Category Archives: News

WCOF at Nelson Bay

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 – Saturday 20th September, 2025 – Thank you to all who attended the WCOF event at All Saints Anglican Church, Nelson Bay. Fellowship was rich, not just in spirit but also in food. A lovingly prepared meal was served by the team from Hope Cottage, the outreach ministry from All Saints, with love, generosity and quiet grace.

Looking Ahead

The event was a resounding success, and many expressed how meaningful and renewing the day was. We shared the end of the day in prayer and gratitude. We pray Rev Kimbalee Hodges will join us again as guest speaker next year. With hearts uplifted and renewed we give thanks for this special day and for faithful women who continue to walk alongside one another in Christ.

Blessings from the team of WCOF.

Newcastle Diocesan Ultreya 2025

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2025 event was held on 1st November 2025 at St John’s Church, Sturgeon Street Raymond Terrace. It had a good attendance and concluded at lunchtime.

2o25 Report:  “Thank you for an exciting Diocesan Ultreya, always uplifting, even with future challenges ahead”.

We believe about 39 people were welcomed to St John’s Anglican Church, Raymond Terrace on 1 November 2025, and those attending enjoyed a lovely morning tea, on arrival,  Saturday 1st November, followed by Lay Director Lorraine’s annual report, service and Eucharist.

Claire Bell’s witness talk was well received by all and Rev’d Toni’s response beautiful.

We enjoyed singing some old favourite and some new songs accompanied by Denise on the Grand Piano.

 

 

M/W52 WELCOME DAY SUCCESS

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WELCOME DAY FOR M/W52 WAS HELD ON 27th September at St THOMAS’s, CARDIFF. It  celebrated the Combined Cursillo which was held from 29 August to 31 August 2025 at Catalina  Conference  Centre Wangi Wangi. The Lay Director was Grahame Eagleton and the shortened mixed Format was over 2 days. It was a great success.

THERE WAS A GOOD ATTENDANCE FOR THE WELCOME DAY and the format was a novel one – in that the participants were on a virtual plane ride and heard speakers and reports on; The purpose & History of Cursillo; Prayer & Palanca; Ultreya & Group Reunion; a lively & humorous discussion between 2 Cursillistas about Sponsorship; a meditation; great songs and encouragement talks for the 4th Day.

The Welcome Day really only lasted half a day in the morning. All those who attended were really excited and encouraged by the day.
De Colores and Ultreya !!!

Tassie Cursillo Secretariat + Tour 2025

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Was a great success and coincided with National Secretariat Meeting from 24th to 26th October 2025 – the event was held in Launceston, Tasmania.

• • National Cursillo Conference
Lorraine Phillips and Allison Wooden attended for the Newcastle Diocese with the theme Post Cursillo – 4th Day.

1. Bishop Carol Wagner is the new Episcopal Advisor replacing Bsp. Ian Palmer.
2. 2026 Conference will be in Clevland Qld 16th, 17th & 18th October.
3. 2027: Grafton; 2028 Canberra/Goulburn; 2029 Adelaide
4. Some useful Ideas – Colours Day held in the month of June. Regeneration Day as an opportunity to share the new 2 Day program with Veteran Cursillistas

Diocesan Ultreya & National Secretariat 2024

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Newcastle Cursillistas hosted the 2024 National Secretariat Meeting at an exciting new venue !  Wallsend Diggers… in late October.  All present enjoyed great fellowship, including joining local Cursillistas at an ultreya on the Saturday evening.  During National Secretariat meeting sessions there was much valuable discussion about ‘where to from here?’ for Anglican Cursillo in Australia, with openness to exploring new ways of running 3 Days (or maybe 2 Days) and Fourth Day activities.  National looks forward to hearing back from those Dioceses who try something a bit different during the next 12 months.  We can all learn not only from successes but also from things that didn’t work so well.

The Ultreya followed the National Secretariat Meeting at the same venue. Accommodation was available for interstate delegates – maybe we could use the venue for a future Cusillo???

Peter Eyres was the witness Speaker.

AND

 

Nettie Sullivan (who attended W1 in Newcastle) also gave a talk.

 

Below are some photos of the event…

 

 

M/W51 Combined Cursillo – Success

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MW51 Cursillo 2024  – The first combined men’s and women’s Cursillo weekend-MW51- in Newcastle Diocese was held 22nd to 25th August.

The theme was “God’s steadfast love” taken from Lamentations 3: v22 ”The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.  His mercies never come to an end”.  God’s steadfast love was strongly felt during the preparation and delivery of this Cursillo weekend especially as we were trialling a new format previously used in Bathurst Diocese.

Three candidates attended the weekend together with fifteen team members.  The integrity of the Cursillo experience was not lost in the new format.  Nine talks were delivered by team members; Spiritual Advisors lead us through an experiential  learning experience of a “Journey through the Sacraments”; we worked through a bible study and enjoyed times for rest and quiet reflection.

Lively discussions took place during table community discussion sessions-men’s table communities separate from women’s table communities.  Meals were shared together enriching the “being in community” aspect of the weekend.  Mananita and Clausura were very touching encounters for the candidates together with written palanca.

The theme song “Freely, freely you have received” MP181 speaks of the love given to us by God.  MW51 gave all participants the opportunity to receive God’s love freely and to be strengthened to share His love in our communities through listening to Him, thereby bringing hope to a world where many live a life without hope.

LYN WICKHAM

LD MW51

WCOF at Raymond Terrace

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 Women Celebrating Our Faith is on at Saint John’s Anglican Church 45 Sturgeon St Raymond Terrace on 7 September 2024

9am registration and morning tea.   10:00 am start and concluding at 3:00 pm.

Download Brochure & Application Form: WCOF Application

Reading: Isaiah 43 verse 1.

“But now this is what the Lord’s says – he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”
Outline: Arrive 9am for a 10:00am start. Welcome by Bishop Sonia.
Guest Speaker: Rev Michelle Watterson. “Women of the bible.”
Music and singing – 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm – Lunch
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm – Bishop Sonia reflection, music and singing.
Discussion panel.
Closing Eucharist: