Workshops

The following workshops have been prepared by the National Staff of Cursillo on behalf of the National Secretariat as a service to Diocesan Movements. A brief summary is provided to describe the purpose of each workshop. Note that some workshops are given by the Regional Coordinator and Service Team; while others can be provided by the Diocesan Cursillo leadership. 

The workshops are made available to facilitate a unity of purpose and understanding of the mentality, essence, purpose, method, and overall Foundational Charism of Cursillo thus, enhancing the evangelization efforts of the Diocesan Movements to communicate the Good News of God’s love to the person through friendship. 

[R] These workshops are presented by the Regional Coordinator and Service Team. 

[D] These workshops can be presented by the Diocesan Movement leadership. However, the Diocesan Secretariat can request assistance from the Regional Service Team if deemed necessary. 

[N] National Language Coordinators are available to assist with any workshop at the request of the Diocesan Secretariat and/or the Regional Coordinator and Service Team. 

 

The Life of the Founder, the Foundational Charism, and the History of Cursillo [R] [N]

Today, more than ever, we have resources available in English, to study the life of the Founder, the Charism, and History of Cursillo. Participants will learn where the founder was born, his family, his education, his life in the military, his encounter with the “faraway” person and his desire to make friends and share the good news of God’s love with them. Participants will learn about his tripod: Christ, the person, and friendship and the Charism of friendship with self, Christ, and others which was given to him by the Holy Spirit. The history covers the origins of the first Cursillo in Cala Figuera, Spain and the first numbered Cursillo. It covers successes and setbacks and the founder’s travel to introduce Cursillo in the five continents.

Cursillo de Cursillos [R] [N]

Eduardo Bonnín, Founder of Cursillo, traveled the five continents to spread Cursillo world-wide. He felt there was a need to design something for leaders and potential leaders of the Movement. Therefore, in Eduardo’s ‘lab of ideas’, he and some friends prepared the initial outlines for the Cursillo de Cursillos (CDC). Simply stated, the CDC is a workshop about the Foundational Charism of Cursillo. The CDC has provided Cursillistas with a treasure of knowledge and a living experience of what is essential in the mentality, essence, purpose, and method of the Movement in light of its Charism. This workshop begins on a Thursday evening and concludes on Sunday at noon. 

Participants will learn about the “Mentality”, “Essence and Purpose”, “Living & Sharing What is Fundamental to Being Christian”, “Dangers in Cursillo”, “Precursillo”, “Three Day Cursillo”, “Group Reunion”, “Ultreya”, “The Spiritual Advisor in Cursillo”, “Leaders”, “Secretariat”, and “School of Leaders”. 

Precursillo and Sponsor’s Orientation [D]

The goal of this workshop is to facilitate an understanding of the intended purpose of Precursillo by introducing the participants to the first phase of the Cursillo Method. Participants will learn about “Attitude: To Be a Witness of Christ”, “The Person: Who Are We Looking For?”, “The Approach: Friendship”, “What It Takes to Make a Good Precursillo”, and Truth Through Normality, Sincerity, and Humility”.

The second part of the workshop is on “Sponsoring” which explains the process of candidate selection, preparation, and invitation with the holy intention that the labor will produce a good and bountiful harvest.  A good and abundant harvest depends on God’s plans and the freedom of the person.  But the work of the sower (sponsor-friend) is of crucial importance.

Participants will learn about the “Sponsor’s Responsibilities”, “Personal Contact”, “Authentic 

Witness”, “Real Palanca”, “Study of the Environment”, “Definition of Environment”, “Practical Method to Win the Environment for Christ”,  “Selection Process”, “Technique For Bringing Others to Christ”, and “Total Security”.

Three Day Cursillo and The Rector’s Guide Workshop [D] [R]

The goal of this workshop is to facilitate an understanding of the intended purpose of the Three Day Cursillo by introducing the participants to the second phase of the Cursillo Method. Participants will learn about the “Technique of the Three Day Cursillo Revealed Through Theology and Psychology”, “The Three Encounters”, “Prayer and Palanca”, “A Witness of Friendship”, “The Environment and Rhythm of the Three Day Cursillo”, “The Message: Rollos, Meditations, Personal Witness”, and “The Leaders and The Three Day Cursillo”. 

The second part of the workshop provides an overview of the Rector’s Guide: A Step-by-Step 

Guide for the Cursillo Weekend and Appendices which were introduced to the US Cursillo Movement in the Spring of 2019. “This Guide is offered to the World Cursillo Movements to assist them in ensuring that the content of the Weekends remain simple, clear, and containing all that is necessary, nothing more and nothing less.” (Eduardo Bonnín). 

Participants will be provided with an overview of the “Three Day Cursillo Schedule and Timeline”. Participants will also learn about the ‘why’ of the “The Bankruptcy Story”, “Professor Cook”, “Hobbies Sheet”, “The Skiing Story”, “Story of John”, “Mañanitas”, and other details such as “Brightening the Atmosphere”, “Jokes”, “Songs”, “Corridor Work”, “Signing Pilgrim’s Guides”, “General Palanca” and “Closing Ceremony”. 

Postcursillo (Group Reunion & Ultreya) Workshop [D]

The goal of this workshop is to facilitate an understanding of the intended purpose of the Postcursillo by introducing the participants to the third phase of the Cursillo Method. The Postcursillo reinforces the tools available for Perseverance in the Fourth Day:

  1. The Group Reunion: The reality of life shared with friends. Participants will learn about “Total Security”, “The Relationship of Friendship”, “The Essential Elements of Group Reunion”, and “Functioning Technique”.
  2. The Ultreya: The circumstances that makes it possible for the best in everyone to reach as many as possible. Participants will learn about “Purpose of the Ultreya”, Effectiveness of the Ultreya”, “Enabling the Progressive and Integral Conversion of the Person”, “Christian Structuring of Society”, “Mission of the Ultreya”, “The Three Stages of the Ultreya”, and “Possible Challenges at the Ultreya”.
Deepening Relationships with Self, Christ and Others Through Piety, Study & Action [D]

The goal of this workshop is to provide an opportunity for participants to revisit the 3 fundamental encounters discovered during the Three Day Cursillo and show how these encounters are nurtured and deepened through a life of piety, study and action. Participants will learn about “PietyDeveloping and Intimate Relationship with Christ”, “Study-Discovering Self, Christ and Others”, and “Apostolic Action-Choosing to Exercise the Power of Love”. These 3 attributes correspond to the basic characteristics of the person; namely, to want (heart), to think (mind), and to act (will).

Commitment Workshop [D] [R]

This workshop has the Diocesan Cursillo leaders take a good look at what constitutes a committed Cursillistas’ life and the obstacles that prevent each Cursillista from making a deeper commitment to the Cursillo Movement.  Provided is a way for the participants to arrive at a solution for these obstacles.

Participants will learn about “What Commitment Means and What it Entails”, “Realize the Obstacles that Prevents an Increase of Cursillistas’ Commitment”, “Determine Solutions to Overcome the Obstacles”, and “How to Assist Others in Achieving Commitment to the Cursillo Movement”.

Succession Planning Workshop [D]

The goal of this workshop is to provide an understanding of “Succession Planning” and its application in Cursillo. Participants will learn about 5 important steps which are part of the process: “Identify Those with Potential or Willingness”, “Identify the Gaps”, “Develop the Person’s Knowledge”, “Engage the Person in Leadership” and “Improve the Person’s Commitment”.