CUSA Today

RENEW International has been the administrator of CUSA since January 1, 2022, and now hosts the CUSA website (www. cusan.org). The website is equipped with AudioEye, a utility that provides users with such options as adjusting the size or spacing of the text, the size of the cursor, or the contrast on the screen.

Since January, RENEW has received nearly 20 new applications; at least 10 new members have committed to join an Electronic Group Letter (EGL). RENEW is planning new ways of expanding membership.

The CUSA prayer-request tool is now connected to the RENEW prayer-request form. The new email address for CUSA is cusa@renewintl.org.

We have published two issues of The CUSAN and are preparing to publish the next edition in early 2023.

CUSA archives now housed at RENEW include issues of The CUSAN dating back to 1948, photo albums of CUSA members, copies of All the Way to Heaven by Helen Caldwell Day to add to our collection of CUSA materials, and two handmade CUSA banners.

The transition in administration has been expedited with the generous help of former administrators Father Lawrence Jagdfeld, OFM, and Anna Marie Sopko, and Joan Donnelly of the Brunner Foundation.

Please visit cusan.org to learn more about this ministry or apply to be a member.

Mare Ernesto CUSA administrator

The chronically sick have two heavy crosses to bear; first of all, there is the depressing feeling of being useless members of the community, leading purposeless lives. Everything they have been dreaming of—a beloved profession, vocation to marriage or the religious life, even simple social life—has been denied them, for many without any hope of return. Others less gravely stricken are still allowed a certain activity, but will have as constant companions fatigue and frequent relapses. They are all experience in their lives what is one of the conditions of admission to CUSA: “A state of health that is an occasion of sacrifice.” And it is here that the CUSA miracle works: those who never heard of it, as well as those who had at least a theoretical knowledge of the Doctrine of the Mystical Body of Christ, will find that in this tenet of our Faith lies the answer to other frustration and the sense of futility in their lives as invalids. They will come to understand fully and with deep joy the most important truth that CUSA aims to teach them, as it is expressed by their first motto: “We suffer for a purpose.”

As one of our chaplains once said, “the Cusan must embrace the whole world with his love.” Is it not marvelous that one helpless invalid here in the United States, offering lovingly his cross, may save souls of Communists in Russia for China, be the means of sanctification for unknown priests and laymen, help to bring light and contrition to many sinners and unbelievers? Here is realized fully the promise of our Lord Jesus: “By your patience you will bear fruit” (Luke 21:19).

How uplifting is this conviction that his life is precious, to the invalid confined to his room! … Oh! The beauty of the

Dogma of the Communion of the Saints that unites not only all the members of the Church on earth but even in Eternity.

The second cross of the chronically sick is their isolation. In many ways, they do not any longer belong to the world of the healthy—they feel that it is difficult for their family and friends, even when they are very loving and attentive, to understand their problems. However, in our little CUSA family, they will find understanding, love, and—better still—many examples of simple, cheerful, even heroic courage in the same difficulties. For they are often quite gay, despite their hard life, our CUSANs; many are even full of serene spiritual joy; most of them come to be more attentive to the sufferings of others than to their own troubles.

When one member of a group passes through a period of conflict, of depression, how lovingly do the others hasten to encourage with kind words and the promise of prayers. The second motto of CUSA, “A brother helped by his brother is like a strong city,” has become a reality.

Laure Brunner From the

foreword to All the Way to Heaven

by Helen Caldwell Day.

Laure Brunner was a founder of CUSA. AlltheWaytoHeaven, a novel that portrays the life of a CUSAN, was written by Helen Caldwell Day and published by Sheed and Ward, 1956, New York.

The work of CUSA is supported by the Brunner Foundation and generous benefactors. Donations cover the cost of developing the CUSA program, recruiting new members, providing retreats, keeping the CUSA website accessible, and printing and mailing The CUSAN.

Donations by credit card may be made at https://donate. renewintl.org/. Checks may be made payable to RENEW International with CUSA in the memo line and mailed to P.O. Box 2729, Plainfield, NJ 07062.

Donors who do not wish to remain anonymous will be listed annually in RENEW International’s Impact Report. All donations are tax deductible. RENEW International is a 501(c)(3) organization.