How did Cursillo begin?
It started in Spain, when the young men wanted to rediscover their Christian roots after the Spanish Civil War. These men met for about two years in small groups to pray, study the Bible and plan how to reach their friends with their Christian faith.
Plans for a pilgrimage of 70,000 men to the shrine of St. James at Compostella had to be postponed due to World War II.
It did however take place in 1948, and because of the success of it, a short intensive course was made of the lessons learnt in the small groups.
Bishop Juan Hervas, set up the first three day weekend as we know it in Majorca in January 1949.
The Movement spread to Latin America and then into the USA.
In 1968 in San Francisco, a joint Cursillo was held, of Anglicans and Roman Catholics.
Modifications were made to fit the Anglican ethos, and since 1972 the movement has spread to most dioceses of the Episcopal Church.
It came to Britain in 1981, and is currently in about 30 Church of England dioceses.
The movement has spread worldwide, and is part of many Christian renewal resources.
