National Cursillo Seminar to Meet
Episcopal News Service. September 15, 1988 [88193]
NEW YORK, (DPS, Sep. 15) -- More than 200 cursillistas are expected to converge on the Waterbury, Conn., Sheraton Hotel, October 13-15, 1988, for the annual National Episcopal Cursillo Seminar (NECS) and annual meeting of the General Council.
The theme for this year is: "With a common purpose and a common mind," (Phil. 2:2 [JB]). Participants will be able to choose three out of ten workshops based on the recently published "The NEC Library" -- a three ring binder containing a series of booklets and articles covering the essential aspects of the Cursillo Movement.
Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning, himself a cursillista, will preside at the closing Eucharist at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 15th.
Registration for the event is $110.00, which covers materials and meals, including the Thursday evening dinner, after which the Rt. Rev. Earl McArthur, Suffragan Bishop of West Texas, will be keynote speaker. The Seminar begins with a 1 p.m. Eucharist on Thursday, October 13th, at which the Rt. Rev. Arthur E. Walmsley, Bishop of Connecticut, will be the celebrant.
From its beginnings in the Roman Catholic Church in Mallorca, Spain in 1949, the Cursillo Movement spread into the U.S., many other countries throughout the world, and then into the Episcopal Church. Cursillo is an abbreviation of Cursillos de Cristiandad, a Spanish term meaning "a short course in Christian living."
As a movement of, and in, the Church, Cursillo's purpose is to stimulate and motivate Christians to live out their baptismal vows fully, linked with other like-minded Christians in bringing their family, church, work, and social environments to Christ.
This is accomplished by utilizing the three phases of the movement. The Pre-Cursillo is composed of many activities, all directed toward identifying both the environments to be penetrated by Christian witness and those Christians who have the potential to do this. On the Cursillo Weekend, whatever is fundamental to being a Christian is presented with the intention of assisting the participants to see that they have a ministry of witness and how that may be carried out.
The Post-Cursillo consists of a three-fold continuing support, system which includes brief weekly meetings of three to five persons (called a Group Reunion) and area gatherings of the groups (called an Ultreya, freely translated from the Spanish as "Persevere!"). These gatherings involve sharing, prayer, Scripture, and hearing someone witness to how he or she has been acting and speaking for, and in, Jesus recently, and planning how to carry out Christian witness. Personal spiritual direction is also a part of this support system.
Brochures, including a registration form, have been mailed to bishops, diocesan lay and spiritual directors and newspaper editors, as well as recent NECS participants. Others who wish to register may contact the Connecticut NECS '88 Coordinator: Alan Rogers, 98 Juniper Rd., Southington, CT 06489.