The Tribune

By Rev Canon S

Sebastian Campbell

CURSILLO (the name means “a short course”) is a method of revival of the church. It has come to us from the Spanish Roman Catholic Church. The purpose of the Cursillo Ministry is to convert Christians to a deeper relationship with God and to help them to understand their individual callings to be Christian leaders. This leadership may be in the workplace, at home, within social and leisure activities, or within the institutional church. The goal is simply to “Christianise” the world through the apostolic action of Christian leaders in all areas of human activity.

Cursillo is a ministry of the whole church passed on through the years (from the early 1940s) from the Spanish Roman Catholics to many other denominations in Christianity.

The name “Cursillo” has shifted from place to place, however, the message and objective remains constant.

The Cursillo Ministry was imported to the Bahamas 30 years ago and has provided a rebirth for approximately 2,000 Bahamians in their Christian pilgrimage.

A three-day weekend retreat provides the essential vehicle for a Cursillo event. It is transformative for everyone participating, both team and candidates alike. You cannot attend a Cursillo weekend and not be electrified and make a recommitment to Jesus Christ as Lord.

The Anglican Bishop of Honduras testifies that this has been the singular most transformative engine he has ever experienced in his diocese. It has produced church growth. He has since assigned two priests (one English-speaking priest and one Spanish-speaking priest) full time to leadership in this ministry.

Within the last month I lunched with the Bishop of Long Island, New York, who is personally excited about this ministry and gives it “hands-on” attention. The ministry is uppermost in growing his church.

Here at home I can testify to my own spiritual growth and development from a direct involvement in this ministry and see new energy and great enthusiasm evident in the lives of those who participate in so great a ministry.

The life and vitality of Cursillo is inherent in the three-day weekend retreat. What happens afterwards is between the Cursilliasta and his/her God. However, we witness a revival taking place. The greatest fear is that nothing is happening because a good number of people, having had an experience, do not return to “work the ministry”. Many, it is claimed, do not participate in the “built-in” follow-up mechanism such as small group meetings nor participate in Cursillo events such as the Ultreyas, which are area meetings. All this, mind you, is unfortunate. However, we must not and should not use these as barometers to judge anyone. God himself is the judge. The ministry achieves its success God’s way and not our own calculated ways. “My ways are not your ways,” says the Lord.

This Sunday, November 13, at 4pm at St Matthew’s Church all and sundry are invited to a Mass of Thanksgiving to Almighty God to give thanks for this wonderful ministry. Bishop Laish Z Boyd will give us the revival charge at this time. I pray that many will attend, especially because as a church we celebrate a milestone of 30 years for so great a vehicle in revival in God’s church.

We also thank God for our missionary zeal over these 30 years in taking this ministry from the Bahamas to places such as Belize, the Virgin Islands, Barbados and Jamaica, and to have a sustained relationship with Christians in these places.

• Canon S Sebastian Campbell is spiritual director of the Bahamas Cursillo Ministry. For more information, call 361-3874.