The first Cursillo in the Diocese of Southwest Florida was held in 1978 with the help of a team from the Diocese of Central Florida.
Cursillo is a three-day weekend, held at DaySpring Conference Center in Ellenton. It begins on Thursday evening and ends on Sunday. During the three days, participants hear a variety of talks given by lay persons and clergy, who have spent time working together, planning and preparing for the Weekend. A Cursillo Weekend is not a retreat, with fasting or extended periods of silence. Rather, it is an experience in Christian education, where participants have an opportunity to meet clergy and laity who are seeking to strengthen their faith. Shared prayer, worship, study, music, fellowship, laughter, and tears all work together to create a loving atmosphere where one can feel the reality of God's free and unconditional love. The Holy Eucharist is celebrated daily.
Participants, who return from the weekend with a renewed commitment to work for Christ, are encouraged to look for opportunities in their home churches and communities to follow the great commission of Christ: that we should be in the world to make disciples of all people, ministering God's redemptive gifts of love and grace.
Cursillo provides a community of friends who provide each other strength and support in these efforts, so that each person may grow in faith and develop his/her own special gifts of ministry. This community meets in two types of groups: group reunions, a small group of people who meet regularly (often weekly) for mutual encouragement and support through Prayer, Study, and Action and Ultreyas (Diocesan, Regional, or Parish meetings), a larger group of people who meet (often monthly) to share their Christian walk and to encourage each other in their efforts to evangelize their environments.
St. John’s has an active Cursillo group. If you are interested in learning more about it, please call the office (261-2355) or see http://www.cursilloswfla.org
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