The experience is a Christ-centered invitation to reevaluate your spiritual path
By Jacqui Cecalupo
In the television series “The Chosen,” Nicodemus marveled over the miraculous healing of Mary Magdalene by Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus invited Nicodemus to follow Him—a request that proved to be too great from the Teacher of teachers. Nicodemus was torn between his professional and clerical status, and was thus unable to follow Christ’s call.
Matthew the tax collector, however, after careful observations and contemplative self-probing, abandoned everything—status, riches, and power—to immediately follow Jesus’ invitation to apostolic discipleship.
The Cursillo experience is also a Christ-centered invitation to re-evaluate the spiritual path you walk in your daily life. It invites each participant to change the trajectory of service to others by following the Cursillo method.
On the Cursillo weekend, attendees are asked during the Cross Ceremony to commit to a lifetime of service with these powerful words: “Christ is counting on you.” The acceptance response is: “And I am counting on Christ.”
What exactly does the response entail? It is a challenge to re-examine the way you have been serving at your parish and through other acts of mercy, to refocus those efforts anchored in Cursillo and the Cursillo way by asking God for His grace and guidance.
So, what is the Cursillista expected to do after the weekend experience?
Stephen Covey, in his book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, coined the following phrase as Habit Seven—“Sharpen the saw.” He highlights how a woodsman takes the time to sharpen his saw before making a cut. Mr. Covey writes, “You must never cease to sharpen the saw.”
How have you most recently sharpened your saw?
Each Cursillista is invited to commit to a three-part strategical resource: Group Reunion, Ultreya, and Leader’s School. This cocktail of resources is Cursillo’s sharpening tool. It emboldens the Cursillista to share the good news of Jesus Christ with everyone they meet.
- Group Reunion: This is a weekly meeting of Cursillistas and/or those interested in gleaning information about Cursillo.
The intent is to develop a spiritual sisterhood/brotherhood that keeps the Cursillo experience alive in your daily life through friendship and transparent discussions of the tripod of piety, study, and action.
It highlights how a thoughtful and firm action plan will enhance God’s kingdom on this earth. Contact Jacqui Cecalupo at 434-962-9807 or sasse318@gmail.com for further information.
- Ultreya: It is a monthly meeting of Group Reunion participants from one or more parishes within the Diocese of Knoxville. Ultreya literally means “Onward.” Its purpose is to inspire friendship among the Cursillo community and encourage spiritual growth and a deep desire to infuse your personal sphere of influence with the fragrance of Christ Himself.
Our Lady of Fatima Ultreyas in Alcoa are scheduled on the fourth Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Contact Velma Burke 865-406-9401 or vjburke0@gmail.com.
St. Mary Parish in Johnson City and St. Dominic in Kingsport have Ultreyas that alternate locations on the second Thursday evenings of each month at 6:30 p.m. Call St. Dominic’s office 423-288-8101 and ask for Betty MacDougall.
St. Jude Parish in Chattanooga hosts Ultreyas on the second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. Contact Teri Gabor 803-943-1340.
Spanish Ultreyas are held monthly at St. Thomas the Apostle in Lenoir City on the second Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Family Life Center (call the parish office for further information, 865-986-9885) and St. Joseph the Worker in Madisonville on the third Sunday at 2 p.m. (call the parish office for details, 423-442-7272).
- Leader’s School: The School of Leaders serves the whole Cursillo community by deepening each member’s understanding of the history, methods, and foundational mentality of the movement. Contact Joy Thompson at 785-845-5916 or joyjoy0182@gmail.com for more information.
Jessica Kahler, an All Saints parishioner and a new Cursillista, took the Cursillo challenge to heart. In her weekend reflection, she wrote about her experience.
“I had heard of the Cursillo movement years ago, but I didn’t really know what it was. I came across it again during a silent retreat over the summer when I found and read about Cursillo on the All Saints website. At the time, I had been praying and asking God to lead me to stronger Catholic friendships and community. I reached out to the group leader, and she invited me to attend a group meeting—an invitation that would become an answer to that prayer.
“From the very first time I came to the group, they welcomed me so fully that I felt like a loved member of a family. There was also an openness and vulnerability among them—something real that I had been seeking for years. I had heard the Cursillo retreat described as “life-changing,” but having already experienced what I considered my life-changing moment in converting to the Catholic faith, I wasn’t sure what more there could be.
“Still, I chose to trust the witness and testimony of those in my group who had gone before me and entered the weekend with an open heart. Words cannot express the outpouring of grace I received during the weekend and continue to receive even now. The Lord revealed places in my heart I didn’t recognize were holding me back, showing me that while I was striving to do good, He was calling me into something deeper. He began to show me the ways I had not been fully open to His grace flowing through me to others, the wounds that had left me guarded, and His presence in people and in the ordinary moments of daily life.”
Jessica continued, “He opened my eyes to see others more as He sees them and helped me recognize that my mission is not only to serve the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized through my work and volunteer activities, but also to witness to Him more intentionally with every person He puts in my path. I am also learning to seek His guidance in every decision—big or small—and to surrender my own plans and desires to His, trusting that His ways are greater than mine and asking Him to continue to reveal and remove whatever in me may hinder His grace from flowing through me to others.
“Through all of this, God gently uncovered what had been keeping my heart closed. Little by little, my heart began to open, and I began to receive the love He had been offering me all along, and I began to see more clearly how He longs to love and draw others to Himself through me. I came to understand that Christian friendship can draw us into deeper friendship with Jesus by receiving God’s love through others and letting His love flow through us to others.
“I came seeking community, and found it—real, authentic, and centered on Christ. And unlike other retreats, this community doesn’t end when the experience ends. Through our weekly small groups, we continue to walk together in what we call our ‘Fourth Day’—the rest of our lives.”
Jessica, like some other Cursillo weekend participants, heard the distinct Christ-call that invited her to follow Him in a new direction. In a fearless and humble step, she trusted Him and boldly changed her trajectory of service that led her to a new and different community of believers, a change of employment, and a reevaluation of the pre-Cursillo volunteerism she previously practiced.
Jessica, like Matthew, answered His call to “Follow Me” with a resounding, “Yes, Lord, your servant is listening.”
Is it time for you to allow Jesus to lead and guide you to new ways of living? Are you like Nicodemus or like Matthew? As a past Cursillo participant, are you in a Group Reunion? Do you attend Ultreyas? Do you use the Cursillo resources to “sharpen your saw?”
Cursillo is open to Catholics who are seeking a closer and deeper relationship with Christ. The next men’s weekend is scheduled from April 29-May 2, 2027. A women’s weekend is planned from Oct. 7-10, 2027. Contact: Irene Scoggins at irene.scoggins@gmail.com.
For answers to questions you may have, contact Jacqui Cecalupo at 434-962-9807 or sasse318@gmail.com, diocesan Cursillo spiritual director Deacon Bill Jacobs at deaconbill@ourladyoffatima.org, diocesan Cursillo coordinators Gary and Teri Gabor at 803-943-1340 or tGabor21@outlook.com or garygabor@hotmail.com (write “Cursillo” in the subject box).