FOCUS ON CURSILLO...Cursillo (pronounced cur-SEE-yo) is a Spanish word meaning "short course"; it might be best described as a seminar. Cursillo, in this context, means "a short course in Christianity". It begins with a weekend, starting on a Thursday evening and continuing until Sunday evening. The weekend consists of daily celebration of the Mass, visits to the Blessed Sacrament, talks, meditations, and good old-fashioned Christian fellowship. The goal of the weekend is to empower the attendee to become a Christian leader in each of his or her environments.
Notice that Cursillo begins with a weekend. At the end of the weekend, the attendee begins his or her Fourth Day. This Fourth Day consists of the rest of one’s life. After encoiuntering Jesus Christ in such a special way on the Cursillo weekend, the attendee returns home with the challenge of remaining focused on Him in all facets of life.
The Weekend……Thursday night is a time to get to know each other and to have an overview of the Cursillo Weekend. This is also the retreat phase of the Cursillo Weekend, focusing on personal reflection and meditation.
Friday the participants will hear five talks. Three are given by members of the laity. The other two are given by the Spiritual Directors or Clergy. Each provide the participants with information and witnessed experiences, and are followed by discussions that draw each person’s experience and insights into play.
Saturday helps the participants to understand their current relationship with God and spawn a desire for a still deeper and fuller relationship with God. Like Friday, talks are followed by small group discussions.
Sunday helps us better understand ourselves, our relationship with God, and how we can help Him in fulfilling His Will. We learn what environments we belong to and how we can affect those environments. Sunday’s format is like Friday and Saturday. Sunday night at the Clausura (Closing), the participants come face to face with the larger Cursillo Community that has been so supportive during the entire weekend. It is during this meeting that the participants enter this Cursillo Community.
The Fourth Day – The Rest of our Lives….The Cursillo Movement realizes that it will not be an easy task for us to bring Christ to our environments. Therefore, the Cursillo Movement has two very important tools to assist each of us. These tools are the Group Reunion and the Ultreya.
The Group Reunion is a small group of Cursillo friends that meet on a regular basis. The purpose of this meeting is to share with one another the growth that has taken place within each of us. We share our spiritual growth as well as our growth in becoming a person who strives to bring a Christ-like attitude to our environments. This meeting is referred to as a Friendship Group. As we try to bring Christ into our various environments, we will sometimes become frustrated. The group Reunion also provides the continual support we need in order to persevere as a part of God's plan.
The Ultreya (Spanish word meaning Onward) is the larger Cursillo Community. It is the time for the members of the Group Reunions to meet with members of other Group Reunions. The Ultreya is also beneficial in providing the support and encouragement that each of us needs.
The Cursillo Movement helps each of us to understand what our various environments are and how to penetrate them, how to bring Christ to each of them. Furthermore, it helps us develop a plan to change those environments. We, as laity in the Church, cannot take our role lightly. The future of our society is in our hands. We must realize that we, as individuals, can have a great impact on our society. And we can have an even greater impact when we link with other individuals that are ready and able to accept the challenge.
In the past, the Cursillo Movement was primarily thought of as a source of individual spiritual growth, Today, we must realize that this individual spirituality is just not enough. Today, we must add to that spirituality. Our society needs us to be apostolic. Our Church needs us to be apostolic. Our world needs us to be apostolic. But most of all, our Lord wants us to be apostolic.
Our Joliet Diocese has a large and vibrant Cursillo community. We have several opportunities each year to begin to integrate the Cursillo method into our faith walk and our apostolic actions. We here at St. Raphael have many women and men who have integrated the Cursillo method into their formation and faith walk. If you would like to discuss Cursillo at greater length please call Bud Miller @ 630.416.9882.
 Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cursillo?
Cursillo is a movement of the church. Its purpose is to help those in the church understand their individual callings to be Christian Leaders. The leadership may be exercised in work situations, in the family and social life, in leisure activities, and within the Church environment. Leadership, in Cursillo, does not mean power over others, but influence on others; all of us need to be aware that we can exert a positive influence on those around us.
What is the Goal of Cursillo?
The goal of Cursillo is the goal of the Church: to welcome and bring all to the Christ. This is done when informed, trained leaders set out with the support of others having a similar commitment.
What does Cursillo do?
It helps to renew and deepen Christian commitment. Cursillo is one of many renewal movements. Many people have said Cursillo provides an important learning experience which causes many to feel like newly made Christians with a purpose and with support.
What is the Cursillo Movement About?
Cursillo is patterned on Jesus’ own example. He searched out and welcomed a small group of potential leaders (pre-Cursillo); He trained them by word and example and inspired them with a vision (Cursillo Three-Day Weekend); He linked them together and sent them out into the world to bring the world to Him (Fourth Day).
Pre-Cursillo
During this period, sponsors (i.e. those individuals that have been to the three-day Cursillo weekend and are living the Fourth Day) identify those Catholics who are leading an active Christian life and are a living witness to their love for Christ, recommending their candidacy. Potential candidates are welcomed to learn more about Cursillo and even invited to join a small group before actually attending a weekend. It is also the period that selected candidates are informed of what to expect at the three-day weekend and assist in appropriate preparations.
Are there Cursillo Secrets?
You may have been told by some who have attended the weekend that they cannot tell you what Cursillo is all about or what goes on during a Cursillo weekend. This is not correct. Everything that goes on during the weekend may be told to anyone. Cursillo literature is available to anyone who wishes to read or purchase the materials.
Our parish Cursillo welcomes you to learn more about Cursillo. Please contact Bud Miller.
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