‘Short course in Christianity’ is deepening participants’ faith lives
By Jacqueline Cecalupo
Cursillo is alive in the Knoxville Diocese!
Although you may not have heard of it, Cursillo (pronounced kur-see-yo) means “short course in Christianity,” and it is a powerful Catholic movement designed to strengthen lay leadership. It is available to all Catholics within their diocese, with weekend presentations made to men by men, to women by women, and by deacons and a priest.
Movement founders Father Juan Capo and Edwardo Bonnin originated Cursillo in the 1940s and first introduced it in the United States at St. Francis on the Brazos Church in Waco, Texas, in 1957.
This four-day encounter, under the spiritual leadership of Father Gabriel Fernandes along with airmen Bernardo Vadell and Agustin Palomino, was first presented in Spanish. They brought the weekend experience from Mallorca, Spain, as a focus of training for U.S. airmen. The first English-language Cursillo took place in 1961 and quickly spread throughout Texas and eventually nationwide.
The weekend commitment begins with an application submitted to a Cursillo sponsor—a Cursillista who has attended a weekend retreat—that is eventually forwarded to Knoxville diocesan Cursillo coordinators Teri and Gary Gabor of St. Jude Parish in Chattanooga.
The movement’s spiritual director is Deacon Bill Jacobs of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa. When reaching out via the Gabors’ e-mail address, tgabor21@outlook.com, add “Cursillo” in the subject line.
Cursillo weekends are typically held at Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton. Each weekend runs Thursday through Sunday evening. A $200 fee includes all lodging, any personal or individual health needs, and meals, as well as time for reflection and prayer. Scholarships are available. Each candidate attends daily Mass, makes lifelong friends, and meets Jesus Christ in new and deeper ways.
During the Cursillo weekend, participants listen to a series of 14 talks (Rollos) delivered by Catholic laity and spiritual directors. Each Rollo builds upon the previous talk. Thursday even ing focuses on meditation with a silent-retreat phase for reflection. Friday highlights why individuals chose to attend and examines the grassroots of one’s faith. Saturday features and deepens participants’ relationship with Jesus and His love for each of us. On Sunday, candidates explore their relationship with others and the community in which they live, work, and worship.
Catholics in the Diocese of Knoxville who have experienced Cursillo offer powerful witnesses. Among the Cursillistas are:
John Cecalupo, a member of All Saints Parish in Knoxville, who said, “Cursillo was the greatest spiritual experience of my life. I now can pray the ‘Our Father’ to ‘my Father in heaven’ and not just as an answer to ‘Hey Siri, define a rote prayer.’”
Lynda Roman of All Saints, who said, “Before Cursillo, I received Holy Communion faithfully. But I was taking it for granted. I became like a robot. But after Cursillo, I will never receive Holy Communion like that again. Now, I am an active participant. There is a deep love, a deep understanding, a deep appreciation, and so much more that wasn’t there before Cursillo. Cursillo can change your life. You just have to experience it. Those three days have made a major change in my heart and in my life. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.”
David Bender of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa, who said, “I grew up afraid of God, particularly fearing His punishments. I rejected Him and His Church. When a tragedy came into my life, I began to pray, particularly asking for the help of Our Lady of Lourdes. The granting of a miraculous cure brought me back to Our Lord and the Church, but I was still afraid of God. Opus Dei opened the door of my fear and the Cursillo movement pushed that door wide open. For the first time, I was able to feel the love of God. My participation in a weekly renewal group continues to keep me on and in the Cursillo method and helps to provide the peace and joy I had been missing for so long. My restless heart has found a home, just as St. Augustine said.”
Toni Jacobs of Our Lady of Fatima, who said, “I highly recommend Cursillo for anyone who wants to draw closer to Christ. No matter where you are on your journey, God takes you wherever you are. I made my Cursillo 35 years ago, and it is still a huge part of my daily life and my spirituality. It is not just a retreat. It is not just a weekend. It is more than you can imagine because it is truly the Holy Spirit working in the open heart, mind, and soul of the one who wants to grow closer to Him.”
Giannine Morris of St. Dominic Parish in Kingsport, who said, “It is no exaggeration to say my entire life has changed since beginning my Cursillo in September 2007. Everything from the way I pray, the way I choose to spend my free time, and the way I interact with others has shifted to an entirely Christ-centered focus. While I have certainly grown spiritually, what stands out most to me is that I can relate my desire to bring others closer to Christ—building Christ’s kingdom of love—directly to my life in the Cursillo movement.
“Cursillo spells out the process to grow closer to Christ while bringing others alongside you in a simple and universally applicable manner. I never could have anticipated the many different ways in which I can see how other people are living a more Christ-centered life simply because I said ‘yes’ to a weekend away from work and my family. If I am totally honest, I really did not want to take the time away, but the dividends from that weekend never cease to amaze me!”
Betty McDougall of St. Dominic, who said, “Cursillo confirmed my beliefs in the Catholic faith, and I met other like-minded women. I joined a small group of women, and we have met weekly since 2009. We pray for each other and encourage each other to trust Jesus for all our needs.”
Deacon Brian Gabor, who said, “I made my Cursillo in 1998 (Men’s No. 2 for the Diocese of Knoxville.) I will never forget how the weekend changed me in my desire to use time wisely for improvement in my role as a husband, father, and a Christian man. I wanted to go home and throw the television away. (I didn’t but I realized I had to make changes.) The friendships of fellow Cursillistas and the importance of grouping I feel was instrumental in my later discerning the call to the diaconate. I am still in the same but larger reunion/prayer group 28 years later.”
Anyone who has further questions or is in need of a sponsor can contact Jacqui Cecalupo at 434-962-9807 (cell/text) or sasse318@gmail.com.
Resources also are available for those interested in Cursillo. An important message from Bishop Mark Beckman along with more information and applications are available on the Diocese of Knoxville Cursillo website, www.knoxvillecursillo.org. The official Cursillo e-mail address is: laydirector@knoxvillecursillo.org.
Upcoming Cursillo weekends are:
- Women’s No. 62—Aug. 6-10 (applications due June 30).
- Men’s No. 63—June 10-13, 2027
- Women’s No. 64—Oct. 7-10, 2027
Anyone interested in taking part in Cursillo can submit a completed application and $10 deposit to Irene Scoggins. You can contact her by mail at 1215 Clermont Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37415, by e-mail at irene.scoggins@gmail.com, or by cellphone at 423-596-0053.