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At any parish in the Albany Diocese, it's likely there's a member of Cursillo: More than 1,000 local Catholics have made the retreat weekends since the lay movement's introduction here in 1970, and dozens are involved in reunions and ongoing faith-sharing groups.

Participation in Cursillo had fallen in recent years, but it now appears to be on the upswing. Leaders say the "Called to be Church" pastoral planning process that led to closing or merging 35 churches since 2006 actually had a positive effect on Cursillo.

"When a parish closes, you don't ever lose Cursillo," said Nancy Cullings, the new area lay director for the movement and a parishioner of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Albany. "It adds so much depth and meaning to your life, and you come to understand that your faith is so much more than going to church on Sunday."

"Cursillo de Cristiandad" is Spanish for "short course of Christianity." The movement was founded in Spain in the 1940s to renew people's enthusiasm for the faith. Today, weekend retreats initiate members and teach them a three-point method - piety, study and action - to help them grow in their faith, bring Christ to their environments and become leaders in the Catholic community.

What it is
Cursillo is in line with Catholic teaching. The Diocese recognizes it as a valid lay organization. But "Cursillistas," as members call themselves, have a hard time explaining the multi-faceted movement to outsiders, so critics sometimes see them as secretive.

"It's just an extension of the Church," Mrs. Cullings said. "We don't have an agenda. You can be any kind of Catholic that you want to be."

A typical three-day Cursillo weekend starts with retreatants getting to know one another and analyzing their lives to spark a desire to become closer to God. Presentations follow on ideals, the laity serving as "Church in the world," holiness, grace and faith; small groups hold table discussions about their understanding of the talks. Later presentations focus on taking the message out into the world through leadership and evangelization, as well as gatherings with others who have made Cursillos.

Mrs. Cullings made a Cursillo weekend in 1995 and fondly recalls the liturgies, healing services, music, witness talks and opportunities for sacraments and spiritual guidance.

"Some people say it's the thing that changed their life," she said. "It's a mountaintop experience. I put it up there with my wedding and the birth of my children."

God lessons
She said the Holy Spirit can be felt through the presence of the Cursillo leaders and the worldwide network of members who are instructed to pray whenever a weekend is occurring.

"You just feel overwhelmed with love," she told The Evangelist. "You're in a safe place where you can share [and] you realize that so many people have been through the same situations. God is there through everything."

Mrs. Cullings had struggled with her work, which involves dealing with abused and neglected children. The weekend taught her that "our religion is practical [and] everything in life is part of God's plan. We don't know the outcome, but God knows the outcome. We have to do our best and stand up against evil."

Being involved with group reunions and monthly "Ultreya" meetings with the larger Cursillo community has also helped Mrs. Cullings handle problems like relocating and her husband's vision loss.

Cursillistas are "the people who are there for you," she said. "It makes it a lot easier. You feel like they are your brothers and sisters in Christ."

Kim Gray is a member of the leadership board for Albany Cursillo. She made a Cursillo weekend in 2007.

"It surpassed my expectations," Ms. Gray recalled. "It was extremely prayerful and it made our faith seem so special."

Aftereffects
Jesus was the "focal point of the weekend," she said. "Although we read the Gospel at Mass, He was not always the person I prayed to. [I learned] that we're carrying on as Christians what He was on earth to do. It clicked."

After the experience, Ms. Gray joined the evangelization team and other ministries at her former parish, St. James in Chatham. She also conquered a lifelong fear of public speaking, which helped her earn a promotion at work, and she became more comfortable with talking about the faith.

"I open up at work now," she said. "I use discretion, but I'm not afraid to say, 'I'll pray for you.'"

Ms. Gray said Cursillo is a way to "take responsibility for our faith," because "if it's stagnant, it will die."

Mrs. Cullings said the "fourth day," as members call life after the retreat, is all about balance.

Cursillo "provides the spiritual aspect to life that you don't get in the world today," she said. "You turn on the TV and there's so much garbage. Life has become very superficial, very fast. Cursillo gives you a chance to reflect on what's really important in life and to act on it."[[In-content Ad]]

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