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A message from our Spiritual Advisor
Cursillo is a Spanish word meaning "a short course of study." The full, original Spanish name for the movement was "Cursillo de Christianidad," a short course in the study of Christianity. Cursillo® indicates a program with a very specific content, format, and religious affiliation, in our case, Roman Catholic. There are other denominations that conduct Cursillo® programs, but all are specific to that denomination rather than ecumenical.
The most obvious portion of the Cursillo Movement is the three-day weekend. New individuals, called candidates, spend three days (Thursday evening to Sunday afternoon) in a retreat-type setting with a team of Cursillistas (people who have already completed the weekend). This team is primarily lay people plus one or two clergy. Weekends are for men or women, not coeducational. The weekend includes talks, discussions, sacraments, and building of Christian community among the group present.
Once the new Cursillistas have completed the three-day weekend, they begin their Fourth Day, the rest of their lives walking with and serving God. This Fourth Day may include talking with other Catholic friends and sponsoring them for later Cursillo weekends.
Historically, there has been a lack of public information about Cursillo. The Cursillo Movement sometimes gained the reputation of a secret, elitist group of Catholics. Nothing could be further from the truth. You found this website; we aren't secret. For further information about the Movement, refer to the document "What is Cursillo". The following are some thoughts about what Cursillo is and is not:
Cursillo is not just a three-day weekend. Cursillo starts with this weekend and continues with as much or as little follow-on activity as each individual desires.
Our Cursillo is a Catholic organization. It is designed for active, practicing Catholics who desire a closer relationship with their God within the religious practices of the Roman Catholic Church.
Cursillo is not a recruiting tool to feed your RCIA program. The weekend is strongly Catholic with little time to explain or sell "Catholic" to someone investigating the religion.
Cursillo is by invitation. All candidates are sponsored by Cursillistas to attend the weekend.
Cursillo is not elitist. It is designed for a wide range of practicing Catholics. The challenge presented is to live Catholicism 24/7 (twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week), not just while you are on Church property on Sunday morning.
Cursillo is not an effort to "steal" the most active workers in each parish and isolate them in Cursillo activities. Cursillo does appeal to many parishioners already active in various ministries. We hope to send these people back to their parishes and ministries more on fire for their God and their Catholicism.
Cursillo weekends are for men or women on separate weekends. Married couples are both encouraged to make the weekend if Catholic. If both make the weekends as close together as possible, they can grow spiritually as a couple. If only one makes the weekend and becomes more involved in his or her religion, the spouse may feel left out.
Cursillo is a lay movement. Clergy are present for sacraments and spiritual advice but do not run the Cursillo Movement.
Cursillo takes practicing Catholics and encourages them to grow in their faith as we, the Cursillistas of Colorado Springs, have grown in ours. For further information, contact the lay director, spiritual advisor, or any Cursillista.
Deacon Ray Milberg is the Spiritual Advisor of the Colorado Springs Cursillo Movement and writes frequently for the Newsletter.
