UPCOMING 3 DAY WEEKENDS
October 1 – 4 2009, Men’s Weekend, Savior Pastoral Center
October 22 – 25 2009, Women’s Weekend, Savior Pastoral Center
March 18 – 21 2010, Men’s Weekend, Savior Pastoral Center
OVERALL
Each day of the Cursillo Weekend begins with Morning Prayers and ends with Night Prayers. Mass is celebrated daily (except Thursday). Each participant should be aware that, since prayer is such an intricate part of the Cursillo Movement, there will be other cursillistas that will be continually praying and offering up sacrifices – for the success of the Cursillo Weekend. There will be proper nourishment provided and also adequate rest periods. Those that have special needs, such as a particular diet or physical needs, will be attended to properly.
THURSDAY NIGHT
This is a time to get to know each other and to have an overview of the Cursillo Weekend. This is also the retreat phase of the Cursillo Weekend, which is designed “To awaken the moral consciences of the participants, beginning with an analysis of their own lives and causing them to desire to encounter God.” The retreat phase (done in silence and ends Friday morning after Mass) includes three meditations and “The Way of the Cross.” The meditations are: 1) Know Yourself, 2) The Prodigal Son, and 3) The Three Glances of Christ (this is given Friday morning).
FRIDAY
The focus of Friday should be to help each participant to have a better understanding of themselves. Friday should help them discover what motivates them in different situations.
During this day the participants will hear five presentations. Three presentations will be given by members of the laity and they are: 1) Ideals, 2) The Layperson as the Church in the World, and 3) Holiness. The other two presentations will be given by the Spiritual Directors and they are: 1) Grace and 2) Faith. While the presentations provide the participants with information and witnessed experiences, it is the table discussions (following each presentation) that prove to be one of the real dynamics of the Weekend. The sharing, which takes place during the table discussions, provides the participants with an opportunity to share their own insights about the presentation. Furthermore, the participants have the opportunity to hear how other participants perceived that same presentation.
After each presentation and table discussions, the participants will draft a written summary of the presentation and table discussion. Later the participants will have an opportunity to graphically illustrate their ideas of the presentations and table discussions. That evening, each table group will share their summaries and graphic illustrations with the other participants and team members.
SATURDAY
The focus for Saturday is to combine that fully realized self (that they learned about Friday) with a wonderful and loving God. Saturday helps the participants to understand the current relationship that they have with God and should spawn a desire for a still deeper and fuller relationship with God.
The schedule for Saturday follows the same format as Friday. Again, there are three laity presentations entitled: 1) Formation, 2) Evangelization, and 3) Leaders. As with Friday’s schedule, there are also two Spiritual Director presentations entitled: 1) Sacraments, and 2) Obstacles to a Life of Grace. Table discussions again play a very dynamic role in generating various insights concerning the presentations. The summaries (of each presentation) and the graphic illustrations are shared with all, just like on Friday.
SUNDAY
The focus for Sunday is the understanding of ourselves, our relationship with God, and how we can help Him in fulfilling His Will. We learn what environments we belong to and how we can affect those environments.
The same format is used on Sunday, except there is only one Spiritual Director presentation – Christian Life. There are the usual three laity presentations, which are: 1) Study and Evangelization of the Environments, 2) Christian Community, and 3) Group Reunion and Ultreya.
Sunday night at the Clausura (Closing), the participants come face to face with the larger Cursillo Community that has been so supportive during the entire weekend. It is during this meeting that the participants enter this Cursillo Community.
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