Cursillo
Encyclopedia
Cursillos in Christianity (in Spanish: Cursillos de Cristiandad, short course of Christianity) is a ministry of the Roman Catholic Church
. It was founded in Majorca, Spain
by a group of laymen
in 1944, while they were refining a technique to train pilgrimage
leaders.
Cursillo is the original three day movement
, and has since been licenced for use by several mainline Christian
denominations, some of which have retained the trademarked "Cursillo" name while others have modified its talks/methods and given it a different name.
The cursillo focuses on showing Christian lay people how to become effective leaders over the course of a three-day weekend. The weekend includes fifteen talks, some given by priests and some by lay people. The major emphasis of the weekend is to ask participants to take what they have learned back into the world, on what they call the "fourth day". The method stresses personal spiritual development, as accelerated by weekly group reunion (after the weekend).
, when the first American
cursillo was held in Waco
, Texas
. In 1959, the Cursillo spread throughout Texas and to Phoenix, Arizona. In August of that year the first national convention of spiritual directors was held, and Ultreya magazine began publication. In 1960, the growth of the Cursillo quickened in the Southwest, and weekends were held for the first time in the East in New York City and Lorain, Ohio.
Until 1961, all weekends were held in Spanish. That year the first English-speaking weekend was held in San Angelo, Texas. Also in 1961, first weekends were held in San Francisco, California
; Gary, Indiana
; Lansing, Michigan
; and Gallup, New Mexico
. In 1962, the Cursillo Movement came to the Eastern United States. Weekends were held in Cincinnati, Brooklyn, Saginaw, Miami, Chicago, Detroit, Newark, Baltimore, Grand Rapids, Kansas City and Boston. In the West, the first weekends were held in Monterey, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Pueblo and Yakima. The movement spread rapidly with the early centers carrying the Cursillo to nearby dioceses. By 1981, almost all of the 160 dioceses in the United States had introduced the Cursillo Movement.
The Cursillo Movement in the United States was organized on a national basis in 1965. A National Secretariat was formed and the National Cursillo Office (currently in Jarrell, Texas) was established. Today, Cursillo is a worldwide movement with centers in nearly all South and Central American countries, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Great Britain, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Austria, Australia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and in several African countries. The movement is recognized by the Pope as member of the International Catholic Organizations of the Pontifical Council for the Laity in Rome.
In 1980, the Cursillo Movement established a worldwide international office, the OMCC (Organismo Mundial de Cursillos de Cristiandad). This international office is currently located in Clayfield, QLD, Australia.
A story from the early days of the movement in Spain tells of an occasion where a group of men were returning from a Cursillo weekend when their bus broke down. They began to sing De Colores
, a traditional folk song. The use of the song in Cursillo took hold, and has held up as the movement has spread outside the Spanish-speaking world and to other denominations. The use of a multi-colored rooster as a symbol for the Cursillo movement is believed to have originated from one of the verses of that song.
The Cursillo is supported by the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church. It is joined to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops through an official liaison in the person of Most Rev. Eusebio Elizondo, M.Sp.S., Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle, and through the Bishops' Secretariat for the Laity in Washington, D.C. The spiritual advisor for the USA national movement is Rev. Peter Michael Jaramillo from Kansas City, Kansas.
Cursillo is a registered trademark of the National Cursillo Center in Jarrell, Texas. Unauthorized use of this name is prohibited by law.
, Unidos en Cristo, Via de Cristo (Lutheran Adult), Chrysalis Flight (Methodist Youth), and Walk to Emmaus
(Methodist Adult).
A derivative retreat for Catholics is called "Christ Renews His Parish". It is a two-day retreat, normally Saturday and Sunday, and therefore does not qualify for the term "cursillo" meant to apply to a three-day retreat.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. It was founded in Majorca, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
by a group of laymen
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
in 1944, while they were refining a technique to train pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
leaders.
Cursillo is the original three day movement
Three day movement
In Christianity, a three day movement is an organisation that conducts retreats to enrich the lives of other Christians, consisting of people who have themselves attended such a retreats...
, and has since been licenced for use by several mainline Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
denominations, some of which have retained the trademarked "Cursillo" name while others have modified its talks/methods and given it a different name.
The cursillo focuses on showing Christian lay people how to become effective leaders over the course of a three-day weekend. The weekend includes fifteen talks, some given by priests and some by lay people. The major emphasis of the weekend is to ask participants to take what they have learned back into the world, on what they call the "fourth day". The method stresses personal spiritual development, as accelerated by weekly group reunion (after the weekend).
History
A layman named Eduardo Bonnín participated in the early years of the "short courses" in Majorca and helped develop the cursillos to the point that it became an active renewal movement in the Church. In 1957, the movement had spread to North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, when the first American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cursillo was held in Waco
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. In 1959, the Cursillo spread throughout Texas and to Phoenix, Arizona. In August of that year the first national convention of spiritual directors was held, and Ultreya magazine began publication. In 1960, the growth of the Cursillo quickened in the Southwest, and weekends were held for the first time in the East in New York City and Lorain, Ohio.
Until 1961, all weekends were held in Spanish. That year the first English-speaking weekend was held in San Angelo, Texas. Also in 1961, first weekends were held in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
; Gary, Indiana
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
; Lansing, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
; and Gallup, New Mexico
Gallup, New Mexico
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 20,209 people, 6,810 households, and 4,869 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,513.7 people per square mile...
. In 1962, the Cursillo Movement came to the Eastern United States. Weekends were held in Cincinnati, Brooklyn, Saginaw, Miami, Chicago, Detroit, Newark, Baltimore, Grand Rapids, Kansas City and Boston. In the West, the first weekends were held in Monterey, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Pueblo and Yakima. The movement spread rapidly with the early centers carrying the Cursillo to nearby dioceses. By 1981, almost all of the 160 dioceses in the United States had introduced the Cursillo Movement.
The Cursillo Movement in the United States was organized on a national basis in 1965. A National Secretariat was formed and the National Cursillo Office (currently in Jarrell, Texas) was established. Today, Cursillo is a worldwide movement with centers in nearly all South and Central American countries, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Great Britain, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Austria, Australia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and in several African countries. The movement is recognized by the Pope as member of the International Catholic Organizations of the Pontifical Council for the Laity in Rome.
In 1980, the Cursillo Movement established a worldwide international office, the OMCC (Organismo Mundial de Cursillos de Cristiandad). This international office is currently located in Clayfield, QLD, Australia.
A story from the early days of the movement in Spain tells of an occasion where a group of men were returning from a Cursillo weekend when their bus broke down. They began to sing De Colores
De Colores
"De Colores" is a traditional folk song that is well known throughout the Spanish-speaking world. The song was brought to the Americas from Spain during the 16th century. In modern times, the song frequently appears in collections of children's songs...
, a traditional folk song. The use of the song in Cursillo took hold, and has held up as the movement has spread outside the Spanish-speaking world and to other denominations. The use of a multi-colored rooster as a symbol for the Cursillo movement is believed to have originated from one of the verses of that song.
The Cursillo is supported by the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church. It is joined to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops through an official liaison in the person of Most Rev. Eusebio Elizondo, M.Sp.S., Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle, and through the Bishops' Secretariat for the Laity in Washington, D.C. The spiritual advisor for the USA national movement is Rev. Peter Michael Jaramillo from Kansas City, Kansas.
Cursillo is a registered trademark of the National Cursillo Center in Jarrell, Texas. Unauthorized use of this name is prohibited by law.
Use by other faiths
This retreat is also used by Episcopalian/Anglican Cursillo and Presbyterian Cursillo/Pilgrimage.Analogous retreats
The Cursillo method is used by Awakening, Cum Christo, DeColores (adult ecumenical), Happening, The Journey (United Church of Christ), Kairos Prison Ministry, Kairos (for older teenagers), Gennesaret (for those living with a serious illness), Koinonia, Lamplighter Ministries, Light of Love, Teens Encounter Christ aka TEC (teen ecumenical), Residents Encounter Christ (REC) (a jail/prison ministry), Tres DiasTres Dias
Tres Dias is an interdenominational Christian three day movement. Tres Dias communities around the world run retreat weekends for Christians.-History:Tres Dias traces its ancestry through Cursillo....
, Unidos en Cristo, Via de Cristo (Lutheran Adult), Chrysalis Flight (Methodist Youth), and Walk to Emmaus
Walk to Emmaus
The Walk to Emmaus or Emmaus Walk is a three day movement and Protestant version of the Roman Catholic Cursillo Movement. It started in the 1960s and 1970s when Episcopalians and Lutherans, and Tres Dias offered Cursillo...
(Methodist Adult).
A derivative retreat for Catholics is called "Christ Renews His Parish". It is a two-day retreat, normally Saturday and Sunday, and therefore does not qualify for the term "cursillo" meant to apply to a three-day retreat.
Further reading
- Bonnin, Eduardo. Cursillos in Christianity: The How and the Why. Dallas: National Ultreya Publications, 1981.
- The World Organization of the Cursillo Movement. The Fundamental Ideas of the Cursillo Movement. OMCC’s authorized English translation of the original official Spanish work, by the United States National Secretariat for use in English speaking countries. 2d ed., Editor. Gerald P. Hughes. Dallas: National Ultreya Publications, 1992.