Cursillo: Supporting parishes and their clergy

Imagine if our diocese had resources specifically designed to raise up Christian leaders and support clergy in their goals of education, spiritual formation, and faith development.

Oh, wait, … the Ottawa Anglican Cursillo Movement does just that! 

You may have heard of Cursillo residential weekends which offer Christian education through brief talks, small group discussions, doodling (yup, you read that right), worship, uplifting music, and precious time to gather with other Christians. Led by a team with both a Lay Rector and two Spiritual Directors, weekends have been curtailed during the pandemic; however, we are hopeful that they will resume in the fall of this year or the spring of 2023. Organization is underway for both a Women’s Weekend and a Men’s Weekend. 

Cursillo offers more than occasional weekend programs. We hold worship services throughout the year, currently over Zoom, which are open to all. (Email [email protected] to get the link to the next event.) With any luck, we’ll again hold outdoor events at the bandshell of Andrew Haydon Park this summer. We also encourage the formation of small groups who meet regularly to discussion how they are living the word of God through study, action, and piety (an often misunderstood word meaning devotion). Talk about keeping your faith alive and relevant.

Cursillo has been a ministry in our diocese for over 40 years and is active all over the world in many Christian denominations. Bishop Shane Parker is a long-time Cursillista who endorses this diocesan ministry. Recently, he shared his uplifting view that 

“Cursillo:

•  offers a unique educational program, a short course in Christianity, that serves both the diocese and parishes. 
• offers a unique Ministry of Service; it serves the diocese by offering education and the power of the Spirit. 
• offers a rich experience of the Holy Spirit working in the community of the church
• promotes lifelong learning and discipleship and raises up leaders.
• energizes people to return to their parishes and jobs and to be Christians in those environments.  
• weekends offer an intense educational and community-building experience of community-in-residence in the same way that a group pilgrimage to the Holy Land does.” 

So, how can your Cursillo ministry support you and your parish? A member of the Secretariat would be pleased to speak with your parish council or other group about it. We don’t offer the only faith development resources in town, but ours are darned good ones. Contact any of us for more information or check out our website at OACM.ca.

— Colleen Mayo, [email protected]; Wayne Kauk, [email protected]; Reve. Jan Staniforth, [email protected]