Cursillo

[kentuckyliz]

I don’t recall any sleep deprivation at the Cursillo I went to, nor love bombing (which I would be uncomfortable with too), nor unwanted gifts. The only “gifts” I got were a Cursillo cross on a ribbon to wear as a necklace, and a little Cursillo Pilgrim Guide which had some basic spirituality, evangelization, and meeting pattern for the reunion/Ultreya meetings.

My Cursillo really wasn’t very good, because the leaders were too much into their inside jokes. It made me feel like an outsider. That’s not a fault of the Cursillo method, though.

I’d like to go again sometime, to see if I can have a better retreat (if the leaders aren’t like the ones from before).

 

[maryjk]

I don’t recall any sleep deprivation at the Cursillo I went to, nor love bombing (which I would be uncomfortable with too), nor unwanted gifts. The only “gifts” I got were a Cursillo cross on a ribbon to wear as a necklace, and a little Cursillo Pilgrim Guide which had some basic spirituality, evangelization, and meeting pattern for the reunion/Ultreya meetings.

My Cursillo really wasn’t very good, because the leaders were too much into their inside jokes. It made me feel like an outsider. That’s not a fault of the Cursillo method, though.
**
I’d like to go again sometime,** to see if I can have a better retreat (if the leaders aren’t like the ones from before).

You aren’t allowed to “go again.” It is a one time experience.

 

[maltmom]

You aren’t allowed to “go again.” It is a one time experience.

This is something I don’t understand. I get that if you went a 2nd time there wouldn’t be any “surprises”. If someone had an experience that wasn’t wonderful and wanted to go again I don’t understand why they can’t. I would think that if someone felt they would grow spiritually by attending again it would be encouraged.

 

[DebChris]

This is something I don’t understand. I get that if you went a 2nd time there wouldn’t be any “surprises”. If someone had an experience that wasn’t wonderful and wanted to go again I don’t understand why they can’t. I would think that if someone felt they would grow spiritually by attending again it would be encouraged.

It’s not a question asked on the application. It’s also something that I had not heard. Since the parish priest signs the application, you would probably have to explain to him why you want to go a second time, or move to a new diocese in which Cursillo is offered. It would be ackward going a second time if a person has been consistently attending weekly reunions and ultreyas. It could also be difficult finding a sponsor. The reunions and ultreyas are there for continued support and encouragement.
My diocese in NC offers a leaders school for Curstillistas. Helping with a well run Cursillo is one way of experiencing the weekend from a different angle. The weekends fill quickly and may include a waiting list (I was initially on a waiting list and had to wait until the next woman’s weekend was offered).

 

[iloveangels]

I would never go to one of these. This sort of playing with peoples’ minds is not what real Christianity is about. I’m very happy that the internet exists to warn me off stuff like this.

 

[DebChris]

I would never go to one of these. This sort of playing with peoples’ minds is not what real Christianity is about. I’m very happy that the internet exists to warn me off stuff like this.

Cursillo is not about playing with people’s minds. It is a Course in Basic Christianity that is recognized by the heirachary of the Church as an authentic movement of the Holy Spirit.

 

[iloveangels]

Cursillo is not about playing with people’s minds. It is a Course in Basic Christianity that is recognized by the heirachary of the Church as an authentic movement of the Holy Spirit.

Nonsense. It’s a fad. No cursillo for me.

No messages from home that they spring on me to make me feel overwhelmed, appreciated, yada yada after being isolated for days. No sleeping in gyms. No secrecy about what goes on. None of that for me. Yeah, I’ve read about it before.

We don’t have this around here and if we did, I wouldn’t do it. Christianity is NOT all about feelings.

If I can’t walk across the street at will, or have an hour of privacy, or use my cell phone when I want to, count me out. No deal.

 

[DebChris]

Nonsense. It’s a fad. No cursillo for me.

No messages from home that they spring on me to make me feel overwhelmed, appreciated, yada yada after being isolated for days. No sleeping in gyms. No secrecy about what goes on. None of that for me. Yeah, I’ve read about it before.

We don’t have this around here and if we did, I wouldn’t do it. Christianity is NOT all about feelings.

If I can’t walk across the street at will, or have an hour of privacy, or use my cell phone when I want to, count me out. No deal.

Cursillo is more than a fad. It is a lay movement that started in Spain in the 1930s and has become international. The first Cursillo conducted in English was in 1961. Yes, candidates may have to sleep in a gym, or they may be housed in a retreat center with their own room. Nobody is forced to make Cursillo. The basic weekend is three days. It includes time for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, spiritual direction, and communal prayer, as well as talks on Catholic Christianity. Other denominations have begun to have their own Cursillo weekends.

If you’re not willing to set aside your cell phone or other daily accoutrements, than you are right. Cursillo is not for you. It does involve a bit of dying to self. Even when I make a retreat, I go with the idea of getting away from the world. It is a time for me to be with my God. I don’t go with the idea that I will spend some time on retreat and some time talking to family and friends that I may have left at home. Some of the weekend retreats I have made were silent retreats in which nobody talked throughout the weekend. These were guided retreats in which participants reflected on the talks which we attended during the weekend. A bell summoned us for talks, meals, and prayers. We listend to John Powell, or some other recording while eating. Even when I drove myself, I did not think about my car sitting in the parking lot.

Cursillo, likewise, is a time to be with others who want to learn more about our Faith. One of the differences between Cursillo and a retreat is the follow up. The high that may be experienced will not last when we return to the valley and our daily lives.
Formation in faith lasts a lifetime. This is what the fourth day is about. None of us journeys alone. We rely on one another for encouragement during our daily struggles. We hold each other accountable. Weekend reunions and ultreyas focus on the three pillars of Cursillo. These three pillars are piety, study, and action. How is our prayer life evolving (piety)? What have we learned about our faith? What spiritual books are are reading? How are we living our faith and sharing it with others (action)? I have not been able to meet with my reunion group since accepting employment overseas. We would meet Saturday mornings for coffee and discussions about our faith.

Do you need to make Cursillo in order to share your faith with others? Of course not. It’s nice to know that you have friends with whom to discuss spiritual matters. Overseas, I belong to HOLD (Handmaids of the Lord) which is a part of Couples for Christ. We do something similar (sharing our faith) when we meet in Household. Couples for Christ also holds monthly meetings and frequent conferences. There are definitely other ways to grow in faith besides Cursillo.

 

[DebChris]

Cursillo is more than a fad. It is a lay movement that started in Spain in the 1930s and has become international. The first Cursillo conducted in English was in 1961. Yes, candidates may have to sleep in a gym, or they may be housed in a retreat center with their own room. Nobody is forced to make Cursillo. The basic weekend is three days. It includes time for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, spiritual direction, and communal prayer, as well as talks on Catholic Christianity. Other denominations have begun to have their own Cursillo weekends.

If you’re not willing to set aside your cell phone or other daily accoutrements, than you are right. Cursillo is not for you. It does involve a bit of dying to self. Even when I make a retreat, I go with the idea of getting away from the world. It is a time for me to be with my God. I don’t go with the idea that I will spend some time on retreat and some time talking to family and friends that I may have left at home. Some of the weekend retreats I have made were silent retreats in which nobody talked throughout the weekend. These were guided retreats in which participants reflected on the talks which we attended during the weekend. A bell summoned us for talks, meals, and prayers. We listend to John Powell, or some other recording while eating. Even when I drove myself, I did not think about my car sitting in the parking lot.

Cursillo, likewise, is a time to be with others who want to learn more about our Faith. One of the differences between Cursillo and a retreat is the follow up. The high that may be experienced will not last when we return to the valley and our daily lives.
Formation in faith lasts a lifetime. This is what the fourth day is about. None of us journeys alone. We rely on one another for encouragement during our daily struggles. We hold each other accountable. Weekend reunions and ultreyas focus on the three pillars of Cursillo. These three pillars are piety, study, and action. How is our prayer life evolving (piety)? What have we learned about our faith? What spiritual books are are reading? How are we living our faith and sharing it with others (action)? I have not been able to meet with my reunion group since accepting employment overseas. We would meet Saturday mornings for coffee and discussions about our faith.

Do you need to make Cursillo in order to share your faith with others? Of course not. It’s nice to know that you have friends with whom to discuss spiritual matters. Overseas, I belong to HOLD (Handmaids of the Lord) which is a part of Couples for Christ. We do something similar (sharing our faith) when we meet in Household. Couples for Christ also holds monthly meetings and frequent conferences. There are definitely other ways to grow in faith besides Cursillo.

 

[gh4]

Nonsense. It’s a fad. No cursillo for me.

No messages from home that they spring on me to make me feel overwhelmed, appreciated, yada yada after being isolated for days. No sleeping in gyms. No secrecy about what goes on. None of that for me. Yeah, I’ve read about it before.

We don’t have this around here and if we did, I wouldn’t do it. Christianity is NOT all about feelings.

If I can’t walk across the street at will, or have an hour of privacy, or use my cell phone when I want to, count me out. No deal.

While I don’t necessarily agree that it’s a fad, I do believe that you are probably making a wise decision to not attend. Had I known that I would have nary a moment of time to myself, I would not have attended.
And if by reading this thread, you have been saved from some of the hurt I’ve felt, then all that I put into this is worth it.
Cursillo is not for everyone, and it’s nice that you have enough info to be able to discern if it’s for you or not.

 

[KimberlyAnn0218]

Nonsense. It’s a fad. No cursillo for me.

No messages from home that they spring on me to make me feel overwhelmed, appreciated, yada yada after being isolated for days. No sleeping in gyms. No secrecy about what goes on. None of that for me. Yeah, I’ve read about it before.

We don’t have this around here and if we did, I wouldn’t do it. Christianity is NOT all about feelings.

If I can’t walk across the street at will, or have an hour of privacy, or use my cell phone when I want to, count me out. No deal.

This response illustrates my concern about the tone of this thread, no offense iloveangels. What point I have been trying to make is some people go to bad Cursillos-gh4 did. Some went to “ok” Cursillos, and some of us went to Cursillos that were wonderful, without having personal items taken away or mind-control techniques as someone put it. We could walk and pray and grow in community. No guards. The bottom line is do your homework. Don’t judge based on the internet. That is true for many things. Just because I belive Cursillo is wonderful doesn’t mean it is so and the opposite is every bit as true as well.

 

[gh4]

This response illustrates my concern about the tone of this thread, no offense iloveangels. What point I have been trying to make is some people go to bad Cursillos-gh4 did. Some went to “ok” Cursillos, and some of us went to Cursillos that were wonderful, without having personal items taken away or mind-control techniques as someone put it. We could walk and pray and grow in community. No guards. The bottom line is do your homework. Don’t judge based on the internet. That is true for many things. Just because I belive Cursillo is wonderful doesn’t mean it is so and the opposite is every bit as true as well.

If you don’t make your decision to go or not to go on the information you get from the internet, you sure won’t get much info from people who have been. That’s been the constant thread through this whole thing, people WON’T TELL YOU WHAT’S IS GOING TO HAPPEN. So you must get your information somewhere.

I think most people who have been will tell you that there isn’t much alone time at a Cursillo. And when you look at the way it’s set up with all the talks that you get in 3 days, there really can’t be much time to be alone. The three days are set up so that you are almost constantly listening to a talk or drawing posters. Either the 14 that are given by the lay people, or the 8 or 10 that are given by the Priest and Deacon. Some people will talk for longer periods of time than others and you might get breaks if that happens to you.

So, there’s a good chance you will have very little time to yourself, in my case, 0 time. So if you need personal time and space like you need to breath air and drink water, Cursillo will probably make you unhappy. And no one will tell you this to your face. We’ve already determined that, people want to keep this a BIG SECRET, and sometimes big secrets are bad things.

 

[Jeremiah1278]

. . .
We don’t have this around here and if we did, I wouldn’t do it. Christianity is NOT all about feelings.

. . .

I think Cursillo gets that reputation because of the intensity and activity of the 3 days. There’s lots of sharing. Maybe some over-sharing if you are with someone comfortable with sharing. Some people find it very cathartic and sense they are in a safe environment so they get share-y. Lots of expressing feelings to one another when you are in an intense learning environment and the topic is how to be better Christians. But the primary goal of Cursillo is to give folks the tools to create Christian environments in their own secular worlds. In other words, it tries to help you live a Christian life—give you some tools to be a more diligent Christ follower—but without the vows and structure of, say, something like Opus Dei. So it’s much more about action then it is about feelings. But I can see why people associate “feelings” with the movement. And I can see why the expression of emotion would make others uncomfortable. I certainly didn’t feel inclined to over-share, but when someone is pouring themselves out to me, I definitely wanted to be there for them. I think one thing I learned from the Cursillo weekend is that I needed to be a lot better at being there for other Christians, rather than plugging along in a self-centered manner trying to figure out this existence on my own. I do have a greater sense of being part of an actual Christian community.

 

[DebChris]

Just wanted to share this from the 4th Day newsletter that I receive:

if we walk our journey of life following Christ and utilizing the Cursillo method of meeting weekly in small groups and if we share with each other our piety, study and action, we have the opportunity for the Christ who dewlls in us to encounter the Christ who dwells in them. In other words, when we share with each other how we are communicating with God, and how God is both revealing Himself to us and revealing ourselves to us and we discuss how we are attempting to bring Christ to others we all raise each other up to places that, without Christ in our life, we could never be.

Like the first verse in the song,“You Raise Me Up”], I can assure you that when we are down and our souls are weary, and when troubles come and our hearts are burdened, our brothers and sisters in Christ that we meet with each week have the opportunity to bring Christ to us. Furthermore, we know that when we encounter the Christ, present, alive and real in them, it will in fact raise us up.

Mt: 11:28
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”

 

[tafan]

I think Cursillo gets that reputation because of the intensity and activity of the 3 days. There’s lots of sharing. Maybe some over-sharing if you are with someone comfortable with sharing. Some people find it very cathartic and sense they are in a safe environment so they get share-y. Lots of expressing feelings to one another when you are in an intense learning environment and the topic is how to be better Christians. But the primary goal of Cursillo is to give folks the tools to create Christian environments in their own secular worlds. In other words, it tries to help you live a Christian life—give you some tools to be a more diligent Christ follower—but without the vows and structure of, say, something like Opus Dei. So it’s much more about action then it is about feelings. But I can see why people associate “feelings” with the movement. And I can see why the expression of emotion would make others uncomfortable. I certainly didn’t feel inclined to over-share, but when someone is pouring themselves out to me, I definitely wanted to be there for them. I think one thing I learned from the Cursillo weekend is that I needed to be a lot better at being there for other Christians, rather than plugging along in a self-centered manner trying to figure out this existence on my own. I do have a greater sense of being part of an actual Christian community.

I have a hard time seeing how a lot of expressing of feelings and “sharing” happens at the same time as an intense learning environment. This whole thing is so confusing.
We have some people who go, and while expressing that everything taught is 100% Catholic, admit that it is Catholocism 101. Nothing wrong with this, we all need to focus on the basics at times. And that seems to go along with the expressions of emotions that people on both sides seem to indicate occur.

On the other hand, others refer to it has quite intellectually deep, ie Intense learning. But while coloring posters?

 

[DebChris]

I have a hard time seeing how a lot of expressing of feelings and “sharing” happens at the same time as an intense learning environment. This whole thing is so confusing.
We have some people who go, and while expressing that everything taught is 100% Catholic, admit that it is Catholocism 101. Nothing wrong with this, we all need to focus on the basics at times. And that seems to go along with the expressions of emotions that people on both sides seem to indicate occur.

On the other hand, others refer to it has quite intellectually deep, ie Intense learning. But while coloring posters?

There has been much focus on this thread about “posters.” It is common practice in education today to give group presentations. This is also true in business in which individuals or teams give visual presentations. Even look to the current presidential election in which Paul Ryan is portrayed as using graphic presentations when addressing Congress.
When there is time, a person may create a Powerpoint or other computer generated presentation to enhance his/her presentation to a group. As already mentioned on this thread, small table groups present to the larger group the results of their discussions. Posters provide a visual representation of that discussion. It is not unlike what is done even in college courses or business conferences. Yes, I was the oldest student in my Master’s program when I recently returned and graduated from school.
As Jerimiah has mentioned in his posts, there is a focus during Cursillo on team building. As Christians we are part of a community. Each of us is part of the Body of Christ. None of us journeys alone. One of the ideas that came from Cursillo for me is “Indenpendence” as another name for “loneliness.” We should be striving for interdependence which differs substantially from co-dependence.
Like gh4, I too have lived alone for almost 30 years. I know the benefits of solitude. From a book of the same title, I learned that being alone can also mean being “all one” with our God. There is a time for solitude. There is also a time when we need to come out of our comfort zones to share our gifts with the world.

Many college students will tell you that 101 courses can be more challenging than upper level clases. They provide the groundwork for more focused instruction later.

 

[iloveangels]

Cursillo is more than a fad. It is a lay movement that started in Spain in the 1930s and has become international. The first Cursillo conducted in English was in 1961. Yes, candidates may have to sleep in a gym, or they may be housed in a retreat center with their own room. Nobody is forced to make Cursillo. The basic weekend is three days. It includes time for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, spiritual direction, and communal prayer, as well as talks on Catholic Christianity. Other denominations have begun to have their own Cursillo weekends.

If you’re not willing to set aside your cell phone or other daily accoutrements, than you are right. Cursillo is not for you. It does involve a bit of dying to self. Even when I make a retreat, I go with the idea of getting away from the world. It is a time for me to be with my God. I don’t go with the idea that I will spend some time on retreat and some time talking to family and friends that I may have left at home. Some of the weekend retreats I have made were silent retreats in which nobody talked throughout the weekend. These were guided retreats in which participants reflected on the talks which we attended during the weekend. A bell summoned us for talks, meals, and prayers. We listend to John Powell, or some other recording while eating. Even when I drove myself, I did not think about my car sitting in the parking lot.

Cursillo, likewise, is a time to be with others who want to learn more about our Faith. One of the differences between Cursillo and a retreat is the follow up. The high that may be experienced will not last when we return to the valley and our daily lives.
Formation in faith lasts a lifetime. This is what the fourth day is about. None of us journeys alone. We rely on one another for encouragement during our daily struggles. We hold each other accountable. Weekend reunions and ultreyas focus on the three pillars of Cursillo. These three pillars are piety, study, and action. How is our prayer life evolving (piety)? What have we learned about our faith? What spiritual books are are reading? How are we living our faith and sharing it with others (action)? I have not been able to meet with my reunion group since accepting employment overseas. We would meet Saturday mornings for coffee and discussions about our faith.

Do you need to make Cursillo in order to share your faith with others? Of course not. It’s nice to know that you have friends with whom to discuss spiritual matters. Overseas, I belong to HOLD (Handmaids of the Lord) which is a part of Couples for Christ. We do something similar (sharing our faith) when we meet in Household. Couples for Christ also holds monthly meetings and frequent conferences. There are definitely other ways to grow in faith besides Cursillo.

This is not “dying to yourself” in the religious sense. This is tying yourself to the psychological railroad tracks and daring the big black train of peer pressure and manipulation to come out and get you. Encounter groups of all kinds, stripes and flavors are a bad idea for amateurs.

Some people call it an experience. It probably is that. Some people call it enjoyable which just goes to confirm that there’s no accounting for taste. But it is secretive and there is a lot of peer pressure to conform, and that’s clear. That’s the POINT of amateur encounter groups. If you groove on psychological manipulation, you’ll probably like them, not that they’re particularly good or even moral. Much of what goes on in an encounter group can be given a religious veneer, this is true, but most of it is not particularly religious in nature.

Gh4, thank you. My point exactly. The internet is a great thing because it helps people to make more informed and well-reasoned judgments about things like precisely this. The chances of innocently (ignorantly!) walking into an encounter group atmosphere like this are hopefully just a little bit less because of the internet.

 

[Jeremiah1278]

I have a hard time seeing how a lot of expressing of feelings and “sharing” happens at the same time as an intense learning environment. This whole thing is so confusing.
We have some people who go, and while expressing that everything taught is 100% Catholic, admit that it is Catholocism 101. Nothing wrong with this, we all need to focus on the basics at times. And that seems to go along with the expressions of emotions that people on both sides seem to indicate occur.

On the other hand, others refer to it has quite intellectually deep, ie Intense learning. But while coloring posters?

I guess I don’t understand why you think intense learning and sharing personal experiences or feelings are mutually exclusive in the context of a spiritual weekend like this. I would think the two coexist just fine. Maybe you are imagining folks being such emotional wrecks that they are unable to participate in discussion about their faith? Or do you mean that study of faith should be totally separated from discussions of personal things?

 

[Jeremiah1278]

… If you groove on psychological manipulation, you’ll probably like them, not that they’re particularly good or even moral. …

How was I psychologically manipulated during my weekend? Can you recount it for me? I didn’t quite pick up on it while I was there, so I’m hoping you can take me through it.

 

[iloveangels]

How was I psychologically manipulated during my weekend? Can you recount it for me? I didn’t quite pick up on it while I was there, so I’m hoping you can take me through it.

Most Americans at some point or another have been exposed to some small number of encounter group techniques, which vary from person to person. Some people really like those kinds of experiences. You may be one of the minority of people who like encounter group experiences and do not naturally regard them as dangerous as they are.

The fact that you were sequestered from others (your normal associates, family) during the procedure, the fact that outside communication was cut off (cell phone), the fact that you were put through various types of directed experiences in a group setting, the fact that you were deprived of private sleep and maybe your sleep time was curtailed somewhat, the fact that you were expected to go along with whatever happened unquestioningly…all those are signs that you were expected to suspend your own psychological apparatus… and you probably did for those hours or even days.

I don’t do encounter groups. Amateur encounter groups are very, very dangerous. You should do some research into this topic because you are obviously not very aware of any of this, and that’s reasonably serious in this day and age.