What is Cursillo?

Cursillo is a movement of the whole Church which helps us to develop our life of Christian faith and encourages us to be active for Christ. It depends upon the co-operation of, and is led by, both lay people and clergy. This range of experience enriches our worship and our fellowship. Anglican Cursillo in England is based upon Anglican Dioceses. It has been running in Ely Diocese since the 1990s.

Cursillo is a Spanish word (pronounced kur-see-yo) which means "short course". The full title (Cursillo in Christianidad) means "a short course in being a Christian". It originated in post-war Spain, hence its name, but it is now an international movement.

The Aim of Cursillo is:

Make a friend, be a friend, bring a friend to Jesus!

"To reawaken people to the calling they received in their baptism to be witnesses for Christ, to give them the stimulus to plan ways of doing this, and to provide support structures through which they can encourage each other and hold each other accountable before God for their lives as Christian witnesses."
Revd Canon Christopher Lewis, "Cursillo, a Sabbatical Study Report", 1991

Cursillo helps us:

• To grow into a deeper relationship with God through the person of Jesus Christ.
• To discover our personal vocations and to develop our individual gifts for Christian service and leadership.
• To become more effective witnesses to Jesus Christ in our lives.
• To bring about and to strengthen Christian commitment within a Community of Faith.
• To build up the witness of the Church in the world that both may be renewed and transformed.

The Cursillo Method

Cursillo is for those members of congregations who are already committed in their Christian lives. It is part of the Church, so we encourage people to be active participants in their church communities. We are nurtured and sustained by teaching, prayer, the sacraments and spiritual direction; and by the mutual support of small and larger groups of fellow Christians.

The basic method is an equal emphasis upon:

• piety (our prayer)
• study
• action

All three are important.

 

Mission Statement

Anglican Cursillo is... a movement of the Church providing a method by which Christians are empowered to grow through prayer, study and action and enabled to share Gods love with everyone