Cursillo is a world-wide movement of the Christian Church which strives to penetrate and Christianise environments through Christian Communities in action. It is not a new type of spirituality but simply a method through which spirituality may be developed, lived and shared in any area of human life where there are Christians willing to dedicate their lives to God in an on-going manner.

Cursillo works to form groups of people who are Christian leaders and who will provide a backbone for Christian life in our community. Cursillo is designed to make it possible for anyone to live what is fundamental to being a Christian -- to live in union with Christ and to desire to bring others to Christ.

Cursillo is a Spanish word meaning little or short course. The Cursillo Three Days provides an experience of living in a Christian community and experiencing how fellow Christians live. The programme is designed to cover three whole days. During this time, people live and work together, listening to and discussing ideas presented by lay people and clergy. Talks during the Three Days have a specific purpose -- to present a vision of Christian Life and are not meant to provide a Christian doctrine.

The atmosphere of a Cursillo Three Days differs from the individual solitude of retreats. Christ's teachings are discussed in a climate of joy. Talks and discussions are interspersed with prayer, Eucharists, songs, laughter and times of reflection and silence. There is nothing dull about a Cursillo Three Days! It is full of work enjoyed in the name of Jesus Christ. It is a joyous workshop in the fundamentals of our Christian faith.

The Cursillo is not a 'weekend wonder' solving all the problems of the church and society. Rather the Cursillo is maintained through individual prayer, study and action. Small reunions of friends and reunions of the community, support and encourage spiritual growth and apostolic action.

A Cursillo Three Days is an encounter with Christ. If that is understood then the power, beauty and joy of the Cursillo Movement will be understood. The Cursillo method described during the three days provides means to continue Christian growth after the three days. The resulting Christian community consists of groups of people who live the Christian life, linked together in Christ, and who plan the Christianisation of their environments.