Cursillo is a program
that helps to renew and deepen our Christian commitment,
provide new insights into our faith and to understand the
calling to be Christian leaders. Led by spiritual advisors
and laypeople chosen from the Diocese of Virginia, this
group meets three weekends a year.
Cursillo is:
an opportunity to
grow in faith and in spirituality.
a deeper
understanding of the teachings of Jesus and how we can
serve Him.
an experience of
living and sharing with others in a loving and caring
Christian community and realizing that this can be
extended into our own environment.
a continuing
community that gives support and encouragement
empowering the renewed Christians to persevere in
carrying out their Baptismal vows.
Cursillo includes a
three-day weekend which begins on Thursday evening and
concludes on Sunday. During these three days, talks are
given by lay persons and clergy who have spent time working
together carefully planning and preparing for the Weekend.
The Cursillo weekend is not a retreat. There is no fasting
or extended period of silence. The weekend is an opportunity
to meet clergy and laity who are seeking to strengthen their
faith. Holy Eucharist will be celebrated daily.
How did Cursillo
begin?
The first Cursillo Weekends
were developed in the Roman Catholic Church in Majorca,
Spain. Cursillo was brought to the United States by Spanish
airmen who were stationed at air bases in Texas in the early
1940's. The first official Cursillo Weekend in the Episcopal
Church (in English) was conducted with help from Roman
Catholic sponsors in the Diocese of Iowa.
What happens after
the weekend?
Each individual who returns
from the weekend with a renewed commitment to work for
Christ is encouraged to join in the activities of an
existing community of persons who have also experienced the
weekend. The purpose of this community is to give strength
and support to each other in order that each person might
grow in faith and develop their particular gifts of
ministry. The support is provided through two methods:
GROUP MEETINGS
(Reunions) that are held frequently when several people
gather together for mutual encouragement and support
through PRAYER, STUDY, and ACTION.
AREA MEETINGS (Ultreyas)
that are meetings of larger groups of people who have
either participated in a weekend or who might be
interested in doing so. Here they share and witness to
others so that the Church and their own faith may be
built up.
Who can take part?
Cursillo is open to all
adult Episcopalians, men and women, married or single. Laity
and clergy alike are invited to join the fellowship.
Husbands and wives may attend the same Cursillo Weekend, or
they may go on different weekends.
What is expected of
participants?
To be open and
willing to respond to what you experience, to share your
feelings with others, and to allow them to share theirs
with you.
To make a genuine
effort to discover where you are and where or how you
can grow in your Christian life.
To feel secure in the
knowledge that you are accepted where you are and as you
are, and to know that a specific response is not
expected of you.
To be curious enough
and thirsty enough for spiritual exploration and
nourishment to acknowledge a need to commit a weekend of
your life totally to Christ.
How do I apply?
Every participant has a
sponsor, who has attended a Cursillo weekend. This sponsor
will assist you in preparation for the weekend and, more
importantly, assist you after the weekend. If you know
someone in our parish who has attended a Cursillo weekend,
ask them to tell you more and how to get started, and let
our priest know about your interest. Pray about it, and if
you conclude that you should go, submit an application that
your sponsor will provide.
Mathews, Virginia 23109 
