November 26, 2025

Dozens gather for monthly Ultreya meeting of Cursillo   

REGIONAL
By David Martin

An Ultreya meeting of the Cursillo movement was held Friday, Nov. 21 at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Holyoke.

HOLYOKE- Cursillo of Western Mass held their monthly Ultreya meeting at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Holyoke, Friday, Nov. 21. Cursillo is an international movement that began in Spain in in 1944, but has become very prominent in the Diocese of Springfield since 1966. Cursillo focuses on prayer, study and action with the goal of bringing people closer to Christ and encouraging them to share his love with others. They begin with a retreat. Ultreya meetings and prayer groups are the follow-up to the retreats. Ultreya meetings are held on the third Friday of each month.

 “It was easier for me to see God in a human form and see how that changes and what it can do to better our lives,” said Berry Tardif-Ablicki, the co-chair of the Pre-Cursillo Committee. She made her Cursillo in 2005.

“My husband made it the same year and how it changed our philosophy and what it was to be a faith filled family with Christ in the center of our life. So that’s what Cursillo has meant for me and it is something that I would love for everyone to experience in some way, shape or form,” said Tardif-Ablicki.

The Ultreya began with gathering music, announcements, opening prayer, and Gospel readings. On this night, the readings were focused on the Solemnity of Christ the King, which was celebrated in the church on the last Sunday of the liturgical year, Nov. 23.

As petitions for prayer were offered by the congregation, Palanca baskets were passed around. Felicia Falkowski, another co-chair of the Pre-Cursillo Committee explained the meaning of this.

“Palenka, another Spanish word, is our prayer for each other. When we come in we put a name in a basket for someone we want to have prayed for and then it gets passed and you pull someone’s name and you may know who it is or not, but you pray for them and keep them in your intentions from now until the next meeting. If you do know them, then you have the opportunity to go up to them and say what is it that you want me to pray for? That is just another way of building community,” said Falkowski.

The next segment of the Ultreya was a witness talk from someone attending the meeting to share their Cursillo journey and how Christ has made an impact in their life. This is followed by “echo” /sharing where anyone is asked if they would like share with the congregation about the witness talk or Gospel reflection. Then the emcee of meeting breaks up everyone into groups of four to  discuss their prayer life; what they are doing to strengthen their faith by prayer and study; what books they are reading or religious course they are taking; and how they are putting it in action. This period lasts for 20 minutes so everyone has a chance to speak. Tardif-Ablicki a parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi in Belchertown said the upcoming Cursillo weekends are definitely beneficial for all who attend. 

“It is just a beautiful time together. People who really are of the same mind, different backgrounds, every background imaginable but it all melds together because we are there for one purpose to know God better, to know Christ better, to be part of the Holy Spirit and experience all of that, it is just wonderful and I cannot say enough about that,” said Tardif-Ablicki.

The upcoming Cursillo weekends will be held at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Springfield. The woman’s weekend is Jan. 16-19. The men’s weekend is April 17-20.

All are welcome to attend the Ultreyas. The December the meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. due to Lessons and Carols in place of the regular Ultreya.    

A video version of this story will be on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel” which temporarily airs Sunday mornings at 6:30 a.m. on WWLP-22 NEWS.