Songs, prayer, and joy were part of a Cursillo Movement celebration in the Diocese of Raleigh on Sunday, July 10, 2022. The celebration was presided over by Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama and attended by a large gathering of the faithful who sang, applauded, and raised their prayers for those who are part of the Cursillo in parishes across the diocese.
On the occasion, Bishop Luis Rafael highlighted the joy of celebrating the Eucharist as he greeted everyone with the words "de colores” that in Spanish means “with colors,” a term used by participants of Cursillo.
Cursillo (pronounced kur-SEE-yo) is a Spanish word meaning "short course.” The full title is Cursillo de Christiandad, meaning a short course in Christian living. The intent of Cursillo is to open us up to a deeper relationship with Christ and present a method of Christian living so we can make a difference for Christ in the world around us.
In the Dioceses of Raleigh, the Cursillo movement has been in existence for almost 60 years and for the last decade has been led by Father Paul Brant, S.J., and Sister Martha Alvarado. Both were part of the celebration at the cathedral.
During his homily, Bishop Luis highlighted the joy of celebrating the Eucharist in the cathedral and recalled how he was also part of the Cursillo when he lived in his country-of-origin, Colombia. He described it as a renewing experience.
Bishop Luis asked the trainees if they remembered where the change should begin; to which he himself responded, "In your hearts.”
One attendee, Gerardo Olivares, said that the main objective was to celebrate the first reunion of trainees after Covid-19, during which the courses stopped in their entirety.
“But now people have been coming back. They've been giving us access in the churches, in the halls,” said Olivares. “The purpose of the celebration on July 10 at the cathedral in Raleigh was to bring together people who were not active in the movement and to invite people to come to their parish to participate again in the activities we have in the Cursillo."
At the end of the Holy Mass, the choir and musicians interpreted the traditional and characteristic song, "De Colores,” which the assembly sang with force and joy as they then moved to a feast of celebration outside cathedral with food trucks and live music.
The Cursillo movement was born in Spain in the 1940’s and began with the celebration of the so-called "First Cursillo" from January 7 to 10, 1949, in the Monastery of San Honorato, Mallorca. The course has since spread throughout the world. The first workshop in North Carolina was held in 1963 in the Diocese of Charlotte.
“Currently, we have 16 schools; they are called schools of leaders. In each parish there is a person in charge. Each person in charge has applications for when someone wants to live the course,” said Olivares.
The only requirement to attend a Cursillo is to be 18 years old or older and that someone recommends them to attend. Participants are also invited to register for the "Cursillo de Cursillo” from September 15 to 18 at Camp Dixie.
“I would encourage everyone who wants to have this encounter with Christ, because each retreat always helps us with that, to have that personal encounter with Christ, and it is also a call to conversion,” concluded sister Martha.
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