History of Metuchen Cursillo
The history of Metuchen Cursillo goes back to the creation of the Metuchen Diocese in 1981. In 1981 the Trenton Diocese was split, thus creating the Metuchen Diocese. Shortly after, a group of men from Basking Ridge and the Amboy’s Churches comprising John Zellweger, Kevin Begley and John Hunt and others formed the first Cursillo group. The groups lasted a short while, but soon faded.
Men and women in the Northern part of the Diocese began making Cursillo weekends in Paterson Cursillo, while the candidates in the Southern parts of the Metuchen Diocese made Cursillo weekends with the Trenton Cursillo weekends 1-107. Trenton and Paterson helped to prepare over 500 Cursillistas from 1981 through 2005. About ninety Cursillistas from St James attended weekends during that period in Paterson.
In November of 2003, Msgr. Capik of St. James Basking Ridge, realizing he was two years from retirement wanted to prepare his parish for a new pastor. There was no official men’s ministry at St. James. In a pulpit talk homily he announced that he wished Cursillo to be the men’s ministry for St. James. He appointed Dan Sullivan to head this effort. Dan was the Treasurer of the Paterson Cursillo at the time. The first Men’s group under Dan met in January of 2004, with over eighty men in attendance. Over the next six months 50-80 men continued to attend Friday Monthly gatherings in group reunion and Ultreya formats. During that period, Dan and the St. James team (Perry Johnson Sr. Charles Wasielewski, Pete DePrima, Add others) worked together to plan a weekend. Over twenty five men signed up to attend that weekend, which was to be held in September 2004 called Paterson 66.
Paterson 66 was held in September 2004. Twelve men from St James and seven men from Paterson made the weekend, which was held at the Sisters of Christian Charity in Mendham NJ. The candidates for that weekend were: Andrew Chabak, John Yula, Dr. Anthony Tangorra, Tom Klass, Perry Johnson Jr., (add others). The weekend team was split between Cursillistas from Paterson and St. James with Gene xxx being the Rector from Paterson. The new twelve Disciples of Christ were transformed on a Spiritual weekend to say the least. This was truly a dynamic group of men who were all speechless at the end of the weekend. Of the men attending this weekend one group would form a large Ministry group in the parish, a second group would lay the seeds for Cursillo and two Deacon candidates would emerge.
The men from Paterson 66 and the older Cursillistas were on fire with the Holy Spirit. Two groups formed to create the Men’s group at St. James and the beginnings of a grass roots Cursillo group. In July of 2004, Pete DePrima was appointed to head the new Cursillo group of St. James. The Cursillo group began meeting in Pete DePrima’s Kitchen to plan Cursillo. This group consisted of Kevin Begly, Dr. Tony Tangorra, Andrew Chabak, John Yula, John Zellweger and Pete DePrima. The first meeting was in September of 2004 in Pete’s kitchen on the table. Kevin Begley being part of the first effort in 1981 was leaned on heavily for advice and inspiration. Deacon Jim Bell of St James a Cursillista since 1977 was also consulted and helped get more direction from the Metuchen Diocese and Bishop Bootkowski.
A critical first decision was to get help from Paterson and Trenton Cursillo movements and partner with one or both to place the additional remaining candidates, who did not attend Paterson 66 (about 15) on weekends. Eventually, a partnership was struck with Trenton Cursillo and in November both Trenton and the six St James men began planning the first Cursillo weekend (Metuchen #1) for January 12, 2006 and the first St James Ultreya for February 10, 2006. During the weekend planning, in December, 2005, Bishop Bootkowski (a Cursillista himself) approved the Pastoral Plan for Metuchen Cursillo.
2006 was a monumental year of growth for Metuchen Cursillo. Under Pete DePrima’s direction, the artnership with Trenton went extremely well. The first weekend Trenton #111/Metuchen #1 was a huge success. An additional seven men made the weekend from Metuchen. Metuchen partnered with Trenton for the first Metuchen Ultreya in February 10, 2006 at St James. Ninety Cursillistas from both Diocese were in attendance. A women’s weekend was held in the Spring of 2006. Eleven women from St James made that weekend Metuchen #2. Ultreyas were consistently held since February and moved between Our Lady of Perpetual Help Bernardsville (June 2006) and St. James Basking Ridge.
Pete DePrima and Tom Klass were accepted to deacon training in 2006. In August of 2006 Dr. Anthony Tangorra was chosen to succeed Pete as Lay Moderator of Metuchen Cursillo and confirmed by Bishop Bootkowski. Metuchen #3 was held on October 2006 with five candidates becoming Cursillistas. Metuchen #4 was held in November for additional women who could not attend Metuchen #2. A first Secretariat was formed by Tony “the Tiger” Tangorra. An Evangelization plan was developed in November to start in January 2007.
In 2007, Meutchen Cursillo continued to grow. An Evangelization plan (developed by Andrew Chabak) was put in to place to Evangelize twelve parishes in Somerset and Hunterdon counties. Originally, there was some opposition by the pastors, until Msgr. Capik (now Retired) was called in to soften them up. The first pulpit talks were given at St. James in January 2006 followed by Our Lady of the Mount Warren, OLPH, St. Bernards, (add others). The first Metuchen Cursillo Fund raiser was held in October 2007 with Bishop Bootkowski in attendance.
The pulpit talks and new leaflets sponsored by Bishop Bootkowski, proved to be an effective tool of Evangelization. Every pulpit talk resulted in 200-300 fliers being distributed and many names being added to the weekend list of interest. In addition, many new Cursillistas who had moved in to the Metuchen Diocese were discovered.
Fr. Joseph Celano of St Bernards of Bridgewater, proved to be a major influence in recommending his parish move to Cursillo. Pulpit talks at St. Bernard’s revealed over twenty-six Cursillistas and support from two Deacons and their wives who are also Cursillistas. St Bernard’s held its first Ultreyas in the fall of 2007. A major accomplishment of 2007 was the establishment of the School of Leaders, which is the Spiritual Center of All Cursillo Movements and the establishment of Fr. Ron Jenara from xxx as Spiritual Director.
As of the full of 2008 over 35 churches were Evangelized via pulpit talks and second meetings were being held to begin to tach the Cursillo method while planning the first ALL Metuchen weekends for January and February 2009.
Goals for 2008 are as follows:
- Hold two additional weekends for men and women
- Hold additional fundraisers
- Expand the Cursillo Movement to the Southern part of the Diocese by Evangelizing 10 additional churches
- Encourage new parishes to grow and host Ultryeas
