IN 1939, AS THE Spanish Civil War drew to a close, Spain’s Roman Catholic Church was recovering from three years of severe persecution, during which over 6,500 clergy were killed by the Socialist Republicans. At the same time, the ascendant Nazi fascist regime in Germany displayed a similar hostility toward religion, especially the clergy. Understandably, the typical Catholic at that time desperately needed spiritual renewal and hope. In Mallorca, a movement began that was more than a retreat, it was a once in a lifetime course designed to renew, revive and hearten the faithful to live their faith with confidence and conviction.
The Cursillo, or “short course” in Spanish, had such a powerful impact on participants in the spiritual revitalization and encouraging “Cursistas” to be more Christ-centered and Christ-like, that in 1963 Pope Paul VI gave Cursillo formal Church approval.
TRACEY ROCHA (PICTURED WITH LOUIE SUNIGA) HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE CURSILLO MOVEMENT SINCE 2008. PHOTO COURTESY OF TRACEY ROCHA
While it has its roots as a response to a time of persecution, today, the worldwide Cursillo movement can be likened to a pick-me-up for everyday Catholics whose spiritual connections need a recharge.
Or, as in the case of Tracey Rocha of St. Martin de Porres parish in Yorba Linda, it can be life-altering.
“When I lived my Cursillo in April 2008,” she said, “my life and marriage were upside down. My good friends Bill and Billie Crawford sponsored me for a weekend, and over the three days my life started to piece together again. What changed through Cursillo was my focus. I started to go from what I wanted to discover where God was calling me. It deepened my relationship with the Church, the sacraments and understanding of my role as a lay person in the Church.”
Cursillo isn’t a retreat; it’s the start of a journey meant to last a lifetime. It can only be experienced once. Many Cursistas call it “Living my Cursillo” acknowledging that the weekend is a new beginning, learning the tools to live a life in Christ more profoundly.
To stay engaged with Cursillo, Cursistas can serve on the team for a weekend – cooking, giving talks or facilitating the experience of those in their care. Dr. Patricia Ahearn, a physician in San Juan Capistrano, has been lay director of the Orange County Cursillo since 2022. The world was returning from the COVID-19 pandemic, and Cursillo team members had used the time to remodel and update Divine Word Retreat Center in La Sierra (near Loma Linda University).
“I think that Cursillo is an amazing opportunity to feel that unconditional love of God through the community and become closer to Christ,” said Ahearn. “It is a way of supercharging our spirituality and faith and can be life changing. It’s an opportunity to take your faith to the next level and grow in relationship with Jesus.”
Candidates must be baptized Catholics, not necessarily practicing Catholics, but should be open to receiving the Spirit. They must also be healthy enough to be present for the weekend and not immune compromised. There is no elevator, but there is an uphill route to the second story, and team members are always there to assist. Each weekend serves somewhere between 20 and 40 people.
The days begin with Mass and breakfast, followed by courses with lunch breaks. There is also time for Confession and personal reflection; most of the time is spent in a classroom setting enjoying talks given by the clergy or lay team members and group discussion. The weekends are either men or women only, and accommodations are dorm-like, with twin beds and shared bathroom facilities. Cellphones and electronic devices are not permitted, but there are emergency numbers for family members. The idea is to pause the rest of the world for three days to be focused entirely on your relationship with Jesus.
The next English language men’s retreat is the weekend of April 10-13, and the women’s retreat is April 24-27. Cursillos are also given in Spanish and Vietnamese.
The best way to participate is to contact the Cursillo representative at your parish, or if your parish doesn’t have a rep, a nearby parish will. They will help you find a sponsor to prepare you for the retreat and drive you to and from Divine Word. The suggested donation for the weekend is $200. However, people are encouraged to attend regardless of their ability to pay.
One of the best aspects of Cursillo is what is called “Grouping.” Cursistas are encouraged to find four to six friends willing to meet every week, either at a restaurant for a meal or at home to share how they have lived their Cursillo the previous week. It becomes a form of spiritual direction and a close-knit group of like-minded friends who hold each other in Christ’s arms through life’s ups and downs. Many groups have been together for 20 years or more. To learn more visit https://www.natl-cursillo.org/