The following is the e-mail that Frank received from José Daniel Soriano on April 1, 2000:
I have to apologize in the first place for my very poor (forgotten) knowledge of your language; specially when addressing to a writer of your level.
And in a second place for the bold action of writing this letter, beeing an unknown stranger and taking your, probably, precious time.
Let me introduce myself. I am a retired Captain of 747 in "Iberia Air Lines of Spain", formerly a professional officer in the Spanish Air Force.
I am a "Cursillista" since 1955. As a matter of fact I was living in Palma de Mallorca, beeing a member of "Jóvenes de Acción Católica" when our Movement of Cursillos started, but I was not allowed to form part of the group in the first Cursillo, since I was too young (17). When I was promoted to firs lieutenant, after four years in the Air Academy, I was assigned to Palma in the fighter squadron in "Son San Juan Spanish Air Force Base". I was lucky enough to attend to the last Cursillo made in Palma in 1955 in very difficult conditions; you probably know what happened in the Diocese of Palma when Mnr. Hervás was send to Ciudad Real and the new Bishop Enciso came to Palma
By the end of 1956, Some of the pilots from our squadron were assigned to a complete course (two years) of "Jet training" in the US. Since I was the senior officer, I was send to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, and I was the only one of us that went trough the whole training alone; I mean without the company of any of my fellow officers from Palma. So, they decided (in the Secretariado de Cursillos) that the opportunity of introducing Cursillos in US should be given to Bernardo Vadell and Agustín Palomino, the other two Cursillistas in the Squadron, both bachelors (I got married in December 1956) since they were assigned to the training together, six months later than me.
- Agustín Palomino is nowadays in my same Ultreya in Madrid ( San Miguel de los Santos), we both are "Dirigentes" in the "Escuela de San Pablo" and we go together once more from 6-9 of next April (less than a week) to our 428 Men Cursillo of the Archdiocese of Madrid!!.-
And now, to the main point of this letter:
A few days ago, I was trying to contact trough the "Cursillos LinK" with our brethren of Cursillos around the world, asking for "Palanca" (we call it "Intendencia") for our close Cursillo and, suddenly, I found in your page of Cursillos in New York an article written by you entitled: "Recapturing the Vision of the Cursillo Founders". I must say that I was terrified by the title. How could possibly somebody from New York consider himself the interpreter of the "Vision" of the Founders without consulting them?
I was wrong.
When I read the article I felt that I should let know to the author my appologies. I considered it an excellent vision, keeping exactly the foundement of Cursillo with an special delicacy toward our Founders. But I could be mistaken; the only way I could be sure, was asking to the Founder Himself.
I am, from a few years ago (since I retired from flying, in 1992), a sort of secretary of Father Sebastián Gayá. I don't know if you are aware of who is Father Gayá. I met him in 1942 beeing a child in Palma de Mallorca. My father (a member of the "Consejo Diocesano de Acción Católica de Palma de Mallorca) introduced me to Father Sebastián after a Meditation he gave in the church of Santa Eulalia. I was 10 years old. After 58 years, the Lord has given me, (why me?) the opportunity of staying with him.
I can assure you that, of the three people considered the Founders of Cursillos, speaking in therms of seventh art, Mnr. Hervás was the Producer, Eduardo Bonnín the Director and Father Sebastián Gayá... wrote the script.
I showed him my translation into spanish of your article... and the other two that I found in the New York Cursillos page. He made two comments after reading you:
1 - "Magnífico; yo utilicé el sistema deductivo y él usa el inductivo"
2 - "Trata de averigüar quién es Frank A. Squitteri; qué cargos ocupa en el Secretariado de Nueva York y si tiene otros artículos publicados"
I feel sorry Mr. Squitteri, but I don't want to translate his comments from the original language. You will have to find by yourself the exact meaning.
Expecting your answer (and begging your pardon),
José Daniel Soriano mcerdose@nexo.es
1. "Wonderful - I use the deductive method and he used the inductive method."
2. "Try to find out who Frank Squitteri is and what responsibilities he has on the Secretariat of New York,
and if has other published articles."
Congratulations, Frank, on some well-deserved recognition!