Anglican Diocese

 Central Newfoundland

 Cursillo

In Central Newfoundland

The Origins of the Cursillo Movement

First part adapted from a talk by the Rev. Alan Naylor, 2001

Beginning in Spain

The Cursillo Movement began as a Christian renewal movement in the Roman Catholic Church in Spain over 50 years ago. As far as we know there are no secret handshakes or passwords in Cursillo! but there are a number of Spanish words that are used over the weekend that may seem strange to you. The reason for that is simply the Spanish origins of the movement. The word "Cursillo" itself is a Spanish word which means "little course" or "short course." It is called that because that is what the weekend is -a short course in Christianity.

Before World War II the Roman Catholic Church in Spain experienced what many other churches in many parts of the world have all experienced from time to time. It was in a state of spiritual apathy and stagnation. Just as Canadian Anglicans and any other Church throughout the world that you can think of, have experienced times of drought, so the Spanish Roman Catholic Church was suffering from what one might call spiritual anorexia - a dysfunctional religion which attempts to survive on as small a spiritual diet as possible.

To break this apathy in 1948, it was decided to organize a pilgrimage to a place called St. James of Compostella, which is a national shrine in Spain. It is a little old chapel on the rugged coast of Spain which many believe was visited by the original apostle St. James.

Now over the centuries many people have gone on pilgrimages to holy places to renew or revitalize their faith. A pilgrimage does several things:

• it encourages a spirit of dissatisfaction with apathy, it gets us out of our rut
• it encourages a spirit of moving onward, it propels us forward into new spiritual territory
• it continues our spiritual journey , as we leave the past and travel with God towards a goal, a "promised land" as the ancient Hebrews were led from slavery in Egypt to freedom in their promised land
• it encourages a spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood as we travel the road together towards our goals.

So in 1948 a pilgrimage was organized by the Young Men's Catholic Action Group of Majorca and it is out of their experience that the Cursillo Movement was begun. It began simply as a group journeying and praying together, sharing their Christian lives, studying, acting together and evaluating what they had done and how God had blessed that in amazing ways.

Expansion

The pilgrimage movement developed in Spain during the 50's and evolved into the idea of the Cursillo weekend, a short course in Christianity. It came to the United States in 1957 when the first Cursillo weekend was held in Waco, Texas, followed by weekends held in Spanish in the southwest U.S. from 1957 to 1960.

By 1960 the Cursillo Movement had been translated into English and it came to New York and then, later, to Detroit, Miami, Chicago and other major centres. By 1981 every Roman Catholic Diocese in the U.S. had conducted at least one Cursillo weekend.

At first weekends were only held for men, but somewhere in the middle of all that growth through the U.S., the first Women's Cursillo Weekend was held. We are told that a woman named Maite de Humet was so impressed at the effect the weekend had on her husband, and so indignant that she was not permitted to attend one, that she stowed away on a Men's Weekend, hiding behind a curtain; and so the guys lost their monopoly on Cursillo... Thank God!

Cursillo in Canada

In 1970, Cursillo entered the Anglican Church. The American Episcopal Church, which is the Anglican Church in the U.S., began holding Cursillo weekends in the Diocese of Iowa. In 1977, with the help of Roman Catholics from New York, the first Canadian Anglican Cursillo weekend was held in Toronto and they in turn helped Montreal organize their first Cursillo weekend in 1981.

Cursillo in Newfoundland

By Hazen Walters

In the fall of 1984, Bishop Mark.Genge, Rev. Ron Lee. and Rev.Walter Hammond, traveled to Nova Scotia, to experience a Cursillo weekend. They  were impressed, and felt it would be good for our diocese: The Bishop decided to make Cursillo  part of his pastoral plan, and requested the program officer Ron Lee,  to recruit some people to attend the Roman Catholic Cursillo weekend to be held in St.John's in the spring of 1985. Cyril Bull and Mac Kelligrew of Eastport along with Hazen Walters of Gander attended that weekend. The ladies weekend was held the following month and we sent Jane Winsor of Eastport, Sylvia Moss of Lewisporte. Nora Lush and June Walters of Gander.

For the full text on the early years of Anglican Cursillo in the Central Newfoundland  by   Hazen Walters, (first Lay Director) (Adobe pdf reader required)

Minutes of the First Meeting of the Anglican Cursillo Movement In Central as recorded by June Walters, (first Secretary)  (Adobe pdf reader required)

Central Newfoundland Cursillo News letter

The 4th Day Flyer

The 4th Day Flyer made its debut October 1986, one month after our first set of weekends.  With our Cursillo family expanding right across the diocese as we continued to put on weekends, we recognized the immediate need for a vehicle that could provide information and contact on an on-going basis.  June Walters launched the first edition with a feeling of excitement and it was received enthusiastically.  Through the years that enthusiasm has never let up.

The flyer was hand written at first - all two or three pages, sometimes one, depending on the news.  After a while our Spiritual Director, Lay director and Bishop would submit a message, and submissions from cursillistas far and near began to fill up the pages; our "Flyer" became a real messenger.

In 1991 Ruby Lockhart, Fay Eveleish,  Vinie Thoms and Mildred Brown took over the reins, followed by Jack Thoms and his team of Marilyn Hartley, Noah Lush and Claudette Ingram.  Selby and Sylvia Moss took over in the fall of 1993.  Jack resumed the editor's chair for the year 1994-5.  The 4th Day Flyer then went into the capable hands of Berdina Ford, Bonavista.

As well as being distributed to about 300 Cursillistas within the diocese, the 4th Day Flyer is also sent out to several other diocese across Canada, and we in turn, receive a number of newsletters from other dioceses.

The contents vary but most importantly, a calendar of events pertaining to diocesan and Regional Ultreyas, Leaders' School Programs, etc is includes.

Near the time of putting on a Weekend, the names of the team and candidates are published along with any other relevant information about the weekend.

Input from everyone is essential to keep the 4th Day Flyer going, and the editors say he or she can never have to much.

Remember:  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is spread in all kind of ways.

June Walters 1996

Central Newfoundland Cursillo Weekends

Themes, Songs & Banners

Three-day weekends have been held annually since 1986.  Separate men and women weekends were held until 1992 when the weekends were changed to co-ed.

Weekend Themes:

A list of the dates and themes of each weekend, together with the Scripture reference and linked to the banner image.

Weekend Theme Songs:

A list of the theme songs for each weekend. Words and music are not included.

Weekend Banner:

Thumbnail images of all banners, linking to the same larger images.

De Colores!

The words to this Cursillo song.

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