I had no idea what I was getting into when I accepted a co-worker’s challenge to sign up for a Cursillo weekend.
I had moved to Pennsylvania just a few months before and was still getting my bearings. I was interested in growing in my faith and meeting people who shared my Catholic background. But I was not prepared for the life-changing experience that is Cursillo.
The Cursillo movement began in Spain in the 1940s as a way to encourage people who had stepped away from the Catholic Church to return. The vision of Cursillo is to live out what is fundamental to being a Christian through an encounter with oneself, others, and Christ.
The Cursillo weekend I attended ran from Thursday night to Sunday evening and was built upon a series of talks called “rollos.” Listening to these talks, I fell in love with the faith all over again.
A team of lay women spent the weekend with the aid of a priest, who served as Spiritual Director. The team was on fire for Christ and showed their enthusiasm for the Christian way of life by demonstrating their commitment to three principles: piety or prayer, study of the Catholic faith, and action, also known as evangelization.
On the weekend, I learned that evangelization involves showing Christ’s love to others within my sphere of influence. I did not need to stand on a street corner to proclaim the Gospel. I could help share Christ’s message of love through my day-to-day interactions with others.
The Cursillo also gave me a community of brothers and sisters I could call upon for prayer and support. This became vitally important to me after I made my weekend.
Three years after I attended the Cursillo, I was shaken by a family crisis. While I was going through custody proceedings, my daughter’s father took her overseas in violation of a court order granting me custody of her. I will never forget the moment I learned that my daughter had been transported to Beirut, Lebanon. My world was shattered and I cried out in anguish.
I can attest to the fact that I don’t think I would have ever made it through that soul-crushing experience had it not been for Cursillo. Through the constant prayers of my Cursillo brothers and sisters, my daughter experienced a miraculous protection. Last year, she returned to the United States, escaping the war which has rocked the Middle East in recent days.
I can say without a doubt that my best friends have come from the Cursillo community. They are such caring souls, determined to share God’s love with humanity. They live by the motto, “Make a friend. Be a friend. Bring a friend to Christ.”
The Cursillo Movement
The Cursillo movement is not for everyone. Those who have recently experienced profound grief as a result of the loss of a loved one or who are currently struggling with health issues or other crises would likely find the experience overwhelming. The weekends are designed for baptized Catholics prepared to live a sacramental life and to serve as leaders in their families, workplaces, communities, or other spheres of influence.
Members of Cursillo are referred to as Cursillistas and often greet each other with the Spanish term “De Colores.” It is from a folk song and means “of many colors.” But for Cursillistas, the phrase conveys the belief that one is living in grace, or in accord with God’s Word.
Once I made my Cursillo, I was hooked! I have served as a team member on many weekends and have been inspired every time by the ability of grace to uplift souls and to bring them into the healing power of Christ’s life. Cursillo weekends are transformative. They can turn far-away Catholics into ardent believers and lukewarm souls into committed evangelizers.
I have experienced the breathtaking change of heart that occurs at Cursillo. I became more determined than ever to share the Good News of salvation to people who may have been battered by the hardships of life. Time and time again, I have witnessed individuals experience a renewed hope and appreciation for God as a result of a Cursillo Encounter.
Cursillo has also given me a plan of action for my spiritual life. I am more committed than ever to morning prayer, making sacrifices on behalf of others, spiritual reading, and acts of evangelization, such as lectoring. Within Cursillo, I have discovered a joy that had escaped me for much of my life. And there is a peace that comes with knowing I am striving to live according to God’s plan.
If you would like to learn more about the Cursillo movement, please visit the National Cursillo Movement website at https://cursillousa.org/ . A miracle of grace may just be awaiting you!
Photo by Sarah Noltner on Unsplash
