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A HISTORY OF CURSILLO
The first Cursillos developed in the Roman
Catholic Church in Mallorca, Spain, in the late 1940s. Under the leadership
of their bishop, several laymen began to formulate a way to draw active
laymeninto the work of "Christianizing" the everyday life settings where
they lived.
Eventually, the Cursillo Method found interested parties in the United
States. The first Cursillo Three-Day Weekend in the United States was held
in Waco, Texas, in 1957. At first, these were still held in the Spanish
language, and were available only to Roman Catholics. The first English
speaking weekend was in 1961 in San Angelo, Texas. In time a few
Episcopalians were invited to participate in the weekends.
The first official Three-Day Weekend in the Episcopal Church was conducted
with help from Roman Catholic sponsors in the Diocese of Iowa in 1970. Soon,
weekends were being held in various parts of the country. The first National
Episcopal Cursillo Seminar was held in 1975 in the Diocese of Dallas. The
National Episcopal Cursillo Committee was formed in Atlanta in 1979.
A common aspect of the history of Cursillo shared by both Roman Catholics
and Episcopalians was the fascination with the Three-Day Weekends. For this
reason, in many places the Cursillo name was associated only with such
weekend experiences. However, deeper study revealed that the Cursillo Method
involved much more than just "putting on weekends." This has caused
considerable development within both ecclesial communities, resulting in a
better appreciation for what Cursillo is and a sharper, clearer
understanding of how to apply the Cursillo Method -- philosophically and
practically.
Today, that development is proceeding. Such development is characterized by
a return to the roots of the movement, and a more comprehensive attempt to
define the purpose of the movement in simple, cohesive terms. Cursillo is
emerging as a mature instrument in the hands of committed clergy and lay
Christians to empower the "ministry of the laity."
-Courtesy of the NEC website
INDY ECCO HISTORY
COURTESY OF FOUNDING MEMBER
DOUG VANDEMARK II
In
the beginning of the Indy Episcopal Cursillo one of the clergy
involved always liked to say such things as to how baseball was
mentioned in the Bible even as far back as the Old Testament, or
about the first time 12 men showed up in a Honda, ( the apostles
were all in one accord). There also was a Canon of the Diocese who
thought he was the “Great Carnack” and would appear in his turban
and ask the question to some answers that he would draw out of a
hat. A couple of guys dressed as Caballeros and serenaded the women
at their “Agape”.
Looking back at Cursillo when it started here in Indianapolis is a
lot of fun for me and it brings back many fond memories. I
guess it started about twenty six or seven years ago, when a blend
of Cursillistas from those who attended the “Weekend” event in
Evansville, and those who went to a “Weekend in Louisville
(Litchville), Kentucky met together. Bishop Edward (Ted) Jones
asked us to bring the Cursillo experience to the Diocese of
Indianapolis. A “Weekend” was created out of the traditional format
and the inclusion of what we all thought was the best of both
experiences, Evansville and Kentucky. The Candle Walk came
from Evansville and the Agape and Sunday morning Wake-up from
Kentucky.
A
combined team made up of people from Kentucky and Indianapolis did
two consecutive Weekends together; one at St Mauer’s in Indianapolis
which was a joint Men and Women’s Weekend because we needed to have
men and women to form teams in the near future . The following
week the same team did one in Louisville at St. Thomas. We were now
equipped to do our own thing. We started off in 1981 with a Men’s
weekend, and held a Women's weekend the next week. These were held
at the Benedictine Center in Beech Grove, IN.
We
were on our way and thanks to God’s blessing and all those
Cursillistas like yourselves we are still on the Way.
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