Cursillo 2000
My Cursillo Experience
by Lorry Roess

To sum it up, it was the most excellent intentionally Christ-centered community experience I have ever had! It was a spiritual high on which I am still coasting! It was the love of Christ Jesus through the hearts, minds, hands, and mouths of many. There was much joyful music, heavenly worship by the shores of a beautiful lake, an instructional series of lectures by expert lay and clergy persons, and tremendously good food.

Before I went to Cursillo, I "picked up on" the secrecy aspect of those who had previously attended. Some seemed to be "in the know" about something in which I could not share. I am afraid this has led to an almost cult-like image of Cursillo, for some people; if you don't go, you might miss out on something great which God has in store for you.

What Cursillo DOES have is a few SURPRISES, and for those who have attended to reveal them to those preparing to go would ruin it. That's where the secrecy comes in. These surprises are wonderful, non-threatening, God-loves-you-type events. And no one has to reveal anything more about themselves than they wish to. There is no pressure.

So, if you want a personal experience with Christ during a wonderful weekend spent by a lovely lake, if you want to learn more about your faith, if you want to relax and be free to let your normal agenda go by the wayside for a couple of days, if you want to participate in great music and worship, if you are hungry for the healing which only Jesus Christ can offer, then Cursillo is for you!

And I would love to sponsor you. Talk to me!

The CURSILLO is a world-wide movement of the Christian Church which seeks to bring environments to Christ through Christian communities in action. It proposes no new type of spirituality, but simply a method by which one’s spirituality can develop and grow and be shared. Cursillo works to form groups of men and women who are Christian leaders and who will provide backbone for Christian life in the world. Cursillo is designed to make it possible to live in what is fundamental to being a Christian—to live in union with Christ and to share Christ with others.

CURSILLO (pronounced kur-see’ yo) is a Spanish word meaning a "short course." The three-day Cursillo weekend provides a living experience—meeting Christ and meeting fellow Christians and sharing Christ with them. It begins on a Thursday evening and ends on the following Sunday evening. During these three days, those attending live and work together, listening to and discussing talks given by both clergy and laity. The talks on the weekend have a specific purpose to present a vision of the Christian life, and therefore do not provide a general introduction to Christianity or a summary of all Christian doctrine.

The basic atmosphere of a Crusillo weekend differs from the individual solitude of a retreat. During the three days, the teachings of Christ are discussed in a climate of joy. The talks and discussions are interspersed with prayer, Eucharists, songs, recreation, laughter and moments of reflection and silence. There is nothing dull about a Cursillo weekend! It is full of work, enjoyed in the name of Jesus Christ. It is a joyous workshop in the fundamentals of our Christian faith where everyone learns by experiencing a living Christian community.

A Cursillo weekend is an encounter with Christ. If that is understood, then the power, beauty and joy of the Cursillo movement will be understood. The Cursillo method described on the weekend provides a mean to continue in Christian growth after the weekend. The resulting Christian community is a group of men and women who live the Christian life, linked with Christ and supporting one another in their environment. This support is found in two post-Cursillo activities. Individuals meet frequently in small groups with close friends for mutual sharing, encouragement and support. The larger Cursillo Community comes together in monthly "Ultreya" meetings for worship, sharing and fellowship.