Ultreya

Welcome to the Calvert County Ultreya web site. The purpose of our group is to provide an opportunity for all small groups in our area to meet and share Christian experiences through prayer, study and action.

Meetings

St. John Vienney Catholic Church
105 Vienney Lane
Prince Frederick, MD 20678

The Columbus Room (Church Basement)

Second Monday of each month 7:30 PM
 

Calvert County Ultreya Leaders

CURSILLO (Kur-See-Yo)

Most of us are curious, if not mystified, the first time we hear one of our fellow parishioners utter the word “Cursillo”. The word is Spanish for “a short course”. It is used by a group of Catholics to describe a method of renewal which helps them to know Christ better and to participate more fully in the life of their Church. Thus “Cursillo in Christianity” literally means “A short course in Christianity”. And that is exactly what the 3 day weekend provides.

The Cursillo idea was initiated by Bishop Juan Herves of Majorca, Spain while he was developing a short course in Christianity for parishioners who wanted to make a pilgrimage to Campostella. His idea was to develop a course to spiritualize the pilgrimage and have a lasting impact on the pilgrims prior to their departure. From this targeted start, he expanded his original ideas into what became the Cursillo Method in 1949. Today, the course is not directed at pilgrims going to a place in Spain, but to all Christians in the world so that they can share the work Christ has given us to share. 

The Cursillo movement is world-wide and exists to strengthen the Church and to renew its members. Members work within the structure of the Church to build up and revitalize the body of Christ. Therefore, Cursillo does not sponsor other specific programs or institutions. Cursillistas come in all shapes and colors. Priests, laypersons and other Christian denominations have completed the “Short Course”. Cursillo has the approval of Church leaders including the Archbishop of Washington and other Bishops.

The Cursillo experience begins with a three-day weekend that some have compared to a retreat. Unlike a retreat, when the Cursillo weekend ends, the, new members are invited into “Reunions”. These are small friendly support groups which meet periodically to share their Christian experiences based on what was learned during the Cursillo weekend. The composition of these groups varies but they are usually 6 to 8 persons. New members can also form new small groups if the existing ones do not meet their needs. There is also a monthly gathering of the small groups into a larger community called Ultreyas, where similar discussions occur with all the small group members. The Calvert County Ultreya meets monthly at St. John Vianney in Prince Frederick, MD.

Most of us have questions about what the weekend is like and how long it lasts.  Your sponsor is a good person to talk with about these questions.  There are no secrets about the weekend but there should be some good “surprises”. If you do not yet have a sponsor, one way to learn a little more about Cursillo is to ask someone you know who has attended a Cursillo Weekend to take you to an Ultreya.  Ultreya is a gathering of people from small prayer groups who have been to Cursillo.  They meet on a regular basis to support each other through prayer, study and action as active Christians.  Our Calvert Ultreya meets on the second Monday of each month at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Prince Frederick.  Doing this, will enable you to meet other Cursillistas in your area and give you an idea of the flavor of a weekend.

The weekend begins On Thursday evening at 7:00 PM at the Josephite Center in Washington, DC.  Your Sponsor will provide your transportation to and from the weekend.  Please plan to leave early enough in the afternoon to stop and have dinner with you sponsor and arrive on time at the Ultreya.  Then relax.  You will have to do nothing else except participate in the weekend.  The weekend will end late Sunday afternoon.  You can expect to be home after dinner Sunday evening. 

Bring comfortable clothing appropriate to the season.  Dress is casual.  Bedding, washcloths, pillows, and towels will be provided.  You are requested to leave home your watches, cell phones, pagers, and other distractions.  One Cursillo Team member will have a cell phone for emergency use and will have a list of emergency numbers provided by attendees. 

 After the weekend you will enter your Fourth Day, which is the rest of your life.  You will be encouraged and invited to join the existing community of persons who have also experienced the weekend.  This is accomplished by joining an existing Small Group or by forming a new one, and by attending the monthly Ultreya.  The idea is to give strength and support to each other in order to grow in faith.