CURSILLO: A Short Course in Christian Living

Cursillo starts with identifying those who are living an active Christian life, who are witnessing to their love of Christ and who would welcome the support of the Cursillo community and method. Is this you?

Cursillo – Spanish for a “short course,” not in the sense of a course of study, but of a running course.

Cristiandad – Spanish for “Christian living”, not Christian doctrine or theology
Begun in Spain in the 1940’s as a Christian renewal movement within the Church, Cursillo de Cristiandad is a method that provides an ongoing structure and community of support and accountability to help individual Christians to live out the life that Jesus promised and to share the Gospel in their everyday environments. Its basis is the small group reunion, a weekly meeting of a few friends to share recent experiences of their Christian walks. This meeting, which needn’t last more than an hour, encourages its members to press on in their Christian lives. Once a month there is an Ultreya, a gathering of the small groups for a broader base of sharing and support.

The kickoff 3-Day Weekend is a time to focus on the fundamentals of being a Christian and to learn the Cursillo method. A group of Episcopalians gathers to share the richness of worship and to broaden each one’s appreciation of the Church. Planned and conducted by a team of laity together with two or three members of the clergy who function as spiritual advisors, it consists of a series of 15 talks emphasizing the doctrine of Grace, the Sacraments, and the Cursillo foundations: Piety, Study, and Action. The Eucharist is celebrated daily along with the daily offices, and time is provided for prayer, confession and spiritual direction. And, of course, there is fellowship, singing and good food. There are no secrets, but there are some joyful surprises. The next Maryland Cursillo Weekend is #98, November 6-9, and the deadline for applications will be early in October.

The 4th Day is the rest of your life, and it represents a lifetime of living out your Baptismal Covenant with the support of the Cursillo method and community.

If you think Cursillo might be helpful for your walk, for further information, contact Bob Sherer at 410-266-1334, or Betty Stuart McNulty at 410-268-0561, or check the diocesan web page (http://www.cursillo.ang-md.org/).