Cursillo

[gh4]

G4H, why do you equate your Cursillo experience with the Catholic faith?

Well, since it’s run by a priest and there is Mass and Confession (and both of those are pretty Catholic, yeah, I think it’s Catholic. And since it’s supposed to be a "little course in Catholicim, yeah, Catholic.

You know you attended an awful weekend put on by folks who seemed to not know what they were doing. You continue to make about not being able to go to mass and now you make a comment about investigating spirituality with other religions.

**I am going to mass every weekend, save one when I was ill. It’s still uncomfortable because no matter what mass I choose (we have 2) I run into one of the two other gals who were at Cursillo. Small parish, about 15-20 people at each mass including Priest and servers. Yup, uncomfortable. **

I have friends of a lot of different faiths. I would consider going to a weekend or day type spiritual thing with them. Not to change faiths, but to get something that my parish doesn’t offer. Cursillo is really the first thing my parish has backed, at least in the last 5 years that I’ve been going there. I live in the middle of the desert, there isn’t much here. It’s a 1.5 hour drive to Tucson and a 3 hour drive to Phoenix, too far to go for mass.

You know that Cursillo is totally unnecessary for Catholic living. You know from this thread and candid comments from others who attended Cursillo that yours was not what Cursillo was meant to be.

I realize it’s not needed to be Catholic. And yes, I realize the one I went to was horrid.

At this point you are pushing yourself away from the Church by refusing to internalize these facts. You know the Church is the truth. Have you considered that deep down you are actually pushing Her away just to make a point about your Cursillo experience.

**You know, I still cannot talk face to face with anyone about my experience without crying. The worst part of it was when I was leaving and being treated like a criminal and being grilled and talked to like a dog by the Priest and one of the gals giving the cursillo. It was beyond horrible. It took almost 2 hours for my ride to arrive to take me home, and that entire time was kind of like being grilled by the police, it was horrible. **

Only you are responsible for your relationship to the Church and with Christ. You can’t continue to blame the goofballs who fed you carbohydrates. Our faith must be deeper than that.

**Yeah, but it hurts, it hurts a lot and I truly am having a lot of trouble getting past the way I was treated and the things that were said to me. **

If I can prevent one person from the pain I’m going through, then it’s worth it to get my message out. If I can open one person’s eyes so that they can go to a Cursillo mentally prepared for what they will experience, then it’s worth it to tell about it.
I’m not trying to shut it down, I’m just trying to make it more open to let people KNOW what they are getting into. Bottom line. Again, “You have to experience it for yourself, it changed my life” is NOT an acceptable answer for people who have questions about it.

The reason I wanted to go to this Cursillo is this.
I live where there is a very small parish. There is NO bible study group, there is NO women’s groups of any kind. (and yes, I’ve tried with 2 other women to get something started and 3 times it hasn’t worked out) The only thing is St. VDP, and that’s pretty much a clique that doesn’t let newbies do anything except sit in meetings and listen to the others.
There is NOTHING here except mass. At least we have a mass here in the middle of nowhere, and for that I am grateful.
Before I moved here I spent 7 years back in Ohio caring for both my parents who had Alzhiemer’s. When I moved out here, I brought my 7 dogs with me, large dogs. No way to do anything like an over night retreat.
Now that I’m down to just 2 dogs (the rest passed on of old age) it’s doable to get someone to stay with them. So I thought that a retreat would be an ideal thing to get my fire started again, so to speak. I wanted something to bring me closer to God and make my spiritual life better. Since the parish can’t help along those lines, I thought this would. I was wrong.
Ok, now you know why I went. I am hurt because I’ve never been treated this way in my life. I was a nurse all my life, I’ve had bedpans thrown at me, I’ve been puked on, bled on, peed on, pooped on, and called every name in the book, and that washes right over my head and down my back, those people are sick. I’ve fought for nurses rights to be treated more like professionals and less like slaves in the workplace and it worked. I am a patient advocate and stand up for patient rights and needs. But I have never been treated like I was at cursillo. Never. Not even as a child was I treated this way.

So yeah, I’m hurt, badly and it’s taken a toll on me. It is what it is I suppose. I don’t think it’s possible to be pro cursillo for me. I’m not trying to hurt people, but help them instead. I don’t want others to be hurt the way I was.

Ok, y’all have a wonderful Sunday and God Bless.

 

[BlueRoses12]

G4H, why do you equate your Cursillo experience with the Catholic faith? You know you attended an awful weekend put on by folks who seemed to not know what they were doing.

Um, Jeremiah … you do realize that you, and others here, are using the “No True Scotsman” fallacy, aren’t you?

Alice: All Scotsmen enjoy haggis.
Bob: My uncle is a Scotsman, and he doesn’t like haggis!
Alice: Well, all *true *Scotsmen like haggis.

Alice: Cursillo is wonderful.
Bob: I had a horrific experience during my Cursillo weekend.
Alice: Well, *true * Cursillo is wonderful.

The reason it would fit under “no true Scotsman” is that the *very things *that made Bob’s experience horrific are hallmarks, essentials rather than accidentals, of the “conversion weekend” method. From what I’ve read and experienced, “conversion weekends” aim at building a cohesive social group by eroding people’s boundaries.

They accomplish this by making it hard for people to leave early (and it’s been admitted that this is done deliberately!), taking people’s watches, taking upon themselves responsibility for their meds (although not always following through, which puts people’s health at risk), pushing them into childlike roles, giving them no time to think, love-bombing, thought-stopping (“Utilize, don’t analyze!”) manipulation, guilting, etc.

Deliberate destabilization for “good” reasons – only for Bob, taken to an extreme. Clearly, what is taught varies widely, and is not the point; removing people’s interpersonal boundaries, sometimes rather forcefully, to build a close social group, is. Much like the military, only without the prior informed consent.

I believe some of the arguments put forth to defend Cursillo might fit under “Moving the Goalposts” too.

At any rate, I don’t think gh4 is the one who merits a stern talking-to. I don’t think she is the one whose behavior needs amending.

 

[BlueRoses12]

Okay, people. Tomorrow is the first day of my seasonal job, which will take up my spare time, so I’ll wrap it up here.

I’d like to leave you with one thing to ponder:

What is the difference between sexual intercourse and rape?

Consent. Informed consent.

If a newlywed groom, walking into the bedroom, casually confides to his bride that he’s been surgically sterilized, that’s not informed consent. If she realizes to her horror that he’s really her husband’s identical twin brother, that’s not informed consent. If he informs her that that he’s already married and intends to keep his relationships with both women, that’s not informed consent. If he shows her, Yentl-style, that he’s not a man but a woman, that’s not informed consent.

We all know that the late Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, poured a lot of energy in his description of marriage and its holiness. Marriage is truly a vocation, rivaling all others. He wrote encyclicals lauding it.

Our spiritual lives are subtle and deep – very deep – almost like a marriage. In fact, St. Teresa of Avila said it *was *a marriage. It is profoundly holy. We should take off our shoes when walking on hallowed ground. We need to be careful who we “unite” ourselves to. Like the Song of Solomon, we need to avoid “waking love before its time.”

To be careful, to be prudent, each participant needs to know what they are getting into. To block this is to defraud them.

Neither gh4 nor I have accused people of lying. We realize that some people do have positive experiences in Cursillo. I’d guess – and this is just my estimation, which could be wrong, based on my reading and observations – that roughly one-fourth of the people do, and continue with the group. There seem to be people who need a lot of hugs. Their idea of Christianity is basically wrapped around finding a group of people to hang with. Sometimes it can be difficult to find friends.

One-half probably never attend a reunion, and roll their eyes when they think of their experience, but are basically unfazed, like the author of the “The Heart of Things” blog. He was able to afford the time taken out of his life, and brushed off the frustration of the experience.

It’s the remaining one-quarter , in my estimation, who can be harmed, repelled, or put off Christianity altogether, that need and deserve protection. Like the author Carol Bonomo, gh4, and myself.

So please keep in mind the purpose you may be serving when you cleverly steer the conversation, refuse to answer plain questions, and block someone’s attempts to find out about Cursillo. An experience they might even like, has now been shrouded in unnecessary mystery and drama. You could be turning possible spiritual intercourse into rape.

 

[Jeremiah1278]

Oh heavens BlueRoses. Your rape analogy is beyond terrible and not worth debating and your use of the No True Scottsman fallacy is misplaced because I’m not making a universal claim that all true Cursillo’s are great, nor am I denying GH4’s experience within Cursillo, nor am I denying that someone could have an awful experience at a stupendous true Cursillo. I’d talk more about this strawman you’ve created, but c’mon… let’s save the logical fallacy business for the Apologetics section.

You are changing the subject. I was pleading with GH4 to not place her religious life eggs into the one basket of her unhappy Cursillo experience. I’m trying to keep her in the Catholic faith and your ranting on about rape.

 

[Jeremiah1278]

… If I can open one person’s eyes so that they can go to a Cursillo mentally prepared for what they will experience, then it’s worth it to tell about it.
I’m not trying to shut it down, I’m just trying to make it more open to let people KNOW what they are getting into. . . .

Ok, y’all have a wonderful Sunday and God Bless.

I think you are very sincere, and I think these are great goals. I’m sorry that the Catholic community in your area is so tiny you have to be around the people who made you uncomfortable just to go to mass and participate in the parish. I think that sounds awful and I can’t fully comprehend what that would mean for my faith. I’d like to think I’d fight through it somehow, but I’m not in your shoes so I can’t possibly act like I have any great wisdom for ya. I wish you the best and think whatever happens you’ll pull through because you seem like a great person. Good luck.

 

[DebChris]

Deciding whether or not to make a Cursillo is a personal decision. Any person invited should be given the booklet that describes What a Cursillo is. As already stated, this lay movement has the blessing of the Catholic hierarchy and is recognized by the United States Catechism of the Catholic Church as an authentic movement of the Holy Spirit. Nobody can predict how another person will respond to the experience. Each person can choose to either accept or reject the invitation. Cursillistas, those who have already made Cursillo, pray for the success of upcoming Cursillo weekends. Those who do attend come from all different walks of life and spiritual backgrounds.
The focus of the weekend, and afterwards, is on piety (prayer), study (learning more about our shared Faith), and action (living our Faith).

St. Paul tells us to pray always. This prayer life begins with small steps. It means scheduling time within our busy schedules, even if it is only 15 minutes a day to pray the rosary or read scripture. St. Francis said, “Preach always and if necessary use words.” Living our Faith is the best way to evangelize others. The more we learn about our Faith, the better able we become in explaining it to others.

 

[KimberlyAnn0218]

If I can prevent one person from the pain I’m going through, then it’s worth it to get my message out. If I can open one person’s eyes so that they can go to a Cursillo mentally prepared for what they will experience, then it’s worth it to tell about it.
I’m not trying to shut it down, I’m just trying to make it more open to let people KNOW what they are getting into. Bottom line. Again, “You have to experience it for yourself, it changed my life” is NOT an acceptable answer for people who have questions about it.

The reason I wanted to go to this Cursillo is this.
I live where there is a very small parish. There is NO bible study group, there is NO women’s groups of any kind. (and yes, I’ve tried with 2 other women to get something started and 3 times it hasn’t worked out) The only thing is St. VDP, and that’s pretty much a clique that doesn’t let newbies do anything except sit in meetings and listen to the others.
There is NOTHING here except mass. At least we have a mass here in the middle of nowhere, and for that I am grateful.
Before I moved here I spent 7 years back in Ohio caring for both my parents who had Alzhiemer’s. When I moved out here, I brought my 7 dogs with me, large dogs. No way to do anything like an over night retreat.
Now that I’m down to just 2 dogs (the rest passed on of old age) it’s doable to get someone to stay with them. So I thought that a retreat would be an ideal thing to get my fire started again, so to speak. I wanted something to bring me closer to God and make my spiritual life better. Since the parish can’t help along those lines, I thought this would. I was wrong.
Ok, now you know why I went. I am hurt because I’ve never been treated this way in my life. I was a nurse all my life, I’ve had bedpans thrown at me, I’ve been puked on, bled on, peed on, pooped on, and called every name in the book, and that washes right over my head and down my back, those people are sick. I’ve fought for nurses rights to be treated more like professionals and less like slaves in the workplace and it worked. I am a patient advocate and stand up for patient rights and needs. But I have never been treated like I was at cursillo. Never. Not even as a child was I treated this way.

So yeah, I’m hurt, badly and it’s taken a toll on me. It is what it is I suppose. I don’t think it’s possible to be pro cursillo for me. I’m not trying to hurt people, but help them instead. I don’t want others to be hurt the way I was.

Ok, y’all have a wonderful Sunday and God Bless.

OP here…again and I can’t believe this discussion is STILL going on… anyway…thoughts:

“G4H, why do you equate your Cursillo experience with the Catholic faith?”

"Well, since it’s run by a priest and there is Mass and Confession (and both of those are pretty Catholic, yeah, I think it’s Catholic. And since it’s supposed to be a “little course in Catholicim, yeah, Catholic.” Wrong-it is a lay movement, not run by but augmented by the clergy. And it is a short course in Christianity, NOT Catholicism. Yes opportunities to go to confession, yes catholic people, but mine focused very little on Catholicism and very much on the evangelization stuff.

I am pretty sure I have said this before, anyone who has ANY TYPE of event thast causes a traumatic experieince needs to talk with a professional about it. If you are not able to go to Mass without feeling awkward you may benefit from that.

Honestly, I ALMOST didn’t go to Cursillo because of the “secrecy” part because of comments on THIS thread that I STARTED. I am SO glad I did. MY DIOCESE has a group that does a bang-up job and the “secrets” reveal themselves as BEAUTIFUL surprises. I knew about seelping in a large group-I was free to come and go; I did see people being “checked up on” but found out that they watched for people not dealing with the event well (some people have issues arise during events like these or simply aren’t morning people )

Don’t trash the surprises for others-if I would have heard I was making posters all day I might have backed out-seeing the end product was cool! No doubt your diocese’s group need re-training.

I will add anyone adversely affected by Cursillo to my prayers…I will also add those poitively affected as well.

De Colores!
K

 

[Mummsie]

KimberlyAnn, I am so happy to hear you decided to make your Cursillo. I don’t know if I would have after reading some of the stories here. I’m certain God was guiding you on your decision.

Blue Roses,To restate my position. I was able to keep my watch, my medications, and my cell phone. was able to walk outside and there was a typed agenda posted each morning. I was encouraged to spend time in quiet Adoration or with a Spiritual Director. I can understand your perspective from your experience; but, I might need to disagree with your statistics. 25% had experiences similar to yours? I truly believe it’s less than 5%. But, in truth, it should be 0%. Enjoy your part time work.

Gh4, I appreciate your devotion to preventing anyone else from experiencing your disaster weekend. However, please reconsider notifying the National Cursillo Center. Because your event is recent, they can probably easily investigate and correct wayward groups.

De Colores!

 

[gh4]

OP here…again and I can’t believe this discussion is STILL going on… anyway…thoughts:

“G4H, why do you equate your Cursillo experience with the Catholic faith?”

"Well, since it’s run by a priest and there is Mass and Confession (and both of those are pretty Catholic, yeah, I think it’s Catholic. And since it’s supposed to be a “little course in Catholicim, yeah, Catholic.” Wrong-it is a lay movement, not run by but augmented by the clergy. And it is a short course in Christianity, NOT Catholicism. Yes opportunities to go to confession, yes catholic people, but mine focused very little on Catholicism and very much on the evangelization stuff.
**The weekend I attended was clearly run by the priest. He was there for each and every single activity and he was the decision maker, it was obvious he was in charge. **
I am pretty sure I have said this before, anyone who has ANY TYPE of event thast causes a traumatic experieince needs to talk with a professional about it. If you are not able to go to Mass without feeling awkward you may benefit from that.
**I’ve talked with my priest. I cannot afford to see a counselor and the nearest one would be more than a 200 mile round trip and I won’t drive that far alone or in my 12 year old truck. So mostly I’m my own counsel. **
Honestly, I ALMOST didn’t go to Cursillo because of the “secrecy” part because of comments on THIS thread that I STARTED. I am SO glad I did. MY DIOCESE has a group that does a bang-up job and the “secrets” reveal themselves as BEAUTIFUL surprises. I knew about seelping in a large group-I was free to come and go; I did see people being “checked up on” but found out that they watched for people not dealing with the event well (some people have issues arise during events like these or simply aren’t morning people )
If they are going to “check” on people, they need to let everyone know what would make them start to check up on people and this should be made known long before anyone arrives for the weekend.

Don’t trash the surprises for others-if I would have heard I was making posters all day I might have backed out-seeing the end product was cool! No doubt your diocese’s group need re-training.
Those damn ugly graded stupid posters. I will never ever see a crayola marker every again without wanting to break it into bits and throw it away. I will never use one again. I LOATHED those posters from the very first one. I’m not an artist in the least. Again, that was being treated like a child. Adults would have discussed the rollos like one would expect.
I will add anyone adversely affected by Cursillo to my prayers…I will also add those poitively affected as well.

Like I said before, I went to a CHRP many years ago, and I loved it. It was well run, we spent one night sleeping in one big room on the floor in sleeping bags. It was spiritual and inspiring and just so good. I was expecting something similar to that, and boy howdy was I surprised at this one, nothing like CHRP at all.

 

[maryjk]

Honestly, I ALMOST didn’t go to Cursillo because of the “secrecy” part because of comments on THIS thread that I STARTED. I am SO glad I did. MY DIOCESE has a group that does a bang-up job and the “secrets” reveal themselves as BEAUTIFUL surprises. I knew about sleeping in a large group-I was free to come and go;** I did see people being “checked up on”** but found out that they watched for people not dealing with the event well (some people have issues arise during events like these or simply aren’t morning people )

Don’t trash the surprises for others-if I would have heard I was making posters all day I might have backed out-seeing the end product was cool! No doubt your diocese’s group need re-training.

I have really tried to stay away. I have done enough reading about Cursillo to know that they are being run exactly like they are suppose to be run. There are suppose to be secrets. They are suppose to keep your watch, drive you and disorientate you. There is a reason that Friday night is silent then they jump into joyful song after Mass on Saturday. There is a reason they seat you with people you will probably never see again, yet keep you away from people you know from your own parish. (Hint: it isn’t so you make new friends)

There are a reason for the secrets. It is because if they didn’t keep everything a secret, people wouldn’t go. I mean really, would you go on a retreat where you have to be silent Friday night, but you aren’t told about it until you get there? How about having people you don’t know, walk into your room and gently wake you up? How about if you knew that you would be followed around if you left the group? Or in at least one case, not allowed to leave the group without a guard? How about if you knew the most intellectual thing you were going to do was to make posters? I know I would never go.

And there is a reason they do all of this. It is so you can, if you don’t totally breakdown, have a “Mountain top” experience. When Cursillo first started, they didn’t have “4th day.” But they realized that no on could keep that mountain experience if they also had to go back to their regular life. So they created 4th day The question now, is how many people attend 4th Day? That may tell you how many people enjoyed the weekend vs. how many were just glad to get out.

 

[gh4]

How about if you knew that you would be followed around if you left the group? Or in at least one case, not allowed to leave the group without a guard? How about if you knew the most intellectual thing you were going to do was to make posters? I know I would never go.

**You betcha, and I wouldn’t be angry and confused and terribly hurt either… hum… gee, I think I’d rather have known. **

And there is a reason they do all of this. It is so you can, if you don’t totally breakdown, have a “Mountain top” experience.

This is just plain WRONG on so many levels. To take a risk that even ONE person in a 1000 will “breakdown” so that others can have a “Mountain Top” experience is morally and ethically WRONG Why would any reputable person or organization risk sending someone over the edge? I believe Cursillo is supposed to be all about bringing people to God… why risk chasing anyone away? If you do that and people leave God, then your whole thing is counterproductive and they are RESPONSIBLE for someone leaving God and losing their salvation. HELLO??? This statement is just plain WRONG. And if people do breakdown, why aren’t they providing counseling and help for those people to be helped? No, they just send you home after berating you and telling you how you’ve ruined ‘THEIR’ weekend. WRONG WRONG WRONG AND WRONG AGAIN.

 

[gh4]

How about having people you don’t know, walk into your room and gently wake you up?

No gentle being woke up here, they rang that dang bell and pounded on the door.

I would love to take that stupid bell and beat it with a hammer. I was so tired of that friggin bell by the noon on Friday… I looked for an opportunity to take it and destroy it, but they held tight to it.

 

[maryjk]

No gentle being woke up here, they rang that dang bell and pounded on the door.

I would love to take that stupid bell and beat it with a hammer. I was so tired of that friggin bell by the noon on Friday… I looked for an opportunity to take it and destroy it, but they held tight to it.

I think you missed it. If I remember from my reading they woke you up like that on Sunday. Or it may have been that Sunday they have your family come out and wake you up. Sorry, I would have to go back to my research.

If anyone is thinking of attending one of these weekends, I highly recommend that read all you can about it. The last thing you should do is just allow the weekend to happen. No, instead you need to investigate.

Maybe you like being treated like a child. Maybe you like everything being done for you. If you like secrets being kept from you, because they might turn out good in the end, go for it.

BUT, if you like being treated like the adult you are, if you prefer to know the plans they have for you, I would not recommend a Cursillo weekend.

 

[Saber_Mom]

There is no requirement that a person’s spouse be Catholic make Cursillo. There is no requirement that a person be married. The only requirements are support from your pastor and spouse, if married. Cursillistas include people who are new converts as well as individuals such as myself who are cradle Catholics.
Was the woman’s husband concerned that your making Cursillo would cause conflict within your marriage? Don’t answer that question here.

I want to apologize for my earlier post. I was quite tired when I posted and it sounded hostile.

Thank you very much for your response. I hadn’t thought that the gentleman may have been thinking about conflict within my marriage. I was hurt by being turned away that I hadn’t thought of a different point of view. Thanks for opening my eyes.

 

[gh4]

I think you missed it. If I remember from my reading they woke you up like that on Sunday. Or it may have been that Sunday they have your family come out and wake you up. Sorry, I would have to go back to my research.

You are saying that they would let family members into a room where there were 8 females sleeping? I would have been screaming bloody murder if anyone had walked into that room, and if it were a man I would have freaked out and probably never come back to earth.
I don’t want other women seeing what I look like when I wake up and I certainly don’t want family members seeing me without street clothes or a bra on… I would have been beyond horrified if they let other woman’s family members into my bedroom… Holy Cow, what a great way to cause a heart attack. I would have been livid.

I think that would be a recipe for huge disaster.

 

[maryjk]

You are saying that they would let family members into a room where there were 8 females sleeping? I would have been screaming bloody murder if anyone had walked into that room, and if it were a man I would have freaked out and probably never come back to earth.
I don’t want other women seeing what I look like when I wake up and I certainly don’t want family members seeing me without street clothes or a bra on… I would have been beyond horrified if they let other woman’s family members into my bedroom… Holy Cow, what a great way to cause a heart attack. I would have been livid.

I think that would be a recipe for huge disaster.

Remember, I have never been.

But I have found the reference. And yes, it was on Sunday. And the woman mentions her husband being there to wake her. I don’t know they would do that if 8 people were sleeping in the same room.

(And sorry, I would have a problem sleeping with 7 people I didn’t know. 'Cause you know they wouldn’t put you with people from your own parish. )

 

[gh4]

(And sorry, I would have a problem sleeping with 7 people I didn’t know. 'Cause you know they wouldn’t put you with people from your own parish. )

That was a HUGE problem. We were in bunk beds to boot. And there were all these people and do you know how noisy people are when they sleep? It was bad.
AND to boot, several of the ladies insisted on keeping the lights on in the bathrooms so that they could see to go to the bathroom during the night. (I brought a flashlight for that very reason) I have slept in absolute dark for 30 years, I cannot sleep with a light on. So I not only got very little sleep because they didn’t allow time for sleep, I got very little sleep because people talk in their sleep, they burp in their sleep, they turn and toss and fart in their sleep, and then they keep the freaking lights on. It was horrid. I slept for a very long time when I got home and finally could fall asleep. I can see that this would be a huge problem for many people who are single. Another good reason to have either a married person retreat, or a single person retreat.

This part of my weekend almost makes me laugh now! I know sleeping in groups is part of this, but it truly could have sent some people over the edge!

 

[DebChris]

I found this website for the Cursillo held in Phoenix
blessedsacramentscotts.org/Cursillo.htm
The first thing I noticed was the cost of the Cursillo. This weekend is much more expensive than the Cursillo I made. It is held at a retreat center.
At noted throughout this thread, Cursilloes are held in different facilities. These facilities can range from retreat centers to sleeping on a gym floor.
The website has frequently asked questions.

@ Kimberly, I am glad you enjoyed your weekend and were not dissuaded by the negative posts throughout this thread. DeColores

 

[gh4]

I found this website for the Cursillo held in Phoenix
blessedsacramentscotts.org/Cursillo.htm
The first thing I noticed was the cost of the Cursillo. This weekend is much more expensive than the Cursillo I made. It is held at a retreat center.
At noted throughout this thread, Cursilloes are held in different facilities. These facilities can range from retreat centers to sleeping on a gym floor.
The website has frequently asked questions.

@ Kimberly, I am glad you enjoyed your weekend and were not dissuaded by the negative posts throughout this thread. DeColores

Their FAQ is pretty worthless as it stands! No info given.
It’s in Scottsdale, a ritzy part of Phoenix.
But honestly, I’d have paid 250$ to get decent food.
Ours wasn’t quite that much, but I spent well more than 250 dollars over and above the fees for the cursillo for pet care and stuff I had to buy to bring with me. It wasn’t a cheap weekend by any means!

 

[DebChris]

This website probably gives the best answers I have found regarding Cursillo.
cursillos.ca/en/faq/f01-but.htm

“The Cursillo Movement (CM) has as its goal to share with the community the essence of Christianity and Christian values and in this way gradually transform the community from within. This is the natural extension of the life-changing experience of the Cursillo weekend and is wholly dependent on the example and energy of individual cursillistas and their desire to work together.”
Cursillo is patterned after the Easter Triduum and relies on the dynamics of the group making Cursillo, as stated in some of the earliest posts.
That which is not shared are “the surprises that bring joy and spontaneity to the experience.” Don’t want to give away any spoilers. Of course that does not mean not knowing what the facilities might be like. If somebody told me they had dietary restrictions, I would definitely let the weekend leaders know about them.

I recommend that anybody who still has questions about Cursillo, or has never made Cursillo read all the FAQs.