Did you know that the Lord's work through Via de Cristo is in your hands? You are considering or have agreed, hopefully after much prayer, to sponsor a man or woman for a weekend that may change that person's entire life. When you completed your weekend, the final statement to you was "Christ is counting on you." And you responded, "I am counting on Him." Now the question is "Will you be your brother's and sister's keeper?"
By agreeing to be a sponsor you will be undertaking tremendous responsibilities. First of all, you should be hesitant to sponsor someone who is not active in his or her congregation. That does not mean the person must be on a church board or be a Sunday School teacher, but he or she should worship regularly and participate in some area of church life. And remember, Via de Cristo is not intended to replace a marriage counselor or Alcoholics Anonymous. Problems such as these are better handled by professionally trained pastors and doctors.
When a person has expressed interest in Via de Cristo, make sure you take the time to explain, preferably to the couple together, what Via de Cristo is about. You should give them the Via de Cristo brochure, which explains generally what to expect from the weekend. If your brother or sister happens to be a pastor, it would be a good idea to contact one of the spiritual directors who will be glad to explain Via de Cristo in more depth.
It is your responsibility to pick up the person you are sponsoring and take him or her to the send-off. Be sure to be on time to check him or her in with the Pre-Weekend Chairman. Getting the husband or wife letter is also crucial, or if the weekender is single get a letter from the weekender's parent or another close relative or friend. The person from whom you request the letter should be given at least a week's warning along with an explanation of the letter's importance. You can simply explain that it is traditional for each person to receive a letter of love and encouragement and that the weekender will be the only one who will read it. Be sure the letter is turned in to a member of the team no later than the send-off. The envelope should have the weekender's name on it and be marked in the upper right-hand corner W(wife), H(husband), C(child), M(mother), or F(father). A lot of heartache is saved with this is done properly. You should also write a palanca letter.
Please check on the family during the weekend and be sensitive to any special needs. Let the family know approximately what time to expect the weekender home on Sunday evening. You should attend the Candlelight service if at all possible and you must attend the Closura service and see your friend safely home. Since dinner is not served Sunday night, it would make a homecoming more pleasant if you fed the new cursillista on the way home. He or she may prefer, however, a speedy return home to dinner.
When the weekend is over, your job has not ended. It is vital that Via de Cristo be a continuing experience, so make sure the cursillista finds a reunion group. Keep tabs on him or her so if he or she is not happy, you can help him change groups. If he or she is not very involved at church, discuss with your pastor ways he or she can be brought into the work of the congregation. You should also bring the cursillista to the first Ultreya.
Most importantly, pray - for Christ is counting on you, and you are your brother's and sister's keeper.
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Wisconsin SonRise Via de Cristo