Honestly, Cursillo is mostly a spent force. In the DCNY a few years ago a Cursillo was cancelled because the rector of the weekend would not ask the bishop to give the Sacraments talk. Now, the way Cursillo works, the rector gets to choose his team, but in this case the Secretariat (the local board for Cursillo) demanded that the rector ask the bishop to give the Sacraments talk. When he refused, as was his right as the rector, they cancelled the weekend. The problem for the rector was that the bishop is called to be a symbol of unity but the bishop of the DCNY had become a symbol of disunity by his vote for Vicki Gene Robinson.
Cursillo is supposed to be an evangelistic movement, but what Cursillo has devolved into is a self-perpetuating movement whereby people don't evangelize, they instead ask their friends from their church to attend weekends and then join the Cursillo movement. The idea of make a friend, be a friend, bring a friend to Christ is largely lost. Cursillo has devolved into a bless me club for Cursillistas (those who have been through the Cursillo weekend) and those that they can persuade to attend a Cursillo weekend. When the team that leads the weekend is larger than the number of first-time participants a movement is in trouble. Cursillo is in trouble in many pecusa dioceses. ed.
Via VirtueOnline:
By STAFF WRITER,
Nassau Guardian
http://www.thenassauguardian.com/religion/355084010295344.php
The Anglican Diocesan Renewal Program encourages you to make a friend, be a friend and bring a friend to Christ, at Cursillo, a movement of the church, which aims to help those in the church understand their individual callings to be Christian leaders.
They say their leadership may be exercised in work situations, in the family and social life, in leisure activities, and within the church environment.
Leadership, in Cursillo, does not mean power over others, but influence on others, because everyone needs to be aware that we can exert a positive influence on those around us.
Goal of Cursillo The goal of Cursillo is the goal of the church - to bring all to Christ. This is done when informed, trained leaders set out with the support of others having a similar commitment.
What does Cursillo do? It helps to renew and deepen Christian commitment. Cursillo is one of many renewal movements. Many people have said Cursillo provides an important learning experience which causes many to feel like newly-made Christians with a purpose and with support.
What is the Cursillo Movement about? Cursillo is patterned on Jesus' own example. He searched out and called a small group of potential leaders (pre-Cursillo). He trained them by word and example and inspired them with a vision (Cursillo three-day weekend). He linked them together and sent them out into the world to bring the world to Him (post-Cursillo or the Fourth Day).
Pre-Cursillo During this period, sponsors (those individuals who have been to the three-day Cursillo weekend and are living the Fourth Day) identify those Episcopalians who are leading an active Christian life and are a living witness to their love for Christ, recommending their candidacy.
It is also the period that selected candidates are informed of what to expect at the three-day weekend and assisted in appropriate preparations.
The three-day weekend The Cursillo weekend brings together a diverse group of Episcopalians to share the richness of many modes of worship and to broaden each one's appreciation for our Church. Lay people conduct the weekend with two or three members of the clergy functioning as spiritual advisors.
Cursillo presumes that those who attend are already well grounded in the faith. It is not intended to be a conversion experience but an enriching and deepening of what is already there. It often provides new insights into our faith as well as fostering ministry among lay people.
The weekend begins Thursday evening, spent in the chapel with meditations, discussions, and compline. Then blessed silence is kept until after the worship on Friday morning. After breakfast participants are assigned to table groups for the weekend.
The three days are filled with talks and group discussions with emphasis on the doctrine of grace, the sacraments, and the great Cursillo tripod - piety, study, and action. Plus there is fellowship, singing, good food, and time for privacy, meditation, prayer, and walks. Eucharist is celebrated each day.
Post-Cursillo or Fourth Day The Cursillo weekend is not an end to itself. It is a starting point that lasts the rest of your life. It is a springboard to a long-range practice of the Baptismal Covenant in the life of the church called the Fourth Day.
The Fourth Day is composed of three major elements: The Group Reunion: The heart of Cursillo, is a small group of friends (usually three to five people) who meet weekly, and who hold each other accountable for their spiritual journey. They report on their piety, their study, and their apostolic action. A bonding develops that institutes a strong support group for life.
The Ultreya: Usually held monthly, is a "reunion of the reunions." It provides support and builds community by allowing the sharing of communal experiences.
Spiritual Direction: Is an important element of the Cursillo Movement. It is a commitment to seek out skilled lay persons or cleric for spiritual direction to provide help in deepening their union with Christ.
END
2 comments:
Cursillo is alive and well in the Diocese of South Carolina. Our church has ~200 Cursillistas with more at each of the 4 times the weekend is offered each year. These Christian leaders are active in ministry within and outside the church, making friends, being friends and bringing friends to Christ. Our Bishop is very supportive and has attended each Cursillo weekend since he was consecrated. I pray re-vitalization of Cursillo in those areas where it is "mostly a spent force." The force is the light of Christ.
Thanks for your comment, anon. Cursillo in the DCNY used to receive a disproportionate number of staff and candidates from two parishes that are two of the three that have left the diocese. Those two parishes are St. Andrew's in Syracuse and St. Andrew's (my parish) in Vestal. The leadership of Cursillo in the DCNY is now made up exclusively of those who are supportive of the schismatic actions of the bishop and delegates of the DCNY. Hence, the movement here is not in good hands.
I am happy to hear that Cursillo is active in the DSC. Having been active in Cursillo in three dioceses and having served on weekends in two of those dioceses, I can say from my personal experience that most candidates do not continue in the movement following the weekend. Second, those who do continue for the most part do not bring friends to Christ. The most supportive of Cursillistas do promote the weekends, but very few do much else that I have seen bring others to Christ. I am glad to hear that in the DSC Cursillistas are active witnesses for Christ.
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