Photo Caption: More than 40,000 men and women in central Illinois have strengthened their relationship with God through Cursillo since 1964.

With very little fanfare but a great deal of joy, Cursillo in Christianity recently marked its 1,000th weekend of renewal in central Illinois with the inmates at the Hill Correctional Center in Galesburg.

A gathering to celebrate this milestone is planned for Saturday, Dec. 3, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria. Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, will join the Cursillistas and their guests for Mass at 7 p.m. and a social that follows at the Spalding Pastoral Center.

Priests who have been involved in Cursillo ministry have been invited to concelebrate the Mass with the bishop, according to Deacon John Skender, diocesan spiritual director of Cursillo. He added that those who have served as spiritual directors and lay leaders will be honored as special guests.

Protestant ministers who have taken part in Cursillo weekends over the years have also been invited to the Ultreya.

Making introductions at the program and social will be Maureen Alouan, diocesan lay coordinator for Peoria Cursillo.

CELEBRATING COMMUNITY
Gatherings in anticipation of the 1,000th Cursillo started in July in Peterstown, as the Illinois Valley Cursillo community celebrated its 25th anniversary. The Northwest Cursillo community celebrated at an Ultreya in Moline last month and the Eastern Cursillo community had an Ultreya in Champaign earlier this month.

The final celebration will be hosted by the Bloomington/Normal Cursillo community and held Saturday, Dec. 10, at St. Patrick’s Church of Merna, 1001 N. Towanda Barnes Road. This is a family Ultreya and will begin at 7 p.m.

Cursillo is a Spanish word meaning “short course” and is designed to be a short course in Christianity. That happens through lay witness talks coordinated with talks on grace and the sacraments given by clergy.
While it is a Roman Catholic program run by the Diocese of Peoria, Cursillo in Christianity is open to persons of all faiths.

More than 40,000 men and women in central Illinois have strengthened their relationship with God through Cursillo since 1964.

For a complete history of Cursillo, visit Peoria Cursillo. For more information about the Dec. 3 celebration in thanksgiving of 1,000 Cursillos, call the Spalding Renewal Center in Peoria at (309) 676-5587.