Joliet Cursillo Secretariat
To the Fourth Day Community:
It is with great pleasure that I announce that Deacon Victor Puscas has agreed to join the Joliet Cursillo Secretariat as Assistant Spiritual Director. In this capacity he, along with Deacon John Spiezio, will work with and support Father Matt Pratscher, Spiritual Director, in spiritually guiding the Movement. Deacon Vic takes the position previously held by long-serving Deacon Tom Thiltgen who has stepped down.
Deacon Vic is a member of St. Mary Immaculate Parish in Plainfield, where he and his wife, Beth Kingsbury-Puscas have been active members of the parish and active in the Joliet Cursillo.
Deacon Vic became a Deacon in August 2011 after four years in formation. He recalled, “It was bittersweet at the ordination. After four years of formation, I got to ascend to the altar, and my wife got to wave goodbye. But with Cursillo, we’re able to minister together, especially on women’s Weekends.”
Deacon Vic and Beth both made their Cursillo Weekends in 1989 in the Peoria Diocese. Deacon Vic has served on several Cursillo Weekends since his ordination.
“When the Church talks about the ‘New Evangelization’,” continued Deacon Vic, “I always think, what took you so long? Cursillo has been doing the ‘New Evangelization’ since 1944!
“The word Deacon comes from a Greek word which means ‘servant’. I don’t look at joining the Secretariat as an opportunity to be in a leadership position as much as another opportunity to serve the Movement and the people that have given me so many wonderful graces.”
Deacon Tom Thiltgen has served on Secretariat as Assistant Spiritual Director since 2001, shortly after his ordination in September of that year. Deacon Tom made his Cursillo Weekend on the Men’s 87th in 1994. He has served as a Deacon on twenty-nine Weekends (Men’s and Women’s) and as a lay-team member on numerous Men’s Weekends prior to his ordination. Deacon Tom’s support for the Movement has
been second to none and his sage advice will be missed at Secretariat meetings.
“My service to the Cursillo Community has been a tremendous gift to me and my wife, Mary,” remarked Deacon Tom. “Cursillo is one of the most powerful and life sustaining movements in our Catholic Church and I am so thankful and humbled to have been able to serve God’s holy people as a member of the Secretariat these past thirteen years. Bless you! Bless you! Bless you!”
“I am grateful to Deacon Tom for the number of years he has served the Cursillo movement in Joliet as Assistant Spiritual Director,” remarked Fr. Matt. “Of course, he will continue to be active in the movement, and I ask the Lord to bless his work in Cursillo and the local Church.
“I am also grateful for Deacon Vic’s ‘yes’ to serving on Secretariat as Assistant Spiritual Director. He has been a strong supporter of Cursillo, and we are blessed by his dedication, energy, devotion, and counsel,” added Fr. Matt.
Please join me in welcoming Deacon Vic as our new Assistant Spiritual Director and most importantly, please keep Deacon Vic, Deacon Tom and all of our clergy in your prayers. Peace,
Tim Moore – Lay Director
Joliet Cursillo
