Who has been to CRHP?

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Welcome to CAF, curtm.

Wow, your parish has “everything.” I see Bible studies, small Christian communities, the Legion of Mary, CRHP and lots of other stuff. Looks like a good parish.

While I won’t say CRHP is for everyone, it certainly was an important part in my faith development. Keep up the good work.

God bless,
Dan
 
Hello Brothers and Sisters In Christ,

Although it may seem at first glance that I am somewhat agitated with my CRHP experience, I did get some positive experiences from it that I will treasure for the rest of my life.

I feel that many of the “witnesses” were hand picked for the reason that they had the most “polished” presentation and the details in their stories. I am not new to this type of meeting setup as I am a member of a 12 step program where I have the t shirt of “been there, done that”. With that having been said, I was not really all that impressed with the lead stories that were being shared throughout the 2 day event. I sort of got burned out with the regimented schedule and the non stop sharing that went on throughout the weekend.

Going back to the fact that I am a member of a 12 step program and know about folks that hang out their dirty laundry in a public format for all to see, I needed a break from the drama that went on through the entire weekend. I am a free spirit as all human beings are, whether or not they admit vocally. I do not know of anyone that enjoys having their points of view criticized and picked on through the process of cross talk and belittlement. When I received the weekend and gave the weekend, this was my experience throughout and I did not enjoy it overall. I am comparing my experience to events in a 12 step program and these types of situations tend to handle themselves through a group conscience setup and are not tolerated.

Love, tolerance and patience is our code in a 12 step program, which is not what I got in my CRHP weekend. Certain individuals that knew of me through my 12 step program showed up during the weekend and began the process of digging into my personal and private life to ascertain various points of my life relating to: Sexual orientation, marital status, domestic upbringing, and other issues that I refused to entertain the assembled CRHP group members with.

I did not go to the CRHP weekend to get an inquisition into my personal life as a result of someone that has a romantic interest in me. I went there to get spiritually connected to my Lord Jesus Christ so that I may have a renewed spirit to live and get connected to a power that surpasses my limited and earthly understanding. I tried to explain to the assembled CRHP attendees that my 12 step recovery program led me back to my Catholic roots that were badly damaged through an alcoholic upbringing that constantly preached the Hate and Wrath of God versus the Love, Compassion, and Grace of God.

Various issues that I had with the Catholic Church would include the Act of Reconciliation, Holy Communion, Praying to Saints, and the list can go on ad infinitum. Even though the person that I suspect has had a pervasive and negative impact on my experience there, I did get many positive things from the weekend that has helped me in my walk with the Lord and the practice of my Catholic Faith. I for one believe that as a struggling Catholic, I would have benefited greatly from a brush up review through the RCIA course rather than explain my grievances and faith struggles within the confines of the CRHP weekends, both receiving and giving.

It is rather sad that my experience was affected by meddlers that have a real difficult time with minding their own business and it had a way of affecting the outcome of my experience within the receiving portion of the weekend. I was seeking the Heart of Jesus by trying to reconnect with my Faith and the Power that affords for those that Seek Him, and the result was nil as a direct impact by those involved around this ministry.

If it sounds as though I have a resentment, I do. I just do not think that it is setup to deal with individuals that are like me and that is alright, I have other avenues to pursue to get the Faith assistance that I need. I am no longer associated with the CRHP weekend and do not participate in anything associated with it, nor will I support it or condemn it. I just did not get the full benefit of the weekend without outside meddlers getting involved in my personal life.
 
I just made a CRHP weekend this past weekend. I guess I am just in a different spiritual place than most people making their CRHP weekends. It all felt very Protestant to me. Protestants stand up and give their “witness” to their fellow church members because they do not have sacramental confession. Some things are better left in the confessional. I do not feel closer to the faith community, for example, knowing that “Joe Catholic” over here cheated on his wife because she lost interest in him after having their child. I spoke with a trusted and very priestly priest at my home parish and he agreed with me. This is unhealthy, pop-psychology. There are much better ways to get people renewed in their faith and active in their parish. It should have put up a red flag to me when no one would go into the details of what CRHP is beforehand. Furthermore, the ridiculously stupid and childish “team building exercises” between the witnessing did nothing for me. They only served to water down the faith. It was a wasted weekend. The other thing they don’t tell you beforehand is they want at least a one year commitment to recruit new people for the group next year and prepare and be presenters. All in all, I was extremely disappointed after all the hype building up to it. Don’t waste your time.
 
leonie said:
I think part of the retreat is surrendering to the process. Because of this, there is an element of wanting to keep the details of the retreat under wraps. I think it is felt that the format will have a greater impact if it is unexpected.

Basically, it is a retreat based on listening to directed (by a theme) testamonies. There are very profound and meditative prayer experiences built into the retreat. The witnesses are very moving. The retreat is very Holy Spirit filled. Much, much prayer and preparation goes into every aspect of it.

My experience was very gratifying. I received gifts of a deeper relationship with the third person of God, a greater appreciation of scripture when used as a prayer vehicle, an openess to spontaneous prayer. And, a more loving nature to others, esp in being open to sharing my faith.

The fact that the retreat formation goes on for six months after the retreat is often downplayed so as not to scare off participants. I had no idea when I went through the weekend that formation continued. IMO, the post weekend formation was the best part of the process.

I am very, very grateful for the Christ Renews His Parish program. I would highly recommend it to anyone.
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I had a similar experience a couple of years ago. I was resistant to it…didn’t think I needed it. Basically, CRHP takes you where you are and elevates you. You can’t go wrong giving 30 hours with God…Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Actually, I liked it so much I am helping a team give one who did not have enough women.
Pray about it. Be docile to the Spirit. You will know if you should go, but don’t be afraid!
 
I agree with many posters on here, CRHP is what you make of it. If you go in with negativity, you will not get much from the weekend. But if you go in with an open heart, you will get something from the weekend.

It wasn’t life changing for me, but it did change my spiritual life. Many retreats are great for a week after, you still feel energized and “on fire”. The difference with CRHP is that it is on-going, IF YOU WANT IT TO BE. For those of you who felt pressured to attend the formation afterward or who were made to feel bad about not attending formation, I apologize. This is NOT part of the experience, if you aren’t ready or can’t committ the time, that is ok, everyone is different. Maybe people just wanted you to have the same experience they had, or maybe they are just pushy people…
This is certainly not part of the formation and nowhere in the manual does it say that you have to go through formation if you don’t want to.

For the person who said it is very “Protestant feeling”, yes, Protestants do “witness” more than Catholics do, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong. CRHP isn’t something you have to go through to be a “good Catholic” (whatever that means), it’s extra formation and a spiritual community to support you. Isn’t that what community is for, to support? How better to support than to witness to others so that people know they aren’t alone? Witnessing has nothing to do with Catholic tradition and does not change any of the Sacraments we receive.

Bottom line, I had a great CRHP experience! I met a wonderfully, amazing group of women that I might not have met otherwise. I’ve grown in my spiritual life and I feel closer to Christ. I feel more comfortable praying and reading scripture. We are putting on our CRHP 5 weekend in 2 weeks and I’m very excited to meet even more women who want to dive further into their faith. I am a table leader and had an amazing time pulling together witnesses and reflection activities for the participants. I am ready to go through the weekend again and experience it from the other side.

To the original poster of this thread (sorry, I can’t remember your name), Let Go and Let God. You don’t have to be in control all the time and you don’t HAVE to know everything about CRHP before attending. If you are really interested, which I am assuming you are or you wouldn’t have asked, GO! Best case- you will be forever changed; worst case- you gave up 2 days to spend it in church.
 
I went in February of 2008 and it totally changed my life. I would highly recommend that you attend,

you will be greated by the presenting team, go to mass, then begin hearing a number of witnesses. I firmly believe that the Holy Spirit will guide you to be there when there will be a witness given that truly speaks to you.

If you have any specific questions feel free to email me at wja9781@sprynet.com
 
CradleCatholic2 –

Welcome to CAF! Hope you enjoy your visits here!

God bless,
Dan
 
I have and here is my take on it.

I was “persuaded” to go a couple of months ago and attended the Palm Sunday weekend - I was hesitant to go but did it as a favor for someone. People were so excited about this as if it were the next best thing to “SLICED BREAD”. Our parish priest was promoting it at every Mass. Are you going to CRHP? You have to go to CRHP. So I went with an open mind.

Have you ever hear of CURSILLO?

The Cursillo Movement is a movement of the Catholic Church. The name Cursillo, is Spanish, meaning short course and is often associated with a 3-Day weekend - which is only one aspect of the Cursillo Movement. The proper name is Cursillo de Cristiandad (short course of Christianity). There is much more to the Cursillo Movement than just a 3-Day weekend. (natl-cursillo.org)

When my wife and I came to our parish over a decade ago we had recently made our CURSILLO and were still feeling it (so to speak). We asked if we could start a CURSILLO at our new parish but were told there was no interest. Fast forward several years and now comes CHIRP. I am all for getting the parish involved, bringing the parish together, renewing one’s faith etc. - just call it CURSILLO. When I mentioned this I was told that CURSILLO is held at the DIOCESAN level only (WHAT? WHY?) and CRHP is at the parish level. HUH?:confused: CURSILLO is worldwide - founded in** MALLORCA, SPAIN in the 1940’s **- we made ours in KOREA so this did not make sense to me nor does it still. CRHP was started in Cleveland Ohio in 1969.

As a Cursillista I want to say I am not bashing CRHP pronounced CHIRP - I realize that the team members put a lot of planning, time, coordination, work and effort into the day and a half - but am trying to figure out how they can get away with calling CURSILLO CHIRP??? I feel that CURSILLO has been “ripped off” - if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck - its a DUCK. I was expecting a RENEWAL of the PARISH - but instead got CURSILLO repeated. I understand there is a “personal renewal” that takes place during both CURSILLO and CRHP. But the title “RENEWS HIS PARISH” is somewhat misleading (to me anyway).

Both my wife and I made our CURSILLO back in 1998-1999 and we were both TEAM MEMBERS afterward - so I do have some experience in what I am saying and comparing it to. Pope Paul IV recognized and supported CURSILLO as did Blessed Pope John Paul II.

If anyone has every been to CURSILLO (short course), they do not need to attend CRHP - it is CURSILLO - all they did was cut and paste CHIRP and put it at the top of the CURSILLO Lesson Plan. How can they get away with calling it CHIRP? Yes I know I’ve said that before - but I feel very strongly about this - Can you tell? And IF anyone has been to both you can, and dare I say should, feel the same.

The purpose is the same - to bring about a change in the environment. The Cursillo Movement is a deliberate act to bring Jesus Christ into the world. Cursillistas (those that have gone through the 3-Days and are living the Cursillo method) become agents for change in their families, work situations, neighborhoods, social gatherings, etc. Cursillistas are the part of the Christian community (communal) that links together with others (teamwork) to bring Jesus Christ to the world. (natl-cursillo.org)

]Some examples why it is a carbon copy of CURSILLO:

“HELP” letters - its PALANCA - its the same thing - touted as so many people praying for you. What does HELP stand for?

A Priest is in attendance the whole time

Confessions are held - Mass is held - prayers and Adoration.

Candle light “surprise” - very moving in both CHIRP and CURSILLO

Lesson Plan - from the Table Leaders, naming of the tables - to the table projects/discussions.

Personal Witness/Testimonies - exactly the same.

Confidentiality - whats spoken on CHIRP stays in CHIRP - same thing.

Separate weekends - Men only, Women only

Lots of GREAT food - prepared by others that have been through CHIRP.

To reiterate, I am NOT bashing CHIRP - I am a cradle Catholic that supports our church so PLEASE do not take this the WRONG way.

But perhaps we should not try to “re-invent” the wheel - there is already is a mechanism in place - its called CURSILLO.

I look forward to your thoughts and responses.

TOM
 
I must respectfully disagree.

CRHP was wonderful. It involved 2 days and one night. It was fun and I learned so much from it and then when we gave our weekend, it was wonderful all over again. Our group met locally for a long time after we gave our weekend 6 months after we received.
The talks given made sense, they were about the people who gave them, it didn’t feel like they were trying ot make their life fit the talk, the talks they gave WERE their lives.

Went to Cursillo, it was nothing like CRHP. It was LONG days of talk after talk after talk and childish poster making and our posters being graded by the priest and not being able to go outside, and not being able to even go get an Advil without being escorted to my room. It was windows blocked so we couldn’t see outside (no privacy issues here, no one there but the cursillo people) It went on forever. And I had not one single minute of time to myself. I left early and would never ever consider recommending Cursillo to anyone, it was way too much in my opinion. As one of the gals in my room for sleeping said, “Now I know how women in prison feel.” We never felt that way with CRHP.

And why is it called CHRP? You and I are the parish and that’s how it’s renewed, one parishioner at a time.
 
WARNING___this is a “fun surprises” ruiner so if you read further, expect to hear about the “surprises” at the end–you may want to ignore this post if you haven’t been.

I just got back from one and while most of it was ok-ish, it did get emotionally exhausting listening to hours after hours after hours after hours (literally) of people telling stories with such sad details and horrors it made you want to weep for them, and then being prompted to write a “poem” or song or skit about it in 5 minutes. Other than the mass that was literally ALL we did the whole two days.

But what really was the clincher was where they announced that they would be passing out bags with letters they had obtained for us from out friends and loved ones at home, as well as some former crhp participants. As others excitedly found anywhere from a couple to a dozen or more letters from loved ones, I sat at my table with one other lady holding nothing but a bag full of form letters from people I didn’t even know from previous retreats, with our names penciled in. Nothing at all from loved ones. There was no warning whatever that this might be the case for some. It left myself and one of my table sisters in tears. I asked the leaders if they had tried to contact my family and was told that one attempt to email my husband had been made a few days ago and that was it. I was completely baffled, hurt and surprised.

Shortly thereafter, when I was so tired and bewildered all I wanted to do was go home, they announced another last BIG surprise, yay! They marched us all around the building and back in again, to a gauntlet of clapping, cheering family members that we had to march through. Loved ones on all sides reached out t o grab their spouse, daughter, sister, mom, friend, whatever. Again, there was not a soul for me and my fellow table member. Later I found out another pair of ladies had the same thing happen to them. There were tables spread for a nice meal they had cooked for the families to enjoy. We sat at a back table, eyes tearing up and feeling confused and uncared for. Out table leader momentarily came up and said hey, if no one has come for you, you can go ahead and leave. She helped us find our begs and sent us on our way, to the sounds of laughter and hugs among the families.

Upon returning home, I asked my husband what on earth had happened? He was completely shocked and had no idea. He had received no letter, no phone call. (The table leader told me she could not find a number for him but I just cannot imagine I did not put one down on my emergency contact card, which is what they used), He DID, we discovered, receive an email a few days prior to the event. However, since he is not a parishoner (I attend alone) and did not recognize the name of the sender nor the subject header (the church’s 3 initials and “crhp”) he was afraid to open it for fear it might be a virus, so he left it unopened. He accepts full blame for this.

However, later that night a group email arrived from a young lady at my table whose family had also not been informed and whose mom–who had been in similar retreats–called the church repeatedly to ask if there was anything she could do to be supportive. Finally it was she who had to contact the husband, who rushed to the church with a couple of letters for her bag but STILL was not told about t he luncheon, so did not arrive for that either. This left at least 4 attendees leaving the retreat in pain, hurt and bewildered. In her letter to the group she bravely and politely suggested that next time, more care somehow be taken that people do not get left out of this special family involvement, and that if it is literally impossible after all attempts are made to contact ANYONE for them (heck, even my RCIA sponsor would have done), that they not be handed bags and told love letters from family are within, and that they not be forced to walk a gauntlet when those putting on the retreat already know no one is coming for them.

I was told that they only had my phone number–which again seems very odd to me but I don’t know–and that they didn’t want to “spoil the surprise” by calling him through me. But I have to say that would have been a heck of a lot better than what DID happen.

I’m sorry for venting all over the place here–I know I am just walowing in self pity and that is neither Godly not helpful so it’s time to get over it. But I would encourage future event planners to please do all you can to make sure people are not excluded in such a painful manner, without any warning.

Thanks
 
gh4 said:
I must respectfully disagree.

CRHP was wonderful. It involved 2 days and one night. It was fun and I learned so much from it and then when we gave our weekend, it was wonderful all over again. Our group met locally for a long time after we gave our weekend 6 months after we received.
The talks given made sense, they were about the people who gave them, it didn’t feel like they were trying ot make their life fit the talk, the talks they gave WERE their lives.

Went to Cursillo, it was nothing like CRHP. It was LONG days of talk after talk after talk and childish poster making and our posters being graded by the priest and not being able to go outside, and not being able to even go get an Advil without being escorted to my room. It was windows blocked so we couldn’t see outside (no privacy issues here, no one there but the cursillo people) It went on forever. And I had not one single minute of time to myself. I left early and would never ever consider recommending Cursillo to anyone, it was way too much in my opinion. As one of the gals in my room for sleeping said, “Now I know how women in prison feel.” We never felt that way with CRHP.

And why is it called CHRP? You and I are the parish and that’s how it’s renewed, one parishioner at a time.
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This was very much like the CRHP I attended. windows blocked, clocks and watches removed, had to be escorted to get an advil, not a single personal moment, car keys and phones taken, and all the skits and posters and 5 minute “songs” to be made up.
 
zenith15 said:
WARNING___this is a “fun surprises” ruiner so if you read further, expect to hear about the “surprises” at the end–you may want to ignore this post if you haven’t been.

I just got back from one and while most of it was ok-ish, it did get emotionally exhausting listening to hours after hours after hours after hours (literally) of people telling stories with such sad details and horrors it made you want to weep for them, and then being prompted to write a “poem” or song or skit about it in 5 minutes. Other than the mass that was literally ALL we did the whole two days.

But what really was the clincher was where they announced that they would be passing out bags with letters they had obtained for us from out friends and loved ones at home, as well as some former crhp participants. As others excitedly found anywhere from a couple to a dozen or more letters from loved ones, I sat at my table with one other lady holding nothing but a bag full of form letters from people I didn’t even know from previous retreats, with our names penciled in. Nothing at all from loved ones. There was no warning whatever that this might be the case for some. It left myself and one of my table sisters in tears. I asked the leaders if they had tried to contact my family and was told that one attempt to email my husband had been made a few days ago and that was it. I was completely baffled, hurt and surprised.

Shortly thereafter, when I was so tired and bewildered all I wanted to do was go home, they announced another last BIG surprise, yay! They marched us all around the building and back in again, to a gauntlet of clapping, cheering family members that we had to march through. Loved ones on all sides reached out t o grab their spouse, daughter, sister, mom, friend, whatever. Again, there was not a soul for me and my fellow table member. Later I found out another pair of ladies had the same thing happen to them. There were tables spread for a nice meal they had cooked for the families to enjoy. We sat at a back table, eyes tearing up and feeling confused and uncared for. Out table leader momentarily came up and said hey, if no one has come for you, you can go ahead and leave. She helped us find our begs and sent us on our way, to the sounds of laughter and hugs among the families.

Upon returning home, I asked my husband what on earth had happened? He was completely shocked and had no idea. He had received no letter, no phone call. (The table leader told me she could not find a number for him but I just cannot imagine I did not put one down on my emergency contact card, which is what they used), He DID, we discovered, receive an email a few days prior to the event. However, since he is not a parishoner (I attend alone) and did not recognize the name of the sender nor the subject header (the church’s 3 initials and “crhp”) he was afraid to open it for fear it might be a virus, so he left it unopened. He accepts full blame for this.

However, later that night a group email arrived from a young lady at my table whose family had also not been informed and whose mom–who had been in similar retreats–called the church repeatedly to ask if there was anything she could do to be supportive. Finally it was she who had to contact the husband, who rushed to the church with a couple of letters for her bag but STILL was not told about t he luncheon, so did not arrive for that either. This left at least 4 attendees leaving the retreat in pain, hurt and bewildered. In her letter to the group she bravely and politely suggested that next time, more care somehow be taken that people do not get left out of this special family involvement, and that if it is literally impossible after all attempts are made to contact ANYONE for them (heck, even my RCIA sponsor would have done), that they not be handed bags and told love letters from family are within, and that they not be forced to walk a gauntlet when those putting on the retreat already know no one is coming for them.

I was told that they only had my phone number–which again seems very odd to me but I don’t know–and that they didn’t want to “spoil the surprise” by calling him through me. But I have to say that would have been a heck of a lot better than what DID happen.

I’m sorry for venting all over the place here–I know I am just walowing in self pity and that is neither Godly not helpful so it’s time to get over it. But I would encourage future event planners to please do all you can to make sure people are not excluded in such a painful manner, without any warning.

Thanks
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I’m so sorry this happened to you. I can imagine the “left out” feeling you and your table mate must have felt. I don’t believe these kind of things are healthy for anybody involved. A retreat for you, should be about you and the people you attend the retreat with, not about bringing in your family at the end, especially as a surprise. I wonder if they do this at all parishes. That whole ending just seems totally uncomfortable to me and would keep me from ever attending this type of retreat even though I know my family would show up IF contacted. But I’d feel for those put in the situation you were. What a sad way to end your weekend. I’m sorry.
 
zenith15 said:
WARNING___this is a “fun surprises” ruiner so if you read further, expect to hear about the “surprises” at the end–you may want to ignore this post if you haven’t been.

I just got back from one and while most of it was ok-ish, it did get emotionally exhausting listening to hours after hours after hours after hours (literally) of people telling stories with such sad details and horrors it made you want to weep for them, and then being prompted to write a “poem” or song or skit about it in 5 minutes. Other than the mass that was literally ALL we did the whole two days.

I’m sorry for venting all over the place here–I know I am just walowing in self pity and that is neither Godly not helpful so it’s time to get over it. But I would encourage future event planners to please do all you can to make sure people are not excluded in such a painful manner, without any warning.

Thanks
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I’m so very sorry that you had such a bad experience. CHRP was so different for me. We had singing and joy and crying and sadness. We didn’t receive letters or have to make up songs or poems. We did have mass, but the priests were not present for the talks, just for confession and mass.

Your CHRP sounds like my Cursillo. I guess this shows us that any program can be well done or poorly done.
 
Well, I do apologize for this post but it is late at night and there is no one else I can talk to.

The four women (including myself) who were left without letters or families at the dinner each wrote an email (one–not myself–started and the others responded) that was sent to the leaders as well as the other women who were hurting. The letters each explained in a nice way why we were feeling the way we did, what we learned about why people were not contacted when we got home, and how it might be iimproved with the next group. No letter was mean, or failed to thank all included for the enormous amount of work pout into the event.

No one responded from the team who put on the event. One lady on the continuation team later called me to apologize for what happened and to encourage me to comed to the formation event wednesday for the planning of the next one,.She was so nice I said yes I would. ANd thenn, late this evening, I received an email from one of the table leaders–a woman I don’t even know–addressed to myself and the other three ladies, telling us how she had been crying ever since she received our “hateful, spiteful, childish” emails and that she had no intention of coming back to crhp again but after talking it over with her mom she realized that the ladies at HER table–true godly women–deserved her presence there and so she would go.

Not only does this completely put me off going, I am so hurt I don’;t know if I can ever return to the parish. I have been there for 18 months moving through RCIA as I awaited an anullment and have never once been treated in such a way by anyone. Now though, knowing what a big group the CRHPrs are and how they are all likely furious with us for having said gently how we felt, I fel I will be unwelcome from now on. I don’t know what on earth to do. I am so hurt.
 
zenith15 said:
Not only does this completely put me off going, I am so hurt I don’;t know if I can ever return to the parish. I have been there for 18 months moving through RCIA as I awaited an anullment and have never once been treated in such a way by anyone. Now though, knowing what a big group the CRHPrs are and how they are all likely furious with us for having said gently how we felt, I fel I will be unwelcome from now on. I don’t know what on earth to do. I am so hurt.
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I understand the hurt. I’m so sorry that they have been so mean to you, that is wrong under any circumstances, even worse if your letter was kind and gentle.
I haven’t been back to mass since my devistating cursillo experience. I still have troubles voicing my issues without crying, I’m terribly hurt. Not sure why people do this to some and feel that they have that right to do it.
I hope you can find another parish and perhaps attend mass there more comfortably. For me there is no alternative here where I live, so it’s either the local parish or 75 mile drive.
I will keep you in my prayers Zenith.
 
No, our letters were all carefully worded, no one specific was mentioned, and I stated in mine that there was absolutely NO good to be found in blaming anyone for anything that happened, considering what a huge thing this is to pull off, and it just happened that wires got crossed, etc and possibly next time more effort could be made to ensure that someone special be found for everyone or if not, at least warn the person in an out of the way place first. But apparently, that was “spiteful, hateful and childish”.

I feel so sad as I love my parish–really love it–but now I am thinking gosh, what if I am going to have a majority of the congregation (and their spouses and loved ones) furious with me and my three crhp sisters who spoke up, dying to tell us off for hurting their loved ones who worked so hard for us, etc that I just can’t imagine it being the same anymore. Maybe I am wrong. I hope I am. I thank you for your response.
 
I went to CRHP last year. CRHP is not for everybody. I found that I too, learned much more about my fellow retreatants than I ever wanted to know about anyone. The things that were discussed by the “Witnesses” were most often things that should be left in the confessional,… not shared with total strangers. It doesn’t make me feel better about myself, or anyone else to know that Joe so and so cheated on his wife, for example. The women’s CRHP weekend was a few weeks after the men’s weekend. Some time later, I learned that one of the women committed suicide after attending the CRHP weekend. Of course, this is all hush-hush and the CRHP weekends continue…

CRHP is not a very healthy way to renew the parish life. I recommend silent preached retreats based on the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius…much better than CRHP.
 
WOW,

That is so sad! My wife and I made our CURSILLO over a dozen years ago in KOREA - for those that do not know, CURSILLO is world wide and much more spiritual, thoughtful and worthwhile - it was very special - the Mens 38th CURSILLO on the 38th Parallel.

CHIRP is a CARBON COPY, rip off of CURSILLO - plain and simple!

I mentioned your post to my wife (again who also attend CURSILLO) about the “WITNESSING” at CURSILLO if she remembered it being this BAD? She said emphatically NO - that the witnessing at CURSILLO was more about one’s FAITH journey - nothing as GRAPHIC and detailed as CHIRP. We were both on the CURSILLO team afterward and if our memory serves us correctly, the team would review & critique the WITNESSES’ story and discuss the content to prevent this type of thing. These stories get away from being CHRIST centered and are more SELF CENTERED as evident by these sad in depth stories.

We both agree with you that not only does MOST of this stuff need to remain in the CONFESSIONAL but a lot of it (like what cause the lady to commit suicide) needs PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING!!! That is most unfortunate and someone, perhaps, should be held accountable IF they can trace it back to CHIRP. It need to be brought out into the open.

How does this “RENEW HIS PARISH”?? I still am shaking my head trying to figure it out.
Just return to CURSILLO or at least call CHIRP “CURSILLO”!
 
BobLuck said:
I went to CRHP last year. CRHP is not for everybody. I found that I too, learned much more about my fellow retreatants than I ever wanted to know about anyone. The things that were discussed by the “Witnesses” were most often things that should be left in the confessional,… not shared with total strangers. It doesn’t make me feel better about myself, or anyone else to know that Joe so and so cheated on his wife, for example. The women’s CRHP weekend was a few weeks after the men’s weekend. Some time later, I learned that one of the women committed suicide after attending the CRHP weekend. Of course, this is all hush-hush and the CRHP weekends continue…

CRHP is not a very healthy way to renew the parish life. I recommend silent preached retreats based on the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius…much better than CRHP.
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I DO think too much public “confession” is not a good thing–not even the Lord asks us to confess to large groups. Although, I do hear that very early church members DID confess publicly and were then expected to stay sin free for the rest of their lives, after some rather severe penances.
 
tjgussi said:
WOW,

That is so sad! My wife and I made our CURSILLO over a dozen years ago in KOREA - for those that do not know, CURSILLO is world wide and much more spiritual, thoughtful and worthwhile - it was very special - the Mens 38th CURSILLO on the 38th Parallel.

CHIRP is a CARBON COPY, rip off of CURSILLO - plain and simple!

I mentioned your post to my wife (again who also attend CURSILLO) about the “WITNESSING” at CURSILLO if she remembered it being this BAD? She said emphatically NO - that the witnessing at CURSILLO was more about one’s FAITH journey - nothing as GRAPHIC and detailed as CHIRP. We were both on the CURSILLO team afterward and if our memory serves us correctly, the team would review & critique the WITNESSES’ story and discuss the content to prevent this type of thing. These stories get away from being CHRIST centered and are more SELF CENTERED as evident by these sad in depth stories.

We both agree with you that not only does MOST of this stuff need to remain in the CONFESSIONAL but a lot of it (like what cause the lady to commit suicide) needs PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING!!! That is most unfortunate and someone, perhaps, should be held accountable IF they can trace it back to CHIRP. It need to be brought out into the open.

How does this “RENEW HIS PARISH”?? I still am shaking my head trying to figure it out.
Just return to CURSILLO or at least call CHIRP “CURSILLO”!
Click to expand...
And see, I’m trying to figure out how on earth anyone could get anything at all out of cursillo. That was the most horrible experience, not sure I’ll ever recover from that one. How could anyone get anything good from cursillo? And to me, cursillo is NOTHING at all like CRHP.

Like I said, my CHRP was great, my cursillo a total painful disaster, this shows you that any program can be done poorly.
 
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