My name is Gabriel and the title of my Rollo is:

LEADERS

Prayer to Holy Spirit, P.G. p.5

Let us consider what draws people to others - to leaders. 1. DEFINITION Firstly, they have "more personality". Here I use "personality" as the quality of being a person.

Persons with more or better values draw people to themselves. For example, this person may not be drawn into workplace gossip, they don't steal, tell lewd jokes, or they don't swear.

They have more determination. That is, they don't give up easily. Things of the world don't sway them, and negative influences don't seem to upset them. Just because the rain falls, doesn't mean they have a bad day.

They have more perseverance. That is, despite the weight of their responsibilities they continue to do what they are called to do, and they do it happily.

And, because of their better values, more determination and more perseverance, their personality shows they are more human. That is, they are aware of their limitations, but at the same time, are not stopped by their limitations. Leaders are those who have influence in their environment.

- They have influence because they make decision without waiting for them to be made by others. Drawing from their personality and good values, they act.

- Their opinions are listened to. They don't always follow the trend. And because they are respected for how they act, what they say is also respected.

- Leaders attract people. That is, people follow where they lead. People want to model themselves after leaders. W 1. I graduated as a veterinarian from the University of Guelph, Canada in 1972. I returned to my homeland in Trinidad and Tobago with my new wife and one son Paul. I practised for five years in food animals medicine and surgery. In 1978 I graduated from the University of California, USA, where I specialized in Preventive Veterinary Medicine / Food Safety. I returned to Trinidad with my wife and three children and now I

practised in the Ministry of Health. By 1984 I was

Appointed Director of Veterinary Public Health and Zoonoses

Control for Trinidad and Tobago. My advice and services were in

Sought after and my private businesses prospered.

I dispensed advice liberally. I ran two thriving private clinics and had a

brood mare horse practice. I also owned other businesses. I

spent money freely. I was generous popular and had influence.

A leader has a clear vision. - They know what they want, why they want it, what they want it for, and, how they want to achieve it. They have a sense of direction, they don't just "climb the mountain", but they know which "mountain to climb". A leader knows not just what to do, but when to do it. Everyone has the potential to be a leader.

- No-one is good for everything, but each of us is good for something. This is because in the world of people, each one, however insignificant they may seem, has somebody who depends on him i.e. somebody to love, and somebody who loves him. The Christian has an advantage: we believe and therefore we experience by living that God loves us.

II. WHAT A LEADER IS NOT:

It is important to distinguish what a leader is not. This is because the typical everyday use of the word leader is much different from what a true leader is. Here are some examples of persons who may not be true leaders: 1. someone who commands or dictates 2. a person who happens to be in the best position 3. someone who has a some position of power

III. WHO IS A LEADER?

So, who is a leader?

- One who is aware of his uniqueness. He is aware of who he is. He can say," this is who I am." - One who has control over his whole life, his interior life (attitude) and consequently his actions.

A leader accepts it when a rain falls during his family picnic. Rather, he realizes what the real purpose of the family get together is and makes other equally enjoyable plans. Leaders turn mountains into molehills,and disappointments into success.

IV. THE DETERMINING FACTOR IN FORMATION IS THE WILL TO BE FORMED.

Not to be formed is to be deformed. (Repeat slowly) A piece of clay and a vase are made of the same material. But one has been changed? because it has been formed.

V. THE SPECIFIC QUALITIES OF THE LEADER (most ?)

There are specific qualities that the leader is continually developing, with help.

There are Natural qualities.

These are the kind of qualities which make human beings impressive and effective. But in the Christian they are reoriented. They are put in the service of the ideal of a Christian. They are centered around a Christian axis. Just as when a tea-bag permeates the hot water to form tea, so also these qualities, when Christian-centered, permeate the person to form them into a Christian leader.

- What they must know: The Ideal, The Environment and their Unique role

a) The ideal; what is proposed; where it leads; what it wants to achieve. Knowing the ideal is the first quality. The ideal was clearly sketched on the first day of the Cursillo:

? A living union with God in Christ and through that, the transformation of all things in Christ. ? The Christian leader is working to bring all to Christ. ? To change all of human life so it will fulfill God's plan. ? To know more and more about Christ and what it means to live with him. ? The Christian leader reminds himself regularly what the ideal is. Through his study and prayer he is continually grows in his understanding of the ideal.

b) the reality: the environment in which one moves; the problems of the people who surround one; dealing with each one according to his character and temperament; adjusting; adapting. c) The Christian leader knows that he is called to be a leader in the places and circumstances that his life finds him. He knows that he may be the only one who can understand the people, their needs and their unique personalities that surround him, and that without him, perhaps nothing will be done.

- What they must have: Discipline, Warmth, Initiative and Generosity

a) Discipline: accepting God's will in all His manifestations. This discipline is a discipline which follows the call of God. The Christian listens for and hears what God wants and turns himself to do it. He follows not his own will, but the will of God.

b) Warmth: Mutual understanding, joy. The Grace of God which is the source of authentic joy. He is joyful, because of the Grace of God in him. He is joyful and his joy attracts others to him. His joy is deep within his heart. c) Initiative: Don't just wait for orders; act decisively in a firm and constant manner A leader takes responsibility on his own accord, and does not wait to be told everything. The same is true of a Christian leader. A Christian leader takes action knowing that God is working in him and blessing those actions. As a result, he doesn't fear rejection or that he will do the wrong thing. He simply does what. He obeys -fidelity.

c) Generosity: God wills it; giving oneself freely and enthusiastically for Christ, not measuring the effort, - always more and better. He instinctively gives of himself, not expecting any return.

d) Summary: One must have a human personality, centered about a Christian "axis" Being a Christian does not mean becoming less as a man, no more. It does not mean becoming weak, less decisive, sheepish or self-centered, no strong, decisive and Christ centered. All the qualities which go into making a man humanly strong (knowing his ideal, knowing reality, discipline, warmth, initiative, and generosity) should be part of his life as a Christian. But they should be centered around a Christian axis, put into the service of Christ. Moreover, if a Christian wants to grow -in effectiveness as an apostle, he should also grow in the qualities which make a man more effective in the world, the environment in which we live.

W 2.I was a leader and this showed itself in how I acted in business and in family. But I was not a "Christian" leader as talked about in this Rollo. I was what this Rollo calls a "natural" leader. But, in an unmistakable act of ingratitude to God, I had plunged my newly found popularity and affluence into a pagan lifestyle. I was committed to my idols money, pleasure, and power. My family, including three young wonderful children, had every

modern convenience, except my presence as a loving father and

husband. Attendance at church was rare, mainly on festive

occasions. My parents prayed. My mother tried to advise me about

my life and my spiritual life. My Dad told me in his quiet way I should

slow down. I was deaf to all of it. I saw myself as the leader of this my

little world. People were attracted to me, asked my advice, valued my

opinions and recognised that I was successful. I had a clear vision of

my goals, and the determination to achieve them.

Despite all this worldly successes, I discovered that my wife and I

were very unhappy with many things, including each other. After two

years as the Director I gave it all up. I migrated to Canada in 1986. I was in search of a family life, a better life, a different life. I was

sure that my present life style was bad for me, my wife and especially

for our children. I wanted to give our marriage a chance to work. This

was not possible in the present environment of money, wine , women

and song. In Ottawa we immediately began going to mass on

Sundays. Family life was not a life with God. I was not a good

example. Old habits persisted. Disagreements were deep, loud and

uncompromising. I was accustomed to having it my way or the hiway.

My life continued to decline despite the change of country and also

pace of my life. Not surprisingly, in 1988 we were legally separated

with joint custody of our children. By 1995 we were civilly divorced.

That year I got married to a non Christian in a United Church.

Supernatural qualities. A living Faith, Humility, Hope, and Love.

These are qualities only people living in grace can have. They are qualities which come from a relationship with God. They are qualities which God produces in us. In other words, when a person becomes a Christian, two things happen. His good natural qualities are reoriented to the service of Christ and in addition something new is given because there is something new in his life, a relationship with Christ.

a) A living faith; a bold faith, trusting in the Grace of God; knowing that we are instruments of God and expecting everything from Him when we have given of our own utmost effort.

Living faith is not simply belief. It means confidence in God. It means truly trusting in God and relying on Him.

A man of faith knows that he can expect to see more results than he could ever expect from his own efforts. He knows that God is all powerful, in heaven and on earth, and so, he makes himself an instrument in God's hands, and lets God work through him.

A leader who "prays as though everything depends on God, (which it does), and acts as though everything depends on them (which it does)."

b) Humility: true awareness and a sense of our condition as the Lord's instruments and of the talents that He has granted us so that we may put them to use for Him.

Humility is not weakness. In God's hands it is strength. It is realizing that without God, we can do nothing. It is the knowledge that no matter how strong we think we are, without God, we are weak. Humility is a true awareness of our condition as the Lord's instruments. It involves recognizing that everything that we are comes from God, so we are nothing of ourselves. It also involves recognizing that God has given us talents and abilities.

There is a danger of a false humility that cripples apostolic action.

W 3. About 10 years after I came to live in Canada, in 1996, God gave me yet another gift. My gift was one of genuine repentance at my father's funeral mass. I felt so ashamed that I had let down my father. My parents had always promoted my religious formation by encouragement and especially by good day to day example. I listened to Dad's eulogy. "He was born into poverty, but of a family which was dedicated to noble values, lofty ambitions, strict discipline, and a developed sense of social responsibility. He displayed an appreciation of respect, commitment, co-operative spirit, and love for parents, duty to God and family, and the need to be your brother's keeper. He was a devout Catholic and only missed mass if physically disabled, and participated in all activities of the church". People came to the family pharmacy and told their friends and their children to go there - nowhere else, whether they had money or not. How far I had fallen! God, my father, was there to catch his prodigal son, yet another time. I knew Jesus was not in my life. I needed him. I wanted him with me. I did know how!

c) Hope: virtue that increases when all human hope ends. God is concerned with people, not with "works"

By hope I mean apostolic hope, the hope that comes from knowing that the work is God's. God is interested in saving men, and with hope a Christian leader can expect success even when he has to endure failures. Human hope only lasts as long as it sees a likelihood of success. Christian hope has more endurance, because it knows that God is almighty. A leader knows our role is to obey the will of God- fidelity. Now came the hard years of searching for God amidst tremendous guilt and fear of death in my sinful and confused state. I was afraid and ashamed to approach anyone. I doubted I could be helped as I was divorced. I was an altar server and a devout catholic and I believed divorced as I was, I was finished because I had remarried. I was afraid of death, of the unknown, of my own sinfulness. I was afraid I would have to be divorced yet another time - doubly damned! About this time I had frequent visits from the Jehovah Witness group at my home. They tried to convince me that Catholic views were wrong and even pagan, especially that of the Trinity. I began to discover my ignorance of Catholic teachings. How could I have been so misled, or is this wrong? This was a very lonely time and place for me for many months. Then a friend, Carole, invited me again and again and again to join a Bible class at St Bernadette's church, where I was now attending mass on Sundays. She made it sound exciting, informal and friendly with lots of Trinis there. This was the beginning of my return to the Father. I was hostile at first. Later I met another person, Anthony, who conducted the Bible class. He helped me along the way on my return journey. Through him I met Father Roy. Father Roy heard my life story and offered me confession. I received absolution. I was so relieved. He advised me to go to my parish priest and to proceed with the Catholic Marriage Tribunal application as my pastor at St Bernadette directed. Father said this was the external process to be in communion with the Church. There was one thing I knew for certain: I was not going back from whence I came. Never again to such loneliness and pain will I live - a life without God. Anthony journeyed with me through the darkest time of my life, always patient, gentle, encouraging, and comforting, showing me that God is always about love and justice. My friend Anthony brought me back to the Church, to open the door to Christ.  Anthony was the kind of leader we are talking about here.

d) Love: for a Christian, this life is nothing more than a series of opportunities to win sanctity. Love is a definite subject on which we will be judged. Love seeks out the details and looks out for the good of others. The assignment of the Christian leader is to love. It is the love of Christ which makes him an apostle. Every situation in life is an opportunity for love.Every apostolic action is an expression of love. I started attending an Apologetics course to learn how to explain Catholic beliefs to others ( and to myself) always in a charitable way. Another friend Ernie, brought me to a higher level, closer to an understanding of my Lord and Christ's Church. Every year he would ask me to come to Cursillo. Ernie would explain about genuine loving friendship in Christ very patiently. My friend would remind me patiently that Cursillo brought him back to the church. Ernie was also the kind of leader spoken of here.

e) Summary: To develop totally the potential of baptism. The true Christian apostle is called to become a saint. His holiness is an apostolic holiness. He becomes a saint through working to bring men to Christ and to transform the world in Christ. But he is definitely called to become a saint. This will be the source of much of his effectiveness. Faith, humility, hope, and love will give him an ability to transform the world that he could never have just relying on his own natural talents. The power of God is his greatest resource. To grow in effectiveness as a leader, he has to grow in holiness, in a deeper union with God. My life as a Cursilliesta In June 2006 I made my Cursillo at St Luke's table. My life changed. I changed. For the first time I knew myself. I wanted to know and love Christ deeply. My life is now for my ideal - to be the Good News to others through living a life of grace, informed and strengthened by directed study and propelled into apostolic action, just as Anthony and Ernie have been to me. In August 2006 I was awaiting the decision of the Catholic Marriage tribunal. It was now approaching three years since the process had started. I knew the decision would be soon. My librarian sister, who is usually well informed, told me at the beginning, before I applied, that less than two percent of appeals are successful. This weighed heavily on me. I strongly expected a 'NO' answer, especially as we have three children. What will be the future be for my current wife /partner and our relationship? We were very much in love and very compatible. After agonizing about it for many weeks, even months, I said to her, "dear I do not know what the Marriage Tribunal will say but this is certain, "whatever Jesus wants, that is what I will do." She was silent. I think I was glad - relieved. There really wasn't anything I wanted to discuss. This was truly my moment of surrender to Jesus. This marked the beginning of a trickle of blessings that would well up into a waterfall. I continued the journey of knowing myself better, and participated in permanent group reunions with my fellow Cursilliestas where my love of Jesus was nutured and strengthened as each of us shared his / her new life in Christ.- My Piety and as actions produced great joy as I looked for and could now see how Jesus was working in me and, with His help, I in others. For the first time in my life I went to a priest for specific spiritual direction and clarity as to my living arrangements with my wife. I truly wanted the Kingdom of God- Piety, for me and for my partner, more than anything else. I was prepared to take whatever action so I could live my life in communion with Jesus and with His Church. In October 2006, four months after my Cursillo weekend, I received the final decree of nullity from the Catholic Marriage Tribunal. We attended catholic marriage classes for second marriages. I believe that if I had attended this kind of marriage classes before my first marriage, I may never have needed to consider a divorce. TheToronto Archdiocesan then approved for the blessing of our marriage in the Catholic Church. Our marriage was blessed on April 28, 2007. Thank God with us. Pray for us. I have changed, and my wife, Shanti, has told me she has seen the positive changes in me, especially after Cursillo. I want to be this Christian leader for her. Apostolic action, for Christ, with my wife has improved our marriage. I focus on what is right for God, and in God, especially in those moments of irrational anger and rage. Then I recall, "For the love of Christ, bring Shanti to Christ, and in Christ forgive, and make peace so that we may live the life of Christ. I have become so forgiving. Shanti knows she can count on it. The greatest gift would be if somehow, through the grace of God, she could see Christ's image in me. Shanti knows how much I pray for her to be Catholic. She is Hindu, from a traditional Hindu family. I am praying for the Holy Spirit to descend on her through baptism. We have been married almost 12 years and we attend Sunday mass together every week and pray the rosary every night. God always delivers. In September 2007 Shanti announced to her sister, in my presence, that she was joining the Catholic faith. I said nothing. I wanted this decision to be truly between Shanti and God, and not to please me. Shanti joined RCIA and I attended classes with her and, surprising to me, I learnt a lot. Shanti was baptized and also received the sacrament of confirmation in Easter 2008. Now I cannot escape from Mother Angelica on television, as Shanti looks at her program often and we say the rosary together with her every night. Shanti has such a strong love for our blessed mother. It is truly amazing what God can do if we simply surrender to Him, invite Him and let Him work. Now I look for Him in his works. As I trust Him, I see His love more clearly and trust him even more.

I now look for opportunities to show God to others. At meals in public I close my eyes and make the sign of the cross and pray that God may use me to help someone who sees me, as I have been helped. I am fearless. God's name will come up in whatever I am doing. Trust me, when I am teaching and I do not know the answer, then my reply is, "I must confess I do not know the answer but then I need not be ashamed, after all I am not God, I do not know everything". If I do know the answer I sometimes say, "Thank God I prepared for these difficult questions". I love Fridays, why? My secular friends say TGIF, and I reply 'Thank God' it is Friday, and smile with them. I am now so much more humble and trusting of God that I worry a lot less about many things. My trust in him grows daily, nurtured by sharing the wonders of God in the lives of my permanent Group and other Cursillistas at Ultreyas. My hope is firmly in him, his love and mercy and forgiveness. I can count on it. I can depend on Him. I pray especially for my ex -wife Joan, and each of my children, Paul, David and Gillian, that Jesus would come into their lives and bring them the peace and happiness He has given me, that He alone can give.

In business, I wanted to be a business leader, and I wanted to be a leader in my family. And I was a leader in each of these. But then Christ entered my life and my whole understanding of what being a leader is, changed. The kind of influence I had in business I wanted to now have for Christ, starting with Shanti, and my family, and extending to everyone I meet. Look at what God has done for us. How could I not want to be the kind of leader this Rollo speaks of?

SUMMARY I was a natural leader with my life in disarray and I was very unhappy. Now, with Jesus, I am a leader with supernatural powers, great joy, love and peace. I have found not just pleasure but happiness in Jesus, who strengthens me, and walks with me and sometimes carries me. I am a leader because He is my leader. I want my ideal, to know and want the Kingdom of God and to bask in His glory for all to see, and with His grace , follow Him. Consider my leader, "The Greatest Man in History" He had no servants, yet they called Him Master. Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him.. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today. I feel honoured to serve such a Leader who loves us all!