Your service of proclaiming Christ by being his witnesses in your everyday environments, is an embodiment, a concrete renewal of the Baptism that we have received in Him and makes you disciples and missionaries of the Word, as this was expressed in the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church: “Through their Baptism and Confirmation all are commissioned to the apostolate by the Lord Himself” (Lumen Gentium no. 33).
Make a friend,
Be a friend,
Bring a friend to Christ
Pope Francis and Cursillo
“I was introduced to Cursillo earlier and I had zero interest in it, but in February 2009 I was invited to make my Cursillo weekend and the timing was perfect. And I said yes to attending the Cursillo weekend that July.
I'm so glad I did. Cursillo and those I met helped catapult me into a deep relationship with God and for the first time I felt how much I was and am truly loved by God. Everything since has been a gift from My Father in Heaven.”
Matt Maddalozzo
What is Curisllo?
Overview
We are a movement recognized by the Roman Catholic Church (and which has also spread in several other Christian churches).
History
Cursillo did not come to the Church as a spontaneous creation. It was rooted in the human soil of Spain. We can trace it back to the call of Pius XI.
The Weekend
It is not easy to describe what goes on during the three days of the Cursillo.
The Journey
They leave the cursillo with the desire to live their lives illuminated by this light and to transform this light into a beacon of love which will consume their entire lives and will light the way to God for others
The Tiny Seed of Cursillo
“The tiny seed planted in Spain more than 50 years ago has become a great tree laden with fruits of the Spirit”
Vancouver Cursillo Team
Fr. Mark McGuckin was born and raised in Maple Ridge, British Columbia. Prior to entering the Seminary of Christ the King in 2010, he was working as writer, actor, editor, and producer in the Vancouver Film and TV industry. Father Mark was ordained as a diocesan priest for the Archdiocese of Vancouver on May 14th, 2016 alongside his good friend Fr. Lucio Choi. Fr. Mark spent two years as an assistant pastor at St. Paul's in Richmond, another two years at St. Mary's in Chilliwack, and now he is currently pastor at St. Joseph's in Port Moody. Fr. Mark describes his ministerial vocation to serve the people of God in the Archdiocese (and beyond) as an absolute joy and privilege.
“In the autumn of 2019, I became the chaplain of the Cursillo Movement in Vancouver and what wonderful journey it has been – soaking in the spiritual sustenance, blessing (and being blessed by) the cursillistas, and participating in Our Lord’s work of shaping this movement into a bright beacon of faith, hope, and love. With great confidence, I know many more will cleave to Jesus and His Church through this Spirit-led movement – Cursillo. We would love for you and your close friends to be part of this ‘MANY’! Please reach out to us, we’re looking forward to connecting with you.”
Hello I’m Larry Bowen:
I did not grow up in a home where God (or politics) was mentioned, although I did attend Sunday school for a very brief time. When I was 21 I traveled to Europe, and every time I entered a Catholic Church I felt comfortable and at home. My first real experience in the Catholic Church was when Catherine & I were married in 1972. I had no plan on becoming Catholic and resisted any invitation to go to church until our first son was making his first communion. That’s when I started attending Sunday Mass. But ‘I still wasn’t going to become Catholic!’ The Holy Spirit took over in 1999 and I was baptized, confirmed, and received the Eucharist.
That same year Catherine made her Cursillo, and I told her not to expect me to ever make a weekend. Well, again, the Holy Spirit works overtime to get me to do what He knows is good for me. In September 2001, I ‘accidentally’ joined the Cursillo national conference at Hatzic Lake, when I dropped Catherine off for the weekend.
That’s where I experienced the agape love of Cursillistas, who welcomed and embraced me in spite of myself. They enthusiastically asked me to stay, telling me they had an extra guitar (which is my Achille’s heel, I can never say no to). They invited me to the next Ultreya, and I couldn’t wait to join the next men’s weekend, in May 2002. It was on my weekend, where I really encountered Christ in a profound way. I have continued to experience God’s love in my Cursillo faith journey over the past 19 years.
Cursillo has given me authentic, true friendships, as I continue to journey with dedicated like-minded men in Group Reunion, every Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. Through grouping and Ultreya, I learn a great deal from others who witness overcoming their own challenges. I am constantly inspired by the devotion of others as they share growing closer to God through their piety, study, and action. These authentic friendships have not only been a source of encouragement, but also loving correction for me, as I share my concerns and struggles in being a disciple. I rely on my group to keep me on track.
I believe in the Cursillo method. I don’t know what my life would be like without Cursillo. We definitely are ‘companions on the journey’, helping each other to be the best version of ourselves. I want to share with others what Cursillo has given me, in authentic loving friendship with God and with others. God has given me a full life through my Cursillo journey. This is what I hope for others, and why I continue to serve in the Cursillo movement.
DeColores
Hello, I’m Catherine Bowen.
I began living my Cursillo in May 1999.
While praying in the chapel on my weekend, I heard the words “This is what the Kingdom of God is meant to be!” How beautiful and hope-filled were these words, as I reflected on the power of God’s grace, through the loving sacrifices of so many, for me.
My intimate encounters with Jesus in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament came during my weekend. I thank God for igniting my love for Him in this beautiful way.
By living what Cursillo teaches me, (which is living the Gospel Truth), I am empowered to live in conscious grace. Continuing to journey with Cursillo brothers and sisters, greatly encourages and challenges me to answer Jesus’ call to walk in friendship with God and help others to know that they are loved by Him.
Journeying closely with other Cursillistas in my 4th Day of Ultreya, Group Reunion, and School of Leaders has enabled me to strive (along with others) for an ideal centered on Christ. I’ve grown in encountering myself while encountering God, which liberates me to love others without relying on my own (mis)perceptions and judgments. In these 4th Day encounters, I experience the freedom of sharing my vulnerability with others, who do the same with me.
Before Cursillo, I would never have applied the word ‘evangelization’ to myself. Fellow Cursillistas affirm me, helping me to see ways that I have been an effective disciple, by allowing the Holy Spirit, to use my personality and the situations I naturally find myself in, to witness to Jesus’ love through my actions and yes, sometimes, even my words.
The reason I am still committed to my journey and serve in Cursillo is out of gratitude for the fulfillment I receive as it helps keep me on the path of my Journey with Christ.
Everyone's life has its ups and downs! It has been my involvement with Cursillo and the methods of Group Reunion and Ultreya that have sustained me thru it all and helped me to become closer and closer to Christ. De Colores!!
A wife and 4 kids, living the dream!
Made my Cursillo weekend in Boise, ID around 2008. Was an amazing experience that led to creating some new friendships which had a huge impact on my faith.
I moved to another country and Cursillo found me again.
After playing on a Church soccer team, one of the other players asked if I wanted to make a weekend. I told him I already made a weekend but would be happy to help out.
That was an equally amazing experience (compared to my original weekend) and has created friendships that have lasted many years.
Cursillo continues to help me be focused on Christ through Prayer, Study, and the action that comes out of that.
Its an honor to be part of the Vancouver Cursillo movement.
A Great Community of Christian Friends
Cursillo is a worldwide movement
