Monsignor Harold L. Waldow, a priest of the Diocese of Amarillo, was the national Spiritual Director for the Cursillo Movement in the U.S.A. when he heard about the ACTS movement in San Antonio from a friend. Intrigued by what his friend had told him and wanting to know more, he was taken to St. Matthew’s parish, where the retreats were held within the parish itself. There, he saw the dynamic of the retreat and was fascinated.
Monsignor attended the next men’s retreat at St. Matthew’s in San Antonio. He knew immediately that it was something he wanted to bring to Amarillo. Monsignor had already started the English Cursillo in Amarillo but it failed to appeal to people. He knew he needed something different. His opportunity came when Bishop John W. Yanta became the bishop of the Diocese of Amarillo and Monsignor became one of his vicars.
Bishop Yanta gave his support of the program and allotted the money to implement the ACTS retreats in our diocese. After two retreats, with teams flown in from San Antonio, by 2001 the ACTS Community here in Amarillo was up and running. Msgr. Waldow worked every one of the first 44 retreats with the exception of one in the first 10 years.
Msgr. Waldow continued to be active in his support of the ACTS retreats in Amarillo until his death in 2019. His dream was for the priests of the Diocese of Amarillo to be an active part of the movement, allowing others to step in and continue the work of ACTS in the Diocese of Amarillo.