Cursillos in Christianity

 


In today's world can Christianity penetrate the many areas of secular life?  Can it live there?  Can it grow there?  Can it transform the world in a way that is more fruitful than the past and in keeping with the times?  The Cursillo Movement thinks so.  It proposes no new type of spirituality, but simply a method through which one's spirituality may be developed, lived and shared in any area of human life where there are Christians willing to dedicate their lives to God in an on-going manner. 

The movement of Cursillos in Christianity is a powerful instrument of renewal in the Church.  Its aim is to concentrate closely on the Person and teachings of Jesus Christ.  The Cursillo gives those who attend it a living understanding of basic Christian truths and the desire to serve the Church.  What's more it provides a means to continue the Christian formation that is just begun in the three-day exercises. 

Format of the Weekend
Cursillo (pronounced kur-see-yo) is a Spanish word meaning "little" or "short" course.  It begins on a Thursday evening and ends on Sunday evening.  During those three days the Cursillistas (those attending) live and work together, listening to talks given by priests and laity.  They also share the Eucharist and pray together daily. 

The priest who is the "spiritual director" and the laymen who make up the Cursillo "team" spend weeks working and praying together in preparation.  The Cursillo takes careful planning because the time is short and the subject extensive.  The titles of the talks indicate their content: Ideal, Grace Life, Laity, Faith, Holiness, Study, the Sacraments, Evangelization, Obstacles to Grace, Leaders, Formation and Evangelization of Environments, Christian Community, Christian Life, Group Reunion and Ultreya.  Each talk is followed by a discussion period. 

Cursillo is an encounter with Christ.  That sounds too simple but it's not.  Think about it.  A real meeting with Christ.  If that is understood then the power, beauty and joy of the Cursillo Movement will be understood. 

Interested?  Attend one!  Please  e-mail or phone if you have questions or would like further information.