What is Cursillo?

Cursillo is a lay movement promoting Catholic ideals, fellowship, and spiritual growth. It offers a chance to deepen faith and experience God's love within a supportive community. Cursillo aims to help individuals influence others to encounter Christ and spread the Gospel through three-day retreats. It encourages Christians to live their faith daily, supporting spiritual growth. Candidates are invited to strengthen their relationship with God in a welcoming community. The program involves passionate talks and discussions on grace, sacraments, prayer, and living in harmony with God, during a lively 3-day weekend from Thursday to Sunday. This experience helps participants explore their faith and enjoy a joyful, enthusiastic spiritual life.

History

STARTED IN Majorca, Spain, in the 1940s

APPROVED AND BLESSED BY the Catholic Church, Cursillo gained international recognition.

The CURSILLO METHOD trains lay people to become effective leaders and enables participants to expand their prayer life, engage in ongoing study, and share their faith.

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Young layperson, Eduardo Bonnín, was involved in early Cursillo courses. Bonnin launched Cursillo into an active renewal movement

Cursillo spread to North America in 1957.

The first U.S. Cursillo was held in Waco, Texas.

In Memphis

1964

First Men's Cursillo Established in Memphis

1965

First Women's Cursillo in Memphis

1998

First Spanish Cursillo in Memphis

Maybe You've Seen or Heard

Have you ever seen the word Cursillo somewhere and wondered what is was? Maybe you spotted a bumper sticker with a vibrant rooster and the words "De Colores"—and thought, "Hmm? Must be their favorite Mexican restaurant!" Well, that's a common assumption for those unfamiliar with Spanish or the Cursillo movement.

Let me share a bit more about those familiar items you might have seen or heard. Just like with the Catholic faith, everything has a meaning or a purpose—Cursillo is no different.

Why the Rooster?

A Call to a New Day:

The rooster’s crow at sunrise represents the beginning of a new, enlightened life in grace, moving away from darkness.

Repentance and Grace:

It recalls St. Peter’s remorse after denying Jesus, symbolizing that even in human failure, there is forgiveness, hope, and restoration.

“De Colores” Symbolism: Originating from the traditional song, the colorful rooster represents the many colors of life, joy, and the covenant of God.

Commitment and Watchfulness:

The rooster acts as a sentinel, urging Christians to be alert and ready for Christ’s presence in their daily lives.

Prosperity and Growth:

In Spanish culture, it symbolizes the “wealth” of a new, vibrant, and fruitful life, often associated with growth, joy, and the promise of the resurrection.

Rainbow Colors

In Cursillo, the rainbow-colored rooster symbolizes the "De Colores" song, representing joy, the diversity of God's creation, and the beauty of living in grace. The colors symbolize a new, vibrant life in Christ, with the rainbow representing God's covenant and promise.

Specific meanings for the colors in the rooster's tail are often interpreted as:

Green

Represents new life, growth, and the beauty of nature.

Blue

Represents loyalty, commitment to God, and the waters of baptism.

Purple

Represents the suffering of Jesus and the death and resurrection.

Yellow and Orange

Represent the warmth and light of God's love.

Red

Symbolizes joy, celebration, and the Holy Spirit.

De Colores Song

In Cursillo, the "De Colores" song is an anthem celebrating joy, God’s grace, and the beauty of creation, symbolizing a life lived in vibrant color rather than monotony. It translates to "In Colors" or "Of Colors," representing the diverse, rich, and loving presence of Christ in daily life, the community, and the world.

Life in Grace

"De Colores" is used by Cursillistas to mean being in a state of grace and feeling the joy of God's love.

Celebration of Creation

The lyrics celebrate the beauty of the world—such as birds, rainbows, and spring—as reflections of God's glory.

The Multi-colored Life

It implies that just as a prism breaks white light into a rainbow, Christians should reflect the many colors (aspects) of Christ in their lives.

Origins & Symbolism

Originating from a Spanish folk song, it was popularized in Cursillo after a group saw a colorful rooster in a field after a storm, symbolizing hope and beauty after darkness. Greeting: It signifies a shared bond in Christ among Cursillistas.

De Colores Lyrics

In colors, the fields drape themselves in profusion of colors in springtime.

In colors, in colors the young birds arriving from afar.

In colors, in colors, the brilliant rainbow we spy

And that's why the great love of infinite colors is pleasing to me

And that's why the great love of infinite colors is pleasing to me.

The rooster sings, the rooster sings with a cockle doodle do (kiri, kiri)

The hen, the hen with a cluck, cluck, cluck (kara, kara)

The baby chicks, the baby chicks, with a cheep, cheep, cheep (pio, pio)

And that's why the great love of infinite colors is pleasing to me

And that's why the great love of infinite colors is pleasing to me.

Interested
in Cursillo?

First—prayerfully consider living a Cursillo weekend.

Who should go on the weekend?

A Cursillo weekend is primarily intended for those who are:

Baptized, Committed Catholics
Catholics who can receive the Sacraments of the Church
Catholics who are active in their parishes or who want to be more active
Catholics who are interested in exploring what it means to be a Christian in today's world

A Cursillo weekend is also valuable for baptized Catholics who:

Live as Catholics but are not currently involved in the Church, or
Have slipped away from the Church but are beginning to move back.

We recommend waiting a year before considering attending your Cursillo 3-Day Weekend if you have recently been through one of these major life events...

a change in marital status
a serious illness
bereavement
people with acute emotional problems or in psychiatric treatment

Next Steps for Cursillo

BEFORE

(Pre-Cursillo)

Pray About It.

Fill Out the Application.

Apply to Participate

You can find the application here.

Find A Sponsor.

Your sponsor is an old, new, or future friend who has already attended a Cursillo. And not to worry, if you don't have someone in mind, we have many other active Cursillistas who would love to sponsor you or help you find one.

The sponsor must be an active Cursillistas and will be responsible for preparing the candidate for the weekend, establishing the new cursillista in a group reunion, and introducing the new cursillista to Ultreya.

Pay the 3-Day Weekend Fee

Yes, there is a fee involved. We would love to have this as a free event one day, but we are not there yet. We have facilities, food, and expenses related. But again, not to worry if finances are a reason that is keeping you form attending a Cursillo, we have you covered. We do have financial assistance for those who need it.

Get Ready for Your Weekend.

Take time to pray for your coming weekend. Pray for those involved in your weekend. Make sure you have a free schedule from work and family, so you can really focuse on the experience and what will be placed in front of you.

I'm Ready to Apply Now

DURING

(3-Day Cursillo Weekend)

3–Day Team
The 3-Day team forms Christian community, prepares the Rollo’s, and organizes the weekend. The formation process starts before the weekend, with members participating in Ultreya and the School of Leaders and living their lives fully after their Cursillo weekend.

Food Team

The food team gathers and purchases items for Thursday dinner and weekend snacks using donations. The retreat facility provides all meals Friday to Sunday. The team arrives Thursday to set up dinner, cleans up afterward, and returns on Sunday to clean the kitchen and remove remaining food and drinks.

Palanca Team

The Palanca team works to change hearts through Grace each weekend, increasing prayer for candidates and during the 3Day. Plans include 24-hour adoration on all 3Day weekends, with sign-up at Ultreya’s beforehand.

Facilities Team

At Our Lady Queen of Peace Event & Retreat Center. The facilities team sets up the Rollo room, moves tables for Thursday’s food, and returns Sunday to help set up and clean up for Clausura, which requires chairs and other items in the Chapel.

AFTER

(Post-Cursillo)

Post-Cursillo is A Support System.

This system comprises of spiritual direction, reunions, and events for ongoing learning and growth.

The weekend transitions participants from Precursillo to Postcursillo, fostering Christian values and community spirit. Postcursillo strengthens relationships and promotes holiness and evangelization, helping Cursillistas find their place in the Church and world with tools to live their faith. Main methods include Group Reunions and Ultreya, which unite members and support both individuals and the community.

Events that Enrich Growth.

We have two such gatherings scheduled monthly. One is Ultreya and the other is School of Leaders.

Postcursillo offers an opportunity to deepen relationships started during the weekend. The Church calls all to holiness and evangelization. "All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of love.”

The Postcursillo is based on the idea that ongoing conversion develops environments and individuals alike. A good program helps Cursillistas find their place in the Church and world, with tools to live out their faith.

Main methods for nurturing Christian life in Postcursillo are Group Reunions for individuals and Ultreya for the community.

Once groups are formed, the Ultreya unites members into a larger community, supporting both individuals and the whole

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Cursillo is hosted by

3-Day Cursillo Weekends

Take Place at the beautiful Our Lady Queen of Peace Event & Retreat Center in Stanton, Tennessee, operated by the Memphis Diocese. The event begins Thursday evening and concludes on Sunday evening. Attendance for the full weekend is required. It is the sponsor’s duty to transport you to and from the weekend.

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