The Cursillo in Christianity, is a movement of the Catholic Church whose mission is to spread the message of the Gospel. We are members of Philadelphia Archdiocese parishes who have attended a Cursillo weekend and are fulfilling a promise to be in a lifelong commitment of piety, study and action in our Catholic faith.
The word "Cursillo" means "Short Course." The longer version of Cursillo is "Cursillo de Christianidad," or "Short Course in Christianity." This movement came to Philadelphia 50 years ago, but originated in Spain long before, and has become a worldwide movement. Cursillistas are a group of people who are striving to support each other in living out their Christian faith in their everyday lives. The goal of Cursillo is to assist people of faith to "bloom where they are planted," and become more fully the unique person God created them to be.
To become a Cursillista, you must attend a Cursillo weekend. A Cursillo weekend begins on a Thursday evening and ending on Sunday. A team of 10-15 lay people and two spiritual directors (at least one of which is a Catholic priest) prepare and host the weekend for those attending. This "team" of Cursillistas gives talks on various aspects of Christian living and spirituality. Daily Mass is celebrated on the weekend, and time for prayer, study, reflection and fellowship is provided. Men's and women's weekends are held on separate weekends. All meals are provided and shared together
In Spain during the 1940’s a group of men, led by Eduardo Bonnin decided that many in the Catholic Church were not learning about their faith through traditional methods. It was decided that lay men might be able to communicate living their faith in a unique way that will help other men to learn how to encounter them self, encounter Christ and encounter others. After much prayer and effort, a short course in Christianity was developed, called Cursillo de Christiandad.
This course is given during the Cursillo Weekend: a combination of a traditional and communal retreat weekend. A few years later, the first Women’s Cursillo Weekend was developed in order to help Lay Women to learn about their faith with this unique method. With the ongoing support of clergy and the religious as Spiritual Advisors, Cursillo has been a transformative movement within our Catholic Church since its inception.
The Cursillo in Christianity is a movement of the Roman Catholic Church that is committed to helping each member to foster a deeper relationship with Christ, so that they can bring Christ into the everyday moments of their lives. Cursillo teaches us how to do this through our ongoing efforts of bringing the primary Charism of the movement into each encounter; that is helping one another to be Christian. In doing this, we help one another to become the person God created us to be.
O God, dispenser of all graces and charisms.
You granted your servant EDUARDO BONNIN AGUILO the grace of dedicating his whole life, with humility and generosity, to the work of the CURSILLOS IN CHRISTIANITY MOVEMENT, as he traveled the five continents proclaiming that God in Christ loves us.
Grant us through his intercession the favor that we now implore Thee.
(name the favor being requested in the silence of your heart)
Also, grant us the grace of his beatification for your greater glory and the good of your Church, that shines throughout the lives of its saints.
We beg this of You in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
