By Randy Wiseman
“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in
them the fire of your love.
Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created. And
You shall renew the face of the earth.
O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the
faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy
His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.”
Of all the prayers to the Holy Spirit this is one of the most well-known, and it
is the prayer we use in the Cursillo community.
Cursillo focuses on showing Christian lay people how to become effective
Christian leaders over the course of a three-day weekend. The weekend includes
fifteen talks, some by priests, but most by lay people, lots of discussion,
reflection time and daily prayer. The method stresses personal spiritual development.
The major emphasis of the weekend is to ask participants to take
what they have learned back into the world. Again, the ministry’s focus is on
Christians who are seeking spiritual growth.
A normal calendar year offers 4 Cursillo weekends: a men’s and women’s weekend in the spring, a Spanish weekend in the fall and a co-ed weekend in the fall. Applications to attend a weekend are accepted at any time.
Here in Central Florida we have 62 churches that participate in activities
sponsored by the Cursillo community. If you do the math, 25 of our
churches are not involved. To get your church involved, feel free to contact
one of the people listed below.
Here are some personal thoughts conveyed by members of our community:
Bishop Brewer – I made Cursillo #1 in the Diocese of Virginia in 1976.
“I believe that Cursillo can be one of the most effective tools we have to make
laypeople active disciples of Jesus Christ. Within the context of a true and
loving Christian community, candidates hear the truth of the Gospel and are
challenged to be servants of Christ wherever they are. God uses Cursillo to
change lives!”
Billy Rhodes – I made Cursillo #4 in the Diocese of Central Florida in
October of 1976.
“One of the clergy talks on my weekend was given by Bishop Brewer. I
think Cursillo did change my life and made me a better servant of Christ. I
think the fact that I have remained active in Cursillo in my own parish of St.
Gabriel’s and to a lesser extent in the Diocese for almost 35 years show how
much Cursillo has meant to me.”
Deacon Mickey and Elizabeth Maxwell – We attended Cursillo #32
in 1982 at Camp Ithiel. “Bishop Brewer was one of my Spiritual Advisor’s
of the weekend. Cursillo is very important in my life as well as Mickey’s. It led Mickey to the Diaconate. It led me to a life of music ministry and I have been very active in the movement ever since. It builds leaders and can change lives. I have
never found any other retreat, conference, etc. that can ever compare.”
Randy and LuAnne Wiseman – We attended Cursillo #39 in 1984 at
Canterbury. Mickey and Elizabeth were our sponsors. “Having attended Cursillo
over 30 years ago, I still find all aspects of it relevant today 30 years later.”
Maggie Thompson – “My husband and I made Coed Cursillo #63 in the
Diocese of Central FL. Our theme song was Surely the Presence of the Lord
is in This Place – that is what Cursillo is to me – a special weekend getting to
know the Lord on a deeper and more personal level and getting the tools to
grow that relationship and be active and faithful in the 4th Day.”
Wayne Forbes – “I made Cursillo #80 in the Diocese of CT in 1994
Cursillo is an incredible gift allowing lay people to become active disciples
for our Lord. During the weekend we are shown the incredible love of
Christ and the challenges involved in being servants for Christ in our environments.
The tools we learn in Cursillo helps us change lives.”
Kim McMasters – “I attended Cursillo #110 in 2010 at Canterbury, Oviedo.
Cursillo for me was the tool that brought me the awareness of what it
means to do work for God and gave me the knowledge to focus on the purpose.
I have seen Cursillo make wonderful changes in people, as they become
disciples, including myself.”
Why not consider attending a Cursillo weekend? Or, maybe you could
introduce or reintroduce it to your church. Perhaps we could visit some Sunday
and speak to your parish or even do an entire service for you. We’d love
to join you.
Help us “fill the hearts of the faithful and kindle in them the fire of God’s
love.”
Contacts:
Randy Wiseman – NW Deanery [ randywiseman123@gmail.com ]
Kim McMasters – NE Deanery [ kmcmaster1@cfl.rr.com ]
Martha Griggs – SW Deanery [ marthawall@yahoo.com ]
Billy Rhodes – SE Deanery [ gopherhill@aol.com ]
Karen Stout – Central Deanery [ 4karenjs@bellsouth.net ]
William Brown – Cursillo Commission Chair [ willfsu1@yahoo.com ]
The Rev. Carolyn Biggs – Spiritual Advisor
LINKS: Central Florida – http://www.cfepiscopalcursillo.org/
National Commission – http://nationalepiscopalcursillo.org/