| What is Cursillo? |
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| Cursillo is a movement of the Church. It's purpose is to help those in the Church understand their individual callings to be Christian Leaders. The leadership may be exercised in work situatioins, in the family and social life, in liesure activities, and within the Church environment. Leadership in Cursillo does not mean power over others, but influence on those around us. |
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| What is the Goal of Cursillo? |
| 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 support of others having a similar commitment. |
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| What does Cursillo do? |
| It helps to renew and deepen Christian committment. 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 support. |
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| Cursillo is patterned on Jesus' own example. He searched out and called a small group of potential leaders (pre-Cursillo); He trained them by word and example and inspired them with vision (Cursillo Three Day Weekend); He linked them together and sent them out into the world to bring the world to him (post-Cursillo or the Fourth Day). |
| Pre-Cursillo |
| What is the Cursillo Movement About? |
| During this this period, sponsors (i.e. those individuals that hve been to the three day Cursillo weekend and are living the Fourth Day) identify those Episcopalians who are leading an active Christian life and are a living witness to their love of Christ, recommending their canididacy. It is also the period that selected candidates are informed of what to expect at three-day weekend and assisted in appropriate preparatiions. |
| The Three-Day Weekend |
| The Cursillo weekend brings together a diverse group of Epicopalians to share the richness of many modes of worship and to broaden each one's appreciation for our Church. Lay people conduct the 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 a fostering ministry among people. The weekend begins Thursday evening. It is spent in the chapel with meditations, discussions, and Complaine. 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 Sacrements, and the great Cursillo tripod: Piety, Study, and Action. Plus there is fellowshp, singing, good food, and time for privacy, meditation and prayer. The Holy Eucharist is celebrated each day. |
| Post-Cursillo or 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 spingboard 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 heart of Cursillo, is a small group of friends (usually 3-5) who meet weekly, and who hold each other accountable for their spiritual journey. They report on their piety, study, and their apostolic action. A bonding developes that institutes a strong support group for life. |
| 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. |
| Spiritual Direction |
| is an important element of the Cursillo movement, It is a commitment to seek out skilled lay persons or clerics for spiritual direction to provide help in deepening your union with Christ. |
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| More Information |
| For more information or to ask questions about the Episcopal Cursillo in Western New York send your requests by E-mail. Click on E-mail link below. |
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| Our sincere thanks to the National Episcopal Cursillo (NEC) for providing the above information about Cursillo. You may link to their website from our Important Links page. |
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