[Nh-secretariat] Fall Women's report

Tue Mar 17 09:28:06 MDT 2026

I am sending along Jyl’s and Tracey’s complete report for all to view.  Very good suggestions that we should pass along to Sean H at the Diocese.  He was on team this past weekend and knows there are many things that need to be done- some can be done without much expense, but others (like more bathrooms) would have to be financed into future budgets…

Thanks Jyl and Tracey.  We’ll see what the Spring rector(a)’s reports say, as well.

De Colores.

Claudette ��

From: Jyl Dittbenner <jyl.dittbenner at gmail.com> 
Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2026 2:15 PM
To: Claudette Dachowski <laydirector at nhcursillo.org>
Subject: Report another way

Cursillo 330

Rector Report

          This was the second Cursillo weekend held at the Magdalene retreat center. We felt strongly about having round tables, some separate spaces for prayer, building a strong cloistered community, and sticking to the basics of the Cursillo weekend.  We had 18 candidates, for the most part 2 to a room, and used all the usable rooms.  We tried to have a larger team but 7 team members, 2 Rectors, and 2 spiritual advisors was the best we could manage.  Team were able to triple up for rooms, SA’s in the Bishop  House.

          Other people we asked who said no - most were involved in other things and not available.

Genevive Van Beaver

Vicki Fontaine

Michele Pisicane

Beth voce

Monica Boucher - not involved

Sarah Dennerly Smith

Sandy Comeau (I think)

Shannon Hoenadl

Jeanin Eaton (I think)

Debbie Ambrose

Erin Badger

Sarah Janes Hoag

Angela Johnson (I think)

          The team size allowed us 4 tables, one with one experienced team member, the rest partnered up.

          We opted to have our Rollo Room in the dorm with round tables.  While the St. Francis room would have been great - it has front facing windows (distracting), and gigantic boardroom tables we we not allowed to move.  The dorm is equipped with many couches, and dim lighting.  There are lots of hall space that are underutilized.  We shifted as many couches as we could to the wings of the room and brought in the round tables.  With 7 team at table -Kristen and Dianne, Christine, Meghan and Mary, Adele and JJ.  It was cozy, and often groups drifted to the couches for their table work.

          We tried hard to stick to the Step By Step format - did not use Bankruptcy, and were confused by when of palanca - distributed only sponsor letters and read and hung some of the general palanca.  

Ideal: man can be more and better
Jyl and Tracey

The Layperson in the Church: he can be it from where he is

Mary

Piety: a man discovers his heart spontaneously
Kristen Lotz

Study: if he uses his intelligence with conviction
JJ

Action: puts his will in motion with decision
Christine Duffley

Leaders: and his person as a whole
Adele

Study of the Environment: and if a man accepts that his reality is made up of persons
Diane

Christianity in action: whom he can help
Meghan

*Cursillista Beyond the Cursillo: as long as it is done in a personal way
Tracey Collopy

**Total Security: in friendship
Jyl

Recommendations:

Signs:  more signs pointing volunteers to kitchen, auditorium, and restrooms in the big building.

Lighting in the rollo room or more lamps.  Shades for the windows - or make that side the back table?  All over the building it was dim.  We donated night lights.  Spotlight on Jesus.  Lights outside too.  Light the pathway?

Storage for snacks - too keep ants and other stuff out.  More organized shelves for it.  Table and coffee area - would have been better in hall (ours was in front of stairs).  Also recommend water pitchers, real cups, less trash.  Access to sink for coffee etc.  more barrels for garbage, instructions for where to empty, extra bags, and some simple cleaning tools at the ready(spinges, broom/dustpan, mop and bucket).

Chairs - consider the time people will be sitting - offer something large, and sturdy.  Less couches in rollo room.  Hooks for banners, bulletin boards for palanca.

Easel and or whiteboard in rollo room. Screen or blank wall for a powerpoint. Bulletin boards for various posters, palanca and decor.

Sound set up.  It would be useful to us and others to have things already with use instructions.

Shared bathroom in our dorm for during the day, more bathrooms in dining building.

Chapel in dorm was too small and loud.  We did not use it.  The rollo room noise traveled directly into it, We did set up an alcove chapel in the team wing first floor.  Father used the pool room for reconciliation.  We held adoration in the rollo room because of weather that night.  Would be better to have mass at the end of the weekend in the dorm - in a nice chapel specific to us so that we don’t have to travel on Sunday.  Consider accessibility - first floor for those who cannot climb.

Application should ask about mobility.  There is significant walking required and even if elderly - it seems possible at first, conditions can become more and more cumbersome.

Kitchen -always 2 sided buffet for time.

Time:  Always consider travel time from dorm to dining to chapel.

Weekend stuff - using the guide - was difficult at times - parts and pieces were missing.  Tracey.

Parts were repetitve - After Holiness talk, examination of conscience - just do a real one - we never actually found where we should do the actual type with questions about areas of sin.  Instead it seemed to be a reiteration of what the weekend is about - letting go.

Reconciliation- was great - we made a sign up and whenever there was time Father would just be available and just let it occur naturally.

Holy Hour - done in rollo room because of weather.  Worked just fine (after the songfest), and had time for confession as needed during this time as well.

          We did end up doing a eucharistic procession with flashlights that was beautiful and impromptu.  It was natural to the flow of our weekend and not an overly planned emotional experience.  We would not put it in future schedules - it is just an example of leaving room for the Holy Spirit.

Palanca - We struggled to find where/how to fit it.  There was more than we could read of the worldwide stuff, and fittingly few of the local.  We gave everyone one letter from sponsor and sent any others in their envelope.  We believe very few women have even looked in their envelope based on the little they seemed to glean about the reunion.

Candidates/sponsors - I do think the sponsor meeting and candidate interview were nice touches to help Rectors to know both sides of these communities - to impart a little wisdom to the sponsors, and get an inkling of where the candidates are coming from on their journey.  It was kind of jumbled in checking in because of size of the office we were using and not being sure what to set up when - so the rollo room was set but probably would have worked better to have an empty room to start icebreaker (we did 4 questions).  Would be helpful to have rooms labeled with names, a better ma- of where rooms are.

Recommendations for Team: 

Mary Benoit, Our Lady of Mercy, Merrimack

Katie Bruneau, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Rochester

Mallory Bruneau, Christ the King in Concord NH Concord

Meg Donohue, St Joseph Cathedral Concord 

Ann Fillion, St. Rose of Lima, Littleton

Joelle Hanscom, Holy Rosary in Rochester, NHBarrington

Mary Horne; St Theresa HennikerHopkinton

Kirsten Kilroy, St. Ignatius of Loyola- Somersworth, NHDover

Collette Kittridge, St. Helenas of Enfield/St Marys of Canaan

Mary Lavelle, St. Rose of Lima, Littleton NH

Diane Monico, St. Andre Bessette, Lakeport

Beth Neer, Our Lady of the Holy RosaryMilton

Laurie Wallace, Corpus Christi, Eliot

Potential Assistant Rectora Adele Rochussen 

Potential Rectora: Tracey Collopy

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