Click Here To Apply For The September 2010 Men's & Women's Weekends

 

 

 

 

Purpose of Cursillo
    The Cursillo Movement is an instrument of the Catholic Church for the revitalization of Christian life.  Its purpose is to train men and women of faith to be effective apostles of Jesus Christ, willing to try to re-Christianize and revitalize the environments in which they live

 

 

Cur-SEE'-yo) - Spanish word meaning "short course"
Short for "A Short Course in Christian Living"

WHAT IS CURSILLO?

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. It provides an opportunity through shared prayer, worship, study, fellowship, laughter, tears, and love to experience the reality of the gift of God's love freely and unconditionally given. 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. Episcopal Cursillo came to the Diocese of Washington in 1982 and operates under the direction of the Bishop.

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:

1. GROUP MEETINGS (Reunions) that are held frequently when several people gather together for mutual encouragement and support through PRAYER, STUDY, and ACTION.
2. 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 MAY TAKE PART?

Cursillo is open to all adult Catholics, men and women, married or single. Laity and clergy alike are invited to join the fellowship. Husbands and wives may attend Cursillo Weekends. Men's and Women's weekends are run by the Laity of our Diocese for other Liaty and Religious in our Diocese.

 

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF PARTICIPANTS?

• To be open and willing to respond to what you experience, to share your feelings with others, and ot 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.

WHERE ARE CURSILLO ACTIVITIES HELD IN THE DIOCESE OF METUCHEN?

Cursillo has activities and support throughout the entire diocese and in all neighboring dioceses. Cursillo weekends are given at The Army Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Washington NJ. Transportion to and from the weekend hould be provided by your sponsor.

IS THERE A COST?

Yes. The cost for the weekend is approximately $200.00 per participant. The cost includes three nights lodging, meals, and materials necessary for the weekend. Financial assistance may be available and should be requested when the participant's application is filed.

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 your parish who has attended a Cursillo weekend, ask them to tell you more and how to get started. Pray about it, and if you conclude that you should go, submit an application that your sponsor will provide.

If you don't know of anyone in your parish who has attended Cursillo weekend, ask your Rector.

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What is Cursillo^®?

What IS Cursillo^®?

Cursillo is a method of supporting and encouraging our lives as Christians.

Cursillo (pronounced "kur-see-yo") is a Spanish word meaning "short course."

Cursillo in the Metuchen  diocese began and continues with the blessing of our Bishop.

What does Cursillo^® offer?

An opportunity to grow in faith.

A chance to experience the love and grace of God and the joy of Christian fellowship.

A way of building a continuing Christian community to help one another on our spiritual journey.

It embraces the insights and good teachings of all the traditions in the Anglican church.

It is a movement within the church and not outside it, so it works together with groups and organisations in a parish.

Who is it for?

People just like you - laity and clergy - anyone who is:

• curious.
• searching.
• discovering.
• growing.
• wanting to be glad and confident in their faith.

What is a Cursillo^® Weekend?

This is the first three days: It begins on a Thursday evening and ends the following Sunday afternoon.

During these three days, those attending live and work together, listening to talks given by different people, both lay and ordained.

You will hear talks on Ideals, Grace, Obstacles to Grace, the Life of Prayer, Study, Action, Lay People in the Church, Sacraments and the Christian Community.

The talks lead to lively discussion in small groups.

Learning, praying, sharing, singing, laughing and living together is the basis for discovering what it means to say, "We are the body of Christ."

What is expected of me?

There is no specific response expected of you.

Just be open to what happens.

Simply take a fresh look at what the Church has always taught - Good News - the miraculous and joyous discovery of Christ's endless love.

Is that really all?

Yes! There are no tricks, no gimmicks, no hidden mysteries only revealed to the initiated. If there are any surprises, that's only because the Christian life is full of surprises.

You aren't expected to know or do more, just reflect on being more!

And then...?

The weekend is not an end in itself but very much a beginning. Its purpose is to lead us into...

The Fourth Day

The Fourth Day is where we continue our journey together, and is the most important part of Cursillo. We support and encourage one another as we seek to live and work to Gods praise and glory.

Sound too good to be true?

Then come and see for yourself!

What is Cursillo and its history?

Cursillo (Cur-SEE'-yo) - Spanish word meaning "short course". (Short for "A Short Course in Christian Living"). It began in Spain in the Roman Catholic Church in the early 1940's. First, Roman Catholic Cursillos were held in the USA in 1957, in Spanish, and then eventually in English. It was taken up by the Episcopal Church in the USA in the mid 1970's, and by the Anglican Church in Canada.

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.

The goal of Cursillo is the goal of the Church: to bring all to Christ. This is done when informed, trained leaders set out with the support of others having a similar commitment

Cursillo is patterned on Jesus’ own example. He searched out and called a small group of potential leaders. He trained them by word and example and inspired them with a vision. He linked them together and sent them out into the world to bring the world to Him.

The Three-Day Weekend

The Cursillo weekend brings together a diverse group of Episcopalians to share the richness of many modes of worship and to broaden each one’s appreciation for our Church. Lay people conduct the weekend with two or three members of the clergy functioning as spiritual advisors. Cursillo presumes that those who attend are already well grounded in the faith. It is not intended to be a conversion experience but an enriching and deepening of what is already there. It often provides new insights into our faith as well as fostering ministry among lay people.

The weekend begins Thursday evening spent in the Chapel with meditations, discussions, and Compline. Then blessed silence is kept until after the worship on Friday morning. After breakfast participants are assigned to table groups for the weekend. The three days are filled with talks and group discussions with emphasis on the doctrine of Grace, the Sacraments, and the great Cursillo tripod: Piety, Study, and Action. Plus there is fellowship, singing, good food, and time for privacy, meditation, prayer, and walks. Eucharist is celebrated each day.

Is Cursillo supported by the National Church?

Cursillo is a movement of the Catholic Church, (known as a short course in Christianity under the authority of the US Bishops and our Pope Benedict. The goal of Cursillo is to bring the world to Christ by empowering adult Christian leaders through the use of a specific method that is taught as part of a three-day weekend. The method, an evangelistic tool, enables and encourages Christians to live out their Baptismal covenant to serve Christ.

What does our own bishop say about Cursillo?

Bishop Paul Bootkowski gives Cursillo his full support provided we maintain our commitment to "The Fourth Day". We need as a community to be certain that all our activities are focussed on making all our environments Christ centered. Many Cursillistas in the past have simply had a "weekend experience" and then slipped back into the selfish lethargy of inaction. Remember that as a Cursillista you are to continue to use the three tools of Piety, Study and Action to "Make a friend; Be a friend; Bring a friend to Christ". Continue to form and attend Group Reunions and attend Ultreyas.

Who should go to a Cursillo weekend?

Anyone who wants to renew and deepen their Christian commitment should go with the help of a sponsor.

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.

When are the weekends scheduled?

The weekend dates for 2009 is:

September 17-20 2009 for Men
November 8-11 2009 for Women

PRAY FOR THE SCHOOL OF LEADERS COUNCIL AS THEY SELECT A TEAM!

Where are the weekends held?

Currently, the Diocese of Metuchen Cursillo Movement of New Jersey holds the Cursillo weekends at th Blue Army Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Washington NJ website:

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How can I get involved with the next team?

PLEASE NOTE: We are always looking for people who are willing to serve on team for a weekend. A team member can be anyone who has attended Cursillo in the past A team member should be a member of a Group Reunion and a regular attendee at an Ultreya. It is expected that a team member attend the preparation meetings prior to the weekend (usually a commitment of 6 Weekenight and/or Saturday mornings, every other week). In addition each team member is also responsible for the full amount of the financial cost of the weekend.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CURSILLO WEEKEND TEAM MEMBER CONTACT US AT: drtangorra@yahoo.com

What do I need to know to be a sponsor?

Sponsors (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 for a Cursillo weekend. They are usually involved in seeing the candidate through the application process, getting the candidate to and from the retreat center and participating in the closing ceremony. In addition, a sponsor should see to it that the new Cursillista is engaging in Fourth Day activities including Group Reunion, Ultreya and Spiritual Direction.

Do you have an application form I can use?

An application may be be acquired through the following link and then printed directly from your browser.

FOR APPLICATION CLICK HERE.

What is meant by "The Fourth Day"?

Post-Cursillo is called "The Fourth Day". The Cursillo weekend is not an end to itself. It is a starting point that lasts the rest of your life. It is a springboard to a long-range practice of the Baptismal Covenant in the life of the Church called the Fourth Day. The Fourth Day is composed of three major elements: the Group Reunion,the Ultreya, and Spiritual Direction.

What is an "Ultreya"?

The Ultreya, which is usually held monthly, is a "reunion of the reunions". It provides support and builds community by allowing the sharing of communal experiences. All are invited to attend whether you have been on a weekend or not.