Cursillo is a three-day weekend, held at DaySpring Conference Center in Ellenton, which begins on Thursday evening and ends on Sunday. During the three days, participants hear a variety of talks given by lay persons and clergy, who have spent time working together, planning and preparing for the Weekend. A Cursillo Weekend is not a retreat, with fasting or extended periods of silence. Rather, it is an experience in Christian education, where participants have an opportunity to meet clergy and laity who are seeking to strengthen their faith. Shared prayer, worship, study, music, fellowship, laughter, and tears all work together to create a loving atmosphere where one can feel the reality of God's free and unconditional love. The Holy Eucharist is celebrated daily.
The first Cursillo Weekends were developed in the Roman Catholic Church in Majorca, Spain. Cursillo was brought to the United States by Spanish airmen who were stationed at air bases in Texas in the early 1940's. The first official Cursillo Weekend in the Episcopal Church (in English) was conducted with the help of Roman Catholic sponsors in the Diocese of Iowa. The first Cursillo in the Diocese of Southwest Florida was held in 1978 with the help of a team from the Diocese of Central Florida.
Participants, who return from the weekend with a renewed commitment to work for Christ, are encouraged to look for opportunities in their home churches and communities to follow the great commission of Christ: that we should be in the world to make disciples of all people, ministering God's redemptive gifts of love and grace.
Cursillo provides a community of friends who provide each other strength and support in these efforts, so that each person may grow in faith and develop his/her own special gifts of ministry. This community meets in two types of groups:
?Cursillo is open to all adult Episcopalians, who attend a church where a member of the clergy staff has gone to Cursillo. Clergy and laity who are seeking a way to deepen their faith or who wish to expand their knowledge of the Christian life are invited to join the fellowship. Husbands and wives may attend the same Cursillo weekend or may go on separate weekends.
Each participant has a sponsor, who has attended a Cursillo weekend. The sponsor assists you in preparation for the weekend and after the weekend. If you know someone from your parish who has attended a Cursillo, you can ask them about it. They can answer your questions and help you determine if you would like to go. You may also ask your priest about Cursillo. If you don't know a person to sponsor you, your priest may make a suggestion. If you decide that you would like to attend a Cursillo, your sponsor can provide you with the application.
The current cost to participants for a Cursillo weekend in the Diocese of Southwest Florida is $125 per person. This includes lodging and all meals at DaySpring, for the three days. Special needs (such as diet restrictions or mobility problems) can be accommodated. Be sure to note any special needs on the application.