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Fifty Catholics from parishes all over the Albany Diocese who call themselves "Cursillistas" met at Transfiguration parish in Speigletown/Schaghticoke at the end of April for an inspiring Cursillo workshop.

Cursillo is a movement in the Catholic Church that started in Spain in the 1940s to renew people's enthusiasm for the faith. The Cursillo movement is intended to help all Catholics develop a thorough understanding of what it means to live a Christian life in everyday situations. It provides a method to transform all aspects of society through prayer and the development of small Christian communities.

Eventually, Cursillo came to America. In the Albany Diocese, the first Cursillo retreat weekend was held in 1974. Cursillistas are those who have experienced a Cursillo retreat.

Retreat weekends are held each year -- one for men and one for women. They introduce a three-point method of piety, study and action to help participants grow in their faith and bring Christ to their environments.

Those who attended the recent workshop in Speigletown spent the day enthusiastically discussing a variety of Cursillo-related topics.

Regarding the time before a weekend, which is called "Precursillo," they discussed responsibilities for sponsoring a friend and preparing him or her for the Cursillo weekend. Another session focused on what happens during a Cursillo weekend and the role of table leaders, who promote community and are available to listen to those in attendance, so each person gets the most out of the weekend.

Afternoon workshop sessions centered on what happens "Postcursillo," after the weekend. Postcursillo is an opportunity to continue to grow in faith and community. There were talks about understanding the importance of coming together after a weekend in small groups, and about how monthly meetings as a larger group further strengthens and encourages us in living our Christian lives.

There will be two Cursillo retreat weekends in the Diocese this year. The men's weekend will be Aug. 24-27; the women's weekend, Sept. 28-Oct. 1. Both will be held at the Dominican Spiritual Life Center in Niska­yuna. To learn more about Cursillo in the Albany Diocese, contact Harrilyn Beehner, [email protected].

(The authors are lay directors for Cursillo.)[[In-content Ad]]

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