ALC's Cursillo Community
Our Parish Representative is Gary Gurwell
Next ALC Ultreya is Feb 11th, at 5:00 PM in Fellowship Hall
Next Weekends:
Men - October 3-6
Women - Oct 10-13
Cursillo: What it is and is not
Cursillo is a movement started by a laymen's group in Majorca in the early 1940s. Clergy actively supported the movement, and provided Spiritual guidance Cursillo was based on the purpose of making "Christian Community" possible in neighborhoods, parishes, work situations and other places where people live the greater part of their lives.
After its start in Majorca, Cursillo quickly spread to mainland Spain. It came to the US a few yeas later when Spanish military came here to train in our advanced airplanes. That is why the movement and some of its activities have Spanish names. Although originally a Catholic movement, it became fully ecumenical, adopted by many Protestant denominations. Each denomination has its own "Expression', carefully structured to avoid any inter-denominational traditions that might conflict with the member's pursuit of enhancing the participant's relationship with Christ. Our Grand Canyon Synod's Expression in this area is called the Lutheran Cursillo Movement of Arizona, and held its first Weekend in March 1982. Prior to his becoming our Bishop, Steve Talmadge - then Pastor of Peace Lutheran - has been Spiritual Director on several Weekends, and has been Spiritual Advisor for a few retreats for our ALC community.
In congregations, participation in the movement starts for individuals by attending a 3 day, 3 night class, called "A Weekend". The Men's Weekend is followed two weeks later by the Women's Weekend. Every day following graduation is called "The 4th Day", and each Congregation's group of weekend graduates is called a Community.
The Weekend consists of 15 lectures, separated by prayer, eating, sleeping, quiet time for individual reflection, and, of course, great fellowship. Class lessons are structured so that the emphasis is on Christ and His teachings. Although the movement is a Layman's movement, and classes are taught primarily by Laypersons, Each Weekend has at least one Pastor as Spiritual Director, often there are three Pastors active on the Weekend.
Cursillo is NOT a "secret" organization - there is no password, handshake or anything that would be associated with a sect, or lodge of any kind. The only things we keep private are some pleasant surprises provided in the teaching process which enhance the learning experience. To discuss them openly would remove the surprise, and weaken the effectiveness of the presentations. An analogy would be: knowing what a Christmas present was before opening the gift. No surprise is made in a way that would embarrass or cause an individual or group the slightest discomfort.
Cursillistas (that is Spanish for "Those who who have completed the Weekend") meet weekly in small "Groups" (3 to 8 participants.) Our ALC Cursillo Community has 5 "Ultreyas" (Spanish for Onward, and refers to Reunions of the Groups) each year. These are held in the active season - November thru April. The ALC usually holds a retreat in lieu of an Ultreya in March. If you are a member of ALC, and interested in learning more about Cursillo, contact the ALC Parish Rep (email alcscaz@aol.com.) He will see that you are provided with more information.