The Cursillo Movement is focused to help each of us fulfill our baptismal responsibility: to go forth, as apostles, and proclaim the Gospel. We can no longer afford to sit passively by and "hope" that the world comes to know Christ. We must make a conscientious effort to "tell" the world about Christ. The Cursillo Movement provides us with the necessary tools for fulfilling our baptismal responsibility along with the training for using those tools.
Cum Christo, Latin for "with Christ" is an e-movement, an ecumenical movement, based on the worldwide "Cursillo de Christiandad." Starting in Columbus Ohio in 1964, in order to do the work of Cursillo (i.e., Christianize environments) the Bishop and Secretariat saw that -- give the low percentage of Catholics in our region -- an outreach to the mainstream Protestant denominations was necessary; an adaptation that the founders of Cursillo allowed by giving the local bishop authority over the Cursillo. The Cum Christo movement is thriving with four weekends a year, over 100 candidates, and an ancient old school building (1800's vintage) as a central facility for holding Cum Christo weekends, Ultreyas, Fourth Day activities, and rented out to other movements for their use.
Diaspora is an ecumenical weekend experience led by lay people. The weekend begins on Thursday evening and ends Sunday afternoon. Diaspora takes place on two weekends, the first for the men and the second for the women. At Diaspora you will spend three busy but very enjoyable days living and studying together through discussion, prayer, worship, and singing. Discussion centers around thirteen talks given by laity and clergy. These talks present the theme of God's grace, and how that grace comes alive in the Christian community and expresses itself in the world. You'll also discover how grace is real in your life, and how you can live a life in grace, bringing grace to others. You will have opportunities to participate in the celebration of Holy Communion, and to begin to understand more fully the presence of Christ in his body of believers. You will experience God's grace personally through the prayers and acts of service of a living support community.
The Great Banquet is an orderly, structured weekend designed to strengthen and renew the faith of Christians. Through a combined effort of laity and clergy, the Great Banquet focuses on the renewal of the church.
The image of the Great Banquet comes from Luke 14:15-24. Jesus tells of a master who prepared a great banquet and invited many guests, saying "Come, for everything is now ready." Many had excuses and did not attend. Finally, many were brought who were poor, crippled, blind and lame. The result of the master's invitation was to feast and fellowship at a banquet given by God.
The Journey to Damascus is an ecumenical movement under the direction of the Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi whose aim is to promote a renewal or rekindling of life's core religious values. This is accomplished by conducting weekend retreats in Corpus Christi which will lead to an individual's becoming more involved in their Church Community including joining groups of Christians who gather regularly to talk about their faith.
Tres Dias is an ecumenical Christian renewal movement. It encourages people to be in small groups to support each other in their lives as Christians. Tres Dias is similar to the Cursillo movements. There are more than 45 Tres Dias communities around the world.
Unidos en Cristo is a Christian Community whose purpose is to help persons develop a living faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The Unidos en Cristo community affirms that the living faith in Jesus Christ acknowledges the Bible as the authoritative Word of God, along with the principles of the Christian faith as expressed in the Apostles Creed. By being an active member in this movement we affirm our own personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
VIA de CRISTO is a Spanish phrase meaning "Way of Christ." VIA de CRISTO is a highly structured three day weekend designed to strengthen and renew the faith of Christian people and bring them to a new awareness of living in God's grace. It is a combined effort of lay people and clergy toward renewal of the church.
Walk to Emmaus (The Upper Room)
The Walk to EmmausŪ is a spiritual renewal program intended to strengthen the local church through the development of Christian disciples and leaders. The Walk to EmmausŪ experience begins with a 72-hour short course in Christianity, comprised of fifteen talks by lay and clergy on the themes of God's grace, disciplines of Christian discipleship, and what it means to be the church. The course is wrapped in prayer and meditation, special times of worship and daily celebration of Holy Communion. The "EmmausŪ community," made up of those who have attended an EmmausŪ weekend, support the 72-hour experience with a prayer vigil, by preparing and serving meals, and other acts of love and self-giving.
The purpose of Kairos is the building of strong Christian communities within the environment of correctional institutions. That is done through the impact of small, share and prayer groups of residents in the institutions. These groups meet weekly to share their lives on a very deep spiritual level and to pray for one and other and for the residents and the staff.
The Kairos web site serving the United Kingdom.
Kairos Outside is a non-profit ministry designed to support the wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, etc of men and women who are incarcerated. This is done by providing a safe environment for a short time with Christian people, and the opportunity to interact with women in similar situations. After the weekend, the women are encouraged to meet regularly in prayer and share groups, and to attend quarterly or semi-annual reunions. We believe that women are “doing time” right along with their loved ones, and we want to let them know that there is a Christian community who cares about them and their needs.
The Awakening is the youth version of the Great Banquet, designed for older youth who are seeking an awareness of each one's need to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and then begin to make Him Lord in all areas of life.
The image of the Awakening comes from I Samuel 3:1-10. One night as Samuel was lying down in the temple, the Lord calls, "Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel did not yet know the Lord so he did not recognize who was calling him. After the Lord calls Samuel three times, Samuel is instructed by Eli to respond with, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears."
ChrysalisŪ is the name chosen for the Youth Walk to EmmausŪ because it symbolizes faith growth in the lives of high school and college aged young adults - the spiritual growth that is necessary between adolescence and adulthood. It is a crucial time of maturing faith for discipleship.
Happening-A Christian Experience
Happening is a program designed for high school youth. It is one of the
instruments to renew the church in the power of the Holy Spirit, that the church my
respond more readily to its call to spread the Kingdom of God through out the world.
During a two day gathering, participants experience the
love of our Lord Jesus Christ as shown through the sacraments and the ministry of fellow
students, clergy, and lay adults. Teens are encouraged to take a renewed faith back into
their worlds to "make a friend, be a friend, and bring a friend to Christ."
Vida Nueva is an ecumenical, evangelical Christian retreat weekend and movement. It encourages teenagers to commit their lives to Jesus Christ and to live as Christians.
Vocare is an instrument of renewal in the Church for young adults aged 19 - 30. Its aim is to concentrate closely on the person and teachings of Jesus Christ. Our faith is seriously examined in a relaxed, fun and informal, loving atmosphere. Vocare is an experience that gives those who attend the desire to understand and serve the Church. What's more, it provides a means to continue the Christian formation which is just begun in the three-day program.
Epiphany Ministry has at present 10 states affiliated in a ministry for incarcerated juveniles. It is an ecumenical Christian ministry for young men and women who are in the custody of either the Department of Youth Services or Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. The weekend models on which it is based are Kairos Prison Ministry, Cursillo, Walk to Emmaus, Chrysalis, Happening and Cross. The purpose of Epiphany Ministry is to manifest God's love to the incarcerated youths known as "Stars" through a three-day short course in Christianity and an ongoing follow-up program. Each Epiphany weekend involves a team of adults and youth from the Christian community who work together to show the love of God to the 25 Stars attending.
