Our History
Cursillo is a ministry of the Episcopal Church, under the authority of the Presiding Bishop and the Diocesan Bishops. It is a ministry of laity and clergy within and governed by the Church.
The Cursillo ministry was developed in Spain in the years immediately after the end of World War II. That explains why some of the words of the ministry are Spanish words, including the word, Cursillo itself. Cursillo is a Spanish word that means a short course in Christian living.
In the Episcopal Church Cursillo is a means for Christians to live out their Baptismal Covenant as expressed in the Book of Common Prayer. Cursillo is not a new type of spirituality, but simply a method through which one’s spirituality may be developed, lived and shared in the various areas of human life.
The short course in Christian living (Cursillo) includes a weekend in which participants learn, are inspired, and encouraged to live out their Baptismal Covenant through a series of short talks, discussions and meditations.
However, the weekend is simply a catalyst for the real centerpiece of the Cursillo Ministry which is referred to as “the Fourth Day” which is the rest of the participants’ lives as they live out their Baptismal Covenant in the various environments is which they live, work, learn, worship, relax and socialize. The Spanish word for those who’ve attended a Cursillo weekend is Cursillista, meaning a member of a course. A Cursillista is, in effect, an alumnus of a Cursillo weekend.
To encourage, develop, empower, and sustain Cursillistas as they live out their Baptismal Covenant, Cursillistas are encouraged to participate in small group reunions with their respective parishes and also participate in periodic gatherings called Ultreyas, which means, “Onward.” Participation in reunions and ultreyas are a means for Cursillistas to maintain a connection with community as they go about influencing others through their words and deeds.