All about Cursillo, and the Fredericton group that carries on in its name

For about 40 years, a group of men has been meeting in Fredericton for fellowship and study. Naturally, their members have come and gone over the years.

Some have passed on, but this group began as a result of the Cursillo movement being taken up in this diocese in the early 1980s. Stan Weaver and Reid Saunders were the original members in Fredericton. 

At its largest, it had a dozen members. These days, the membership includes Clyde Spinney (Parish of New Maryland), Charles Ferris (Christ Church Cathedral), Clare Box (Parish of Gagetown), Bill Acheson (Lutheran/United), Marc Schneider (Anglican/Baptist), Douglas Wright (Christ Church Cathedral) and Jack Passmore (Anglican/Baptist).

Cursillo, a Spanish word, means a short course, in this case, a course in living a deeply immersive Christian life in the world. The movement began during the Second World War as a way for the lay Roman Catholics of Spain to take back their Church, which was aligned with the dictator Franco.

It is still a ministry of the Roman Catholic Church, and it licenses its use in North America through the RC bishop of Texas.

Cursillo features a three-day weekend of total immersion in Jesus, followed by small group meetings like the Fredericton group, and occasional big gatherings. These days, the weekends and big gatherings are rare, leaving the small group.

 Cursillo includes three basic elements with which to live one’s life: Piety, study and action.

“Piety is our response to what God has done for us,” said Clyde. “We added ‘and grace.’”

Study is the main focus of this group these days. Action is the adoption of a mission.

“For many years, we took on Bill Hockin’s marketplace ministry,” said Charles. “Since Bill’s ministry ended, we’ve loosely put our support with Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. It has a strong Anglican connection.”

“These three pillars form our spirituality,” said Clare. “These are the three things that hold us together.”

THE CURSILLO WEEKEND
For most, Cursillo begins with the three-day weekend, which many in this group have experienced. 

“The weekend is very intense,” said Charles. “Most of us did it at some time. The weekend is full of surprises, lots of music, very intense prayer times. The Holy Spirit really takes control of the meeting.”

“That ‘short course’ covers everything — stem to stern,” said Clyde. “There are two courses on communion itself. The individual takes all that and fleshes it out.”

“Fleshing out” all that’s been learned and experienced, coupled with book study, is this group’s follow-up focus these days.

“Cursillo’s strength is found in its small groups,” said Clyde. “To continue to grow, we needed to get books and actually study them. That’s what we’ve done for 40 years.”

Clyde acts as the unofficial coordinator, acquiring and distributing the books. They estimate they’ve studied at least 60 books in the intervening years, often taking on a chapter per meeting to really dig deep. 

Some authors they’ve used are Philip Yancy, Tim Kellor, Samuel Wells, Francis Collins, Richard Rohr and Allister McGrath’s biography of C.S. Lewis. They’ve also studied Bill Hockin’s books.

Charles compares Cursillo to the Alpha course.

“Both are faith-creating groups,” he said. “Both are great tools in helping rebuild the Church. What’s different is ours is ongoing.

“We all see our faith as a continuum, not a one-and-done thing. It’s a journey that will continue the rest of our lives.”

PANDEMIC
It used to be that the men would gather in Charles’ law office for a lunchtime meeting. Then in retirement, they met in the Cathedral’s boardroom.

But the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to in-person meetings of the group.

“Zoom was the automatic answer when we were all paroled to home,” said Clyde.

Surprisingly, the group continues to meet virtually because of the ease of getting together. All the men are senior citizens. Some are caregivers for their wives. Clare lives in Gagetown. So Zoom has been a blessing in disguise.

The burning question is ‘what is the secret to the group’s longevity?’

One of the answers is the group support they enjoy. When a spouse falls ill or dies, there is someone in the group who’s already faced that and can help their friend face it as well. 

“It’s a shared experience,” said Clyde. “We’ve all had experiences and we help when it happens to another.”

Another factor is the intellectual nature of the group. Three spent their careers as lawyers, three as professors, one as a college instructor. One is also an inventor.

“I don’t have opportunities for good conversations,” said Marc. “But I do with this group. I get encouragement here. This group has an intellectual aspect that other groups do not.”

Finally, there is the friendship among men who have known each other for decades.

“It’s switched from a religious group to a relationship group,” said Clare. “That’s the whole dynamic. I benefit very much by sharing with this group.”

The men have no plans to stop meeting, and they welcome new members. 

“We’re still peeling back this novel we call the bible,” said Clyde. “And we still get new meaning out of it.”
Their next book challenge is the diocesan Lenten study book by John Mark Comer called Practicing the Way.

WHAT IS CURSILLO? 
From the Canadian Anglican Cursillo Secretariat
Cursillo is a Spanish word pronounced “Kur/see/ yo” which means “a short course.” The full title, Cursillo de Christiandad, means “a short course in Christian living.” 

The purpose of Cursillo is to present a method of living that is fundamental for being a Christian in the world.

That is, Cursillo presents a way of structuring our Christian lives so as to make a difference in the world.

 Cursillo began in Majorca, Spain, during the 1940s in the Roman Catholic Church and has since spread to other communions worldwide. It is active in more than 50 nations on five continents. 

The Cursillo Movement is one method of renewal in the Church. Its purpose is to help those in the Church understand their individual callings to be Christian leaders. This leadership may be exercised in work situations, in your family and social life, in leisure activities and within the church.  

Photo caption:
Cursillo members Marc Schneider, Charles Ferris, Clare Box, Bill Acheson and Clyde Spinney at Cathedral Memorial Hall, where they have often met over the years to discuss study books and encourage each other in their Christian walks. Missing from photo: Jack Passmore and Douglas Wright.   McKnight photo