About Cursillo
What is Cursillo?
The Cursillo [cur SEE yo], is a Lay Catholic movement that takes its name from
Cursillos in Cristiandad, Spanish for “short courses in Christianity.” The short
course is such a powerful experience that both the short course, and the
movement, are known by the name “Cursillo”. To distinguish the two, we’ll use
the word Cursillo when discussing the short course, and otherwise, the Movement.
The Cursillo
The Cursillo is an opportunity to examine and celebrate yourself, your
relationship with Christ, and your relationship with the Christian community. It
lasts three days and is usually held over a weekend. We begin with a silent
retreat Thursday evening through Friday morning. For the rest of the weekend,
you’ll hear short talks on a variety of topics from faith perspectives. During
the days, you’ll discuss the talks and your impressions with the same small
group. In the evenings, each group summarizes its discussion for the other
tables.
There’s time for meditation and Reconciliation as well as community meals. Two
spiritual directors, at least one of them a priest, will be on the team and
present throughout the weekend. And there’s a lot of music and singing—if you
have an instrument, bring it along!
Men and women have separate retreats because the way we communicate is
different.
This is a safe but challenging weekend. We strive to provide an environment that
helps you to grow in Christ’s love.What happens after the Cursillo?
How do we continue to grow in the community after we leave the rosy glow of the
Cursillo for the real world? Through weekly Group Reunion. This is where we stay
in touch with the lived reality of our Fourth Day. Jesus said, "I no longer call
you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I
have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have
made known to you" (John 15:15). Friends love each other, and listen to each
other. We help each other—and hold each other accountable in growing in our
faith through:
- piety - what we do to grow in holiness
- study - learning; the bridge between holiness and helping our neighbor, and
- action - bringing our Christian values to bear in all our environments.
Using these three “topics,” we break open our lives at Group Reunion so we can
grow from our shared experiences, our successes and failures. This
accountability helps us all stay on track. Our goals for a week may be large or
modest-sounding. Group Reunion is often the most real conversation we’ll have
all week.
Your own Group Reunion will be unlike any other in your parish. That’s OK. Find
the one that meets your needs and fills your soul. Unlike the Cursillo, men and
women may participate in the same group reunion.
Occasionally, a parish’s groups renew contact with each other at larger
gatherings we call Ultreya [ull TRAY ya], a Spanish word of encouragement.
Ultreya usually features a guest speaker and live music, in addition to a
potluck meal.
How much time you choose to invest is up to you, but we encourage you to give
Group Reunion a try, because it provides an environment that helps you to grow
in Christ’s love. We believe in the power of grouping so strongly that we refer
to your entire life after the weekend as the Fourth Day.
What does the Movement do?
The joy of knowing Christ is such that it produces the desire to introduce
others to Him. We do this by friendship, also. At the heart of the Movement is
the expression “make a friend, be a friend, bring a friend to Christ.” There is
no better gift one can give to a friend than an introduction to the Master of
the Universe. And since people learn best when they discover for themselves, we
believe that inviting our friends to a Cursillo is one of the best ways for this
to happen. We do everything necessary to put on the short course so our
friends can discover Jesus for themselves.
Check out the rest of this website to see what else we’re doing.
How is the Movement linked to the Catholic Church?
We’re focused on Jesus Christ, Savior and Lord. St Paul is our patron saint. Our
mission is the church’s mission. We’re fully Catholic, and obedient to the
Magesterium. We are joined to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops
through our official liaison, Most Rev. James A. Tamayo, Bishop of Laredo, and
through the Bishops’ Secretariat for the Laity in Washington, D.C. Popes Paul VI
(1966) and John Paul II (1980) mentioned Cursillo as one of the hopes for the
church.
The Most Reverend Paul Loverde, Bishop of Arlington, himself a Cursillista,
knows who we are, and supports what we’re doing. As he’s said, "The Cursillo is
a unique opportunity in which to deepen your awareness of Christ’s love and of
our sharing in His saving mission through prayer, study and witness – all rooted
in a true spirit of community. The Cursillo will change your life immensely! I
know from personal experience!"
Many of us are active in our parishes. However, the Cursillo aim is to teach you
how to live the Christian life. Your apostolate may be in the parish—or not.
How do I get involved?
You need a Sponsor, a friend who invites you to the Cursillo. This person may
have already invited you to his or her group reunion. The sponsor’s job is to
arrange transportation to the weekend site; to pray for you before, during, and
after the weekend; and to get you into a group reunion. Contact us if you need
help arranging sponsorship. Contact us.
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