“The work of the Cursillo Movement is the work of the whole church. The Servant Community is a way of distributing that work as well as a means of increasing the overall maturity of the Movement through its leaders. A Cursillo leader is one who helps a Cursillo community by “walking their talk” and showing the way in witness and love. Jesus did not give Peter a position or title, but a directive to serve: “Feed my sheep.” A leader is first and foremost a servant. ”
During the period of pre-Cursillo, sponsors/Cursillistas (who have already completed a Cursillo retreat) prayerfully seek and recommend the candidacy for possible attendees who are confirmed members of the Episcopal Church and who are a living witness to their love for Jesus Christ. It is also the time when selected candidates are informed of what they may expect at the three-day weekend, and are assisted in appropriate preparations.
Sponsorship- In order for Cursillo to be a force for positive change in the Church, sponsorship must be seen as one of the most crucial elements in the development of persons who will be active in the Fourth Day. Sponsorship of a candidate for a three-day Cursillo weekend occurs when a Cursillista asks someone to attend a Cursillo weekend. It is a great responsibility to be asked to be a sponsor. Everyone who has attended a Cursillo Weekend has done so because someone thought enough of them to invite them.
Sponsorship is an activity of the local Cursillo Movement, and the process begins with the Cursillo Commission and the Servant Community. The ‘Pre-Cursillo Committee’ plays a vital role in communicating with sponsors prior to a three-day weekend. Sponsors are reminded of their responsibilities for the candidates, such as explaining what Cursillo is; introducing the candidates to the Fourth Day; determining their willingness to participate; praying for them during this process; plus taking the candidates to and from the weekend site; mobilizing palanca for the candidates; participating in the scheduled events during the Weekend; attending at the Fourth Day workshop, and assisting the candidates in finding and joining a reunion group. Sponsors may also be expected to discuss the cost of the Weekend with candidates. LEARN MORE ABOUT SPONSORSHIP HERE
Registration Letters- In the hope of making the three-day Cursillo weekend as meaningful as possible for the candidates they should be informed in advance of what to expect during the weekend. The Pre-Cursillo Committee develops and delivers registration letters to the candidates. The registration letters describe for the candidates the preparations that they should make for attendance at the weekend, including items to bring for the weekend, suggestions for clothing, etc. The registration letter is intended to both guide the candidate in preparing for the weekend and also to help alleviate any worries or concerns that the candidate might have about the weekend. VIEW OUR REGISTRATION FORM HERE
Parish Visits-The Pre-Cursillo Committee is instrumental in helping to identify potential candidates for the three-day Cursillo weekends. This process is ongoing in the home churches of the members of the Fourth Day community. One of the key roles of the Pre-Cursillo Committee is to identify and reach out to parishes within the Diocese that are not yet as active, or are not active at all, in the Cursillo movement and arrange meetings within the parish, first with the clergy and then, with the clergy’s assistance, with members of the parish who have expressed interest in, or might be expected to express interest in, Cursillo. During these visits, members of the Pre-Cursillo Committee explain the Cursillo to those interested, to provide literature for them to study, and to provide the means for interested individuals to communicate with members of the Fourth Day community. Pre-Cursillo Committee members follow up with the clergy and interested members within these parishes.