. Lo and behold, to my surprise, I
DID IT. It has been quite a while since I
was down on my knees. And further
more to wash someone’s feet for Christ’s
sake; I was so glad I did it for the love of
my Savior and Lord.
I praise and thank God for His
compassionate love, forgiveness and His
ocean of mercy. Everyday, I look
forward to God’s graces, blessings and
surprises. I start my day as the sun peep
through my window with the prayer,
“Blessed be the Holy and Undivided
Trinity, now and forever.” I invoke the
Holy Paraclete for divine guidance and
pray to Mother Mary, St. Joseph and the
H oly S aints for their help an d
intercessions. Moreover, throughout the
day, I find myself desiring to know God
better by reading and understanding the
sacred scriptures of the Holy Bible in its
totality, reading the lives of the saints
and turning in, as often as I can, to the
EWTN channel. This mode of learning
makes me spiritually uplifted every time,
increased my understanding and growing
in the realization that I am only in this
world temporarily.
Finally, I am determined, more than
ever, to be vibrant and passionate in
renewing and transforming myself into a
new leaf daily by following God’s
commandments and precepts with the
hope to shine and help those around me
to transform themselves too. As you can
imagine, I aim for a higher place: a
blissful life for all eternity with my Lord
and God.
Let us walk with Jesus, to be one with
Him in the fulfillment of His mission
here on earth through our Holy Mother
Church, with our Pope Benedict XVI, as
our Holy Father and Head.
“My Jesus, grant us the grace to love
you more and more each day.”
thing he wants and are working for it.
We all gain the strength when we work
as a team than if we work individually.
We need each other in bringing the
essential life we learned during the
C u r s i l l o We e k e n d i n t o s o c i e t y
(Environment). We must do it by
sharing our Piety, Study and Action to
continuously increase our life in Grace
and awareness of it through Group
Reunion and Ultreya, thus, “making life
a Perennial Cursillo”.
Diocese of Oakland
Ordination of NOE DE LOS
REYES TUASON to the Order of
the DIACONATE

In Christ, Our Savior.

********************************
LIFE: A Perennial Cursillo
By Bro. Vic Ramos

We are all aware of the main concern of

most Cursillistas in the Diocese today. It
is the dismal turnout of Candidates who
would continue towards the 4th Day: to
the Group Reunion and Ultreya. It is
there where the things they have learned Before: Bro. Noe Tuason
and experienced in the Cursillo
(Weekend) can continue, deepen, and
shared, thus, securing their most valued
possessions.

If progressive conversion, which is

ideally a continuous process in the life of
a Cursillista, ends in the Three Day; then
the most sought-after transformation
(Metanoia) will most likely fade out,
leaving him/her unequipped to pursue
the mission upon returning to the
environment. The Cursillista needs the
support of others who want the same After: Deacon Noe Tuason

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 CURSILLO HAPPENINGS

SCHOOL OF LEADERS
Bro. Rico Monton

SOL Reunion Proposal

The reception at Our Lady of Good
Counsel Church, San Leandro,
California
It was a very solemn event in the
presence of all the deacons and their
wives, the Cursillo brothers and sisters,
the priests and Deacon Noe’s family.
We thank Bishop Cordileone and Rev.
Thuong Nguyen and the parishioners of
Our Lady of good Counsel for their
warm hospitality.
The Proposal to have a monthly SOL
Reunion for all leaders of the FCC-
Diocese of Oakland has been presented
to the Team Representatives. Leaders
and members are supportive of the
Proposal. Now the Secretariat needs to
make decision to implement or reject the
Proposal. Meanwhile, the School of
Leaders meetings are back to the usual
monthly meetings.
POST CURSILLO REPORT
Bro. Rene Dandan
ULTREYA GATHERINGS

Thank you to the Cathedral’s director of

music, Rudy de Vos, and canto, Mark
Ryan, and all who have helped in
preparation and service of the Ordination
Mass.

********************************

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 Birthday Celebrants for May

Bro. Willie and Sis. Annie Villarente –

Ultreya Coordinators

Annual Retreat
The Annual Retreat last May 15, 2010 at
the San Damiano Retreat Center was
attended by our brothers and sisters.

Christmas Party
Our annual Christmas Ultreya Party will
be held at St. Raymond’s in Dublin.

PRE-CURSILLO REPORT
Sis. Norma Acaba

Sis. Norma Acaba is now in the process

of helping in the recruitment of
Lay Witness Talk by Sis. Carmen
candidates for the upcoming Cursillo
“Baby” Marquez
Weekend.

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 3-DAY WEEKEND REPORT
Bro. Kit Santos

ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE

2010 CURSILLO WEEKEND

CURSULLO #81
Rectora: Sis. Sheila Ulgado
Vice-Rectoras:
Piety – Sis. Edith Guevara
Study – Sis. Clarita Perez
Team Reps Bro. Joel Manalang and Sis.
Action – Sis. Shirley Cayangyang
Lolit Kintanar
CURSILLO #82
Rector: Bro. Vic Ramos
Vice-Rectors: Team Reps Discussions
Piety – Bro. Oscar Herrera
Study –Bro. Alex Caragay 1. Progress of the Review of the FCC
Action. – Bro. Vic Pediglorio Constitution and Bylaws
2. Filipino Cursillo Community Picnic.
3. Santa Cruzan for Fundraising
TEAM REPRESENTATIVES 5. Filling of vacant Secretariat positions.
MEETING 6. Review of the Cursillo Weekend
Sis. Nimia Renovilla, Lay Director Guidebook.

Team Representatives Meeting

Team Representatives Meeting 2010

Refreshment Assignments

July Verbum Dei &

Good Shepherd
August Our Lady of the
Holy Rosary & St.
Anne
September Antioch & Our
Lady of Manaoag
October Blessed Teresa of
Team Reps Anito Amaba, Fernando Kolkota &
Reyes, Walter Ancheta, Joel Manalang Secretariat
and Alex Caragay November Will ask for
volunteers

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 LAY DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
By Sis. Nimia Renovilla
Lay Director, FCC, Diocese of
Oakland
A Deeper Prayer Life
Shortly after the Retreat at San
Damiano, I met with Sister Mary and
reviewed by recent experience with the
Holy Spirit.
Sister Mary was enthused by the fact
that the Holy Spirit did touch the Lay
D i r ect or duri ng t he Euchari s t i c
Adoration.
I said, indeed I was touched as we all
observe but I still feel that I do not have
a deep prayer life as I should.
So, she taught me how to develop one.
I will be sharing this first with the
members of the Secretariat and then with
the Team Representatives. Hopefully,
each one of them will share it with
members of their Team and be more
proactive in helping our brothers and
sisters get even closer to Jesus by
developing a deeper prayer life
themselves.
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Lay Director’s Report;
 The National Encounter will be
held on July 25 to August 1,
2010 in Missouri. It was
explained that while it is
encouraged for the Lay Director
and the Spiritual Advisor to
attend, perhaps in the future, we
should send other members of
the S ecretariat to go an d
experience the National
Encounter. Deacon Steve said
that is important for us to have a
voice in the National Encounter
and express our sentiments about
the National Policy.
 We are encouraged to save these
dates: August 6 and 7 2010,
when the Region XI Grand
Ultreya will be held in Los
Angeles. The venue will be
announced later.
 We need to suggest other sources
of financial support for our FCC,
Diocese of Oakland. We may not
be able to get enough revenue
from the teams to take care of all
our expected expenses.
 The members of the Secretariat
will meet with the Ad Hoc
Committee for the proposed
amendments to the Bylaws. The
members of the Committee will
be contacted to arrange for the
meeting.
*******************************
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
FOURTH DAY
Let us journey to the end of the rainbow,
where Christ is waiting for us.
After our cursillo weekend, we somehow
felt that we made the slow trek to the
rainbow. And then we felt a most
perfect moment in our lives. It is well to
recognize and cherish such moments
when they come; it is an added joy to
collect these moments and treasure them.
And remember them.
Our fourth day is not only today. It
means the rest of our lives. On our
fourth day, all of us will experience the
fast pace. We are always in the fast lane,
it seems. We are so keyed up nowadays
that it is impossible to put us to sleep
with a priest’s sermon. I have not seen
anyone asleep in church and that is a sad
situation.
Most of us don’t realize how accelerated
the rate of our lives has become, or the
speed we are driving ourselves. This
destroys our bodies, our minds and our
souls, as well.
If we are hectic and rushed, let us slow
down. Let us watch our children grow.
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Let us talk to them. Let us play with
them. They grow up so fast and pretty
soon, you’ll find yourself alone.
Talk or listen to your spouse. Take an
interest in what he or she is saying.
You’ll be surprised, love will bloom
again.
Take an interest in the world around you.
Call a friend. Visit your in-laws. Be
nice to people around you. Spread
peace. If each one of us will spread
peace, there will be peace all over the
world.
Of course, life has its ups and downs.
Learn to face hardships. Learn to fight
obstacles in life. And you know what
can help you? And who can help you?
Look up to God and pray. Talk to Him.
Give all your burdens and troubles to
Him. He loves you and He will take
away your fears, your sorrows, your
troubles, your tiredness, and your
problems.
Sisters and Brothers, Christ is waiting
for us at the end of the rainbow.
Sis. Myrla Raymundo
 HISTORY OF THE
FILIPINO CURSILLO
DIOCESE OF OAKLAND
July 1, 2010
By Myrla Raymundo, MBA
“I’m Counting On You”
In 1972, the Filipino Cursillo came to
the East Bay.
Fr. Greg Vinuya, Benny Ruiz, Jose
Calub and Larry Gapay, who took
their Cursillo in the Philippines,
organized this Cursillo movement here
in Alameda County.
Cursillo No. 1 through 3 were held at St.
Mary’s Church in Oakland. Fr. Loy
Baltazar followed with his direction of
Cursillo Nos. 4 and 5 using the original
Cursillo team of Brothers Benny Ruiz,
Jose Calub and Larry Gapay.
Fr. Paul Maher was designated the first
Spiritual Director of the Filipino Cursillo
in the Diocese of Oakland. When Fr.
Paul Nourie was assigned to St. Mary’s
Parish, he took over as the Spiritual
Director for the Filipino Cursillo from
l974 through l982.
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After Fr. Nourie was transferred to
another parish, Sister Felicia Sarati
single-handedly guided the community
The Filipino Cursillo developed its own
character, yet could interchange team
members with the “Anglo” Cursillos,
since they have common workshop roots
and are conducted in the English
language.
The Cursillo weekend, a huge assembly
of Cursillistas, attends the candlelight
ceremony to greet candidates on the first
night of their Cursillo, which the
Filipinos consider one of the high points
of the weekend. The same congregation
of Cursillistas joins the early morning
Mananita and the Clausura celebration.
The growth of the Filipino Cursillo
became significant in the mid-70’s as
some improvements were instituted.
For example, shorter rollos were
emphasized to give the candidates more
quiet time for reflections and “Marriage
Talk” became an integral part of the
weekend.
To date, more than 4,000 have graduated
from around 80 Cursillo weekends.
From these graduates, teams were
formed to perpetuate team (group)
reunions.
Teams come from different geographical
locations in the Diocese of Oakland.
The frequency of group reunions ranges
from once a week to once a month.
Ultreyas were held once a month in
different assigned churches, presently, at
the Cathedral in Oakland.
The Cursillo Working Committee, which
became known as the Filipino Cursillo
Board, now the Secretariat, was formed
in l973 under the guidance of Fr. Dan
Danielson and was chaired by Al dela
Cruz.
Subsequent Chairpersons were Adjie
Retodo, Rey Coquia, Diony Gamoso,
Vic Revecho, Myrla Raymundo,
Conrad Alano, Rem Declines, Rose
Santos, Oscar Tolentino, Fe Quinto,
and Bayani Santos.
Presently, Nimia Renovilla chairs the
Board, which name was changed to
Secretariat.
The Secretariat is composed of the Lay
Director, School of Leaders Chairperson,
Secretary, Treasurer, Pre-Cursillo
Chairperson, Cursillo Proper
Chairperson, Postcursillo Chairperson,
Newsletter Editor, the Spiritual Director
and the Team Representatives that meet
once a month.
Deacon Steve Budnik is the present
Spiritual Advisor.
The community holds its annual
Friendship Dance, the annual Cursillo
Picnic, Halloween and Christmas party
to enjoy the company of the new and
“old” or “seasoned” Cursillistas.
The quarterly publication of the
“Cursillo Newsletter” keeps the
community informed of significant
events in the Cursillo Environment and
in the Diocese of Oakland.
Myrla Raymundo was Editor of the
“Cursillo Newsletter” for several years
followed by Carmen Revecho, who
renamed the newsletter as “Mariposa.”
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Other Editors who followed were Rose
Gamozo, Noe Tuason, Tim Pedrosa,
Mike Isidro, Alissa Bancil, Oscar
Tolentino and presently, back to Myrla
Raymundo.
One of the community’s enjoyable
apostolic actions started when a Filipino
Singing group at an “Anglo” cursillo
were practicing and missed the early
morning Mananita.
The RECTOR instead invited them to
serenade the Cursillo at breakfast.
It was so enthusiastically received and
since then the Filipinos have continued
this breakfast serenade tradition, forging
an affectionate bond with the Anglo and
the Hispanic communities.
The Filipino Cursillo goes on.
********************************
Editors Note:
I kept huge binders of the Filipino
Cursillo history. I had maintained all
the records of the Cursillo happenings
since the start of the Filipino Cursillo
in Oakland.
If anyone of you, especially the recent
Rector/Rectora, have your Cursillo
Weekend files, please send me copies
to complete our history. My address is
3107 San Ramon Ct., Union City, CA
94587-------Myrla Raymundo
 FCC Events Schedule Mariposa Newsletter

7:00 PM Secretariat Meeting Editor: Sis. Myrla Raymundo

First Tuesday of the Month Member, Editorial Staff:
Cathedral of Christ the Light Sis. Mitchie Matias

6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Ultreya, Want to help the Editor? Send articles

Second Saturday of the Month
Cathedral of Christ the Light
7:00 PM Team Reps Meeting
Second Tuesday of the Month
Cathedral of Christ the Light
to ligfinio.raymundo@sbcglobal.net.
Letters and articles should be limited
to 300 words and are subject to
editing.

7:00 PM School of Leaders

Third Monday of the Month
Cathedral of Christ the Light

The Filipino Cursillo Community

Diocese of Oakland
Secretariat
(Effective July 1, 2009)

Spiritual Adviser: Deacon Steve

Budnik

Officers
SISTERS AND
Lay Director: Sis.Nimia
Renovilla
BROTHERS
Secretary: Sis. Fe Quinto
Treasurer: Bro. Art De Leon
KEEP IN TOUCH!!
Chairpersons

School of leaders: Bro. Rico

DECOLORES
Monton
Pre-Cursillo: Sis. Norma
Acaba
3-Day Cursillo: Bro. Kit Santos
Post-Cursillo: Bro Rene
Dandan
Newsletter: Sis. Myrla Sis. Myrla Raymundo
Raymundo Mariposa Newsletter Editor
3107 San Ramon Ct.
Union City, CA 94587

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