Saipan hosts 3-day Asia-Pacific Cursillo Encounter

The CNMI Cursillos in Christiantity is hosting the 20th Asia-Pacific Cursillo Encounter, which begins today, Nov. 6, and will last until Sunday, Nov. 9, at the Palms Resort Saipan.

Held every two years in different places in the Asia-Pacific region, Saipan hosts this year’s event. The CNMI was chosen as the hosting area during the 19th Asia-Pacific Encounter in 2006 in Sydney, Australia.

The Cursillo Movement is a ministry within the Catholic Church that started in Spain in the early 1940s. The name Cursillo, which literally means “a short course,” is associated with the three-day Weekend, which is only one aspect of the Cursillo Movement, where participants learn some basic courses in Christianity. Members of the Movement meet regularly for prayer, sharing, leadership modules and apostolic work.

The first Cursillo Weekend in the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa took place on July 2-5, 1993, at the Korean Catholic Center. With the guidance of Bishop Tomas A. Camacho and lay volunteers from the CNMI and Guam, participation has grown to where there are more than 200 members of the Cursillo Movement at present in the CNMI.

The CNMI has hosted the Asia-Pacific Encounter once before. The 13th Asia-Pacific Encounter, held in 1999, drew various participants from all over the region. This year’s encounter is expected to have 80 participants from Australia, Vietnam, Korea, Taiwan, Guam, and the CNMI. This gathering is an opportunity for the members to share with one another their faith journey as brothers and sisters in Christ. The theme for the 20th Asia Pacific Encounter is “Renewing our commitment: be a friend, make a friend, and bring a friend to Christ.”

Welcoming liturgy is scheduled today, Nov. 6, at 6pm at the Palms Resort presided by Bishop Camacho with the visiting clergy and clergy of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa. First day of the encounter begins tomorrow, Nov. 7, where there will be a talk on the theme followed by group sharing and discussion.

On Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008, the last day of the Encounter, all participants will attend the 9am Mass at Mount Cathedral.

For information regarding registration, contact Linda Yarobwemal at 234-5053 or Rex Moses 287-4633. One may also contact Jess Elameto at 285-6938, acting president of the CNMI Cursillo Movement or the Cursillo spiritual director Rev. Fr. Ryan P. Jimenez, at 234-3000. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]