• Cursillo is a method of supporting and encouraging our lives as Christians.

• Cursillo (pronounced "kur-see-yo") is a Spanish word meaning a short course in Christianity.

WHAT DOES CURSILLO OFFER?

• An opportunity to grow in faith.

• A chance to know the love and grace of God and the joy of Christian fellowship.

• A way of experiencing Christian community and helping one another in our spiritual journey and in active witness.

• An opportunity to develop one's gifts of ministry in the Church.

• It embraces the insights and good teaching of all the traditions of the Anglican Church.

• It operates within the Church and not outside it, so it works together with groups and organisations in a parish.

WHO IS IT FOR?

• Any baptised member of the Anglican Church (laity or clergy) who is…

» Curious

» Searching

» Discovering

» Growing

» Wanting to be joyful and confident in their faith.

• Many married couples have found it helpful to attend a Cursillo weekend together, but if this is not possible they should not be discouraged from attending separate weekends.

WHAT IS A CURSILLO WEEKEND?

• It usually begins on a Thursday evening and ends the following Sunday afternoon (some bank holiday weekends run Friday to Monday).

• During these three days those attending live, work and worship together listening to talks given by different people, both lay and ordained, and they share in various social activities.

• You will hear short talks on subjects like Grace, Faith, Study, Sacraments, Ideals, Evangelism, Christian Community in Action. There are 15 talks in all.

• The talks usually lead to lively follow-up in small groups.

• In addition, there is Holy Communion each day and a number of chapel meditations.

• Learning, praying, sharing, singing, laughing and living together is the basis for discovering what it means to say "We are the body of Christ".

• From all this you will realise that Cursillo is very different from a silent retreat - it is often described as more of an advance!

HOW SHOULD I APPROACH A CURSILLO WEEKEND?

• There is no specific response expected of you - just to be open to what happens.

• Be prepared simply to take a fresh look at what the Church has always taught - the miraculous and joyful discovery of Christ's endless, unconditional love for us.

AND THEN...?

• The three days are not an end in themselves but very much a beginning. The three-day weekend leads into….

THE FOURTH DAY

• The Fourth Day is where we continue our journey together and is the most important part of Cursillo. Each individual is encouraged to grow in faith and develop their gifts of ministry through the support of:

• Group Reunions - frequent small group meetings for mutual encouragement and support through prayer and action. These are designed to help people live out their faith in the Church, their community and workplace.

• Area meetings (called Ultreyas) - larger gatherings 3 or 4 times a year for those who have been on a weekend or who might be interested in going. Here they can share, worship and learn together from each other.

• Personal Spiritual Direction - people are encouraged to find a spiritual 'soul friend', lay or ordained, who, from their experience and maturity, can help them along their Christian journey.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO ON A CURSILLO WEEKEND

• Cursillo weekends are run by York Anglican Cursillo at the York Diocesan Retreat House at Wydale Hall in Scarborough.

• Any of those on the Contacts page will let you have a list of dates and venues.

• Pray about it and seek God's guidance.

• Start going to a local Cursillo reunion group to see what it is like. Contacts us by e-mail for more details.