Cursillo, or “Cursillo de Christianidad,” is defined as a "short course in Christianity.” Begun in Spain in 1949, but now a world-wide movement within the Catholic Church, Cursillo shares the fundamentals of being a Christian as an individual and in community. The Cursillo helps people discover and fulfill their personal and spiritual vocations while fostering groups of Christians who leaven their various/daily environments with the Gospel.

The Cursillo makes it possible for anyone in the world to live a Christian life in a natural way. It is the means through which men and women are able to live the Gospel. “Cursillo is an instrument raised up by God for the proclamation of the gospel in our time.” – Pope Saint John Paul II

Since it is a movement of the Church, the Cursillo Movement has the same apostolic purpose as the Church. As baptized lay Christians, Cursillo prepares men and women to go forth as apostles to proclaim the Gospel. It provides everyone with the training and tools needed to sustain their mission. As Pope Saint Paul VI said: "The Church exists to Evangelize..."

The work of Cursillo is not confined to a three day exercise, but is meant to assist Christians in their apostolic action to make Christ known, loved, and served everywhere. Through our natural gifts, we can all influence our daily environments to be more Christ-like. Cursillo is not an organization one has to join, but is a movement that asks people to live as Christians and be apostolic by using the learned Method on the 3-Day weekend.

The world can be renewed and transformed by Christians who are conscious that they are children of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, and temples of the Holy Spirit in whatever they do and with whom they associate. Cursillo is, thus, an instrument of renewal for the world at the disposal of the Church. Laypersons and clergy alike are important instruments of “Christian leaven” in this endeavor in civic, social, and economic life.

There are 3 stages in Cursillo:

• Pre-Cursillo; Before attending a weekend, people are encouraged to share with their friends/family/etc. their Christian journey in a small group setting to share their joy of living a Christian life, and thus encourage others to seek out this joy via Cursillo.
• Cursillo (3-Day); The actual attendance at a Cursillo weekend. During these three days, participants will learn the basic teachings of the Church and the Method of Cursillo that can help them live more faithfully and fruitfully an authentic Christian lifestyle.
• Post-Cursillo (4th Day); To maintain contact with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and to sustain and encourage everyone after attending a Cursillo weekend, there are activities in which one can participate to continue their “Fourth Day” journey. Small Group Reunions, Larger Group Ultreyas, and School of Leaders.

"Ultreya" is a Spanish word, derived from the original Latin, meaning “Onward!” It was in common use by pilgrims to greet and to encourage one another while walking along the Camino de Compostela in Spain. This word is now used by the Cursillo community to signify the meeting which is held after a Cursillo experience. This meeting may be between Cursillistas from one or several communities, usually once a month.

In a climate of friendship, members share their life experiences based on the three tenets of Cursillo life: i.e.: Piety, Study and Action. This sharing can be contemplative in nature or may deal with an evangelizing experience. These sharings from real-life experiences, serve as examples to all of us of the challenge which Jesus lays before His followers: "Go and do likewise."

As its name implies, the Ultreya is a call to move forward and to keep the flame of the Cursillo burning brightly.

Small Group Reunions are a gathering of a few friends on a regular basis (either before or after a Cursillo weekend) to share their natural friendship and common problems, goals, their work, and daily lives. They also share their recent spiritual journeys in 3 areas: Piety, Study, and Action, and to encourage and give insights as to how to grow in these areas. They may also gather for other activities to deepen their bonds of friendship with each other.

Cursillistas are encouraged to continue learning about the Cursillo Movement, since everything cannot be covered in a weekend experience.  Various layperson and spiritual topics are covered and discussed, so that through deeper understanding of the Movement and the Founder’s charism, each person can grow more deeply as a Christian, and thus, bring this deeper knowledge to others.

(from the Leaders’ Manual: The US National Cursillo Movement, May 2003, 8^th edition, pp 135-140)  

An Authentic Palanca is the prayer and sacrifice offered by Christians.  The Spanish word means “lever,” like a fulcrum or seesaw that helps to move a heavy object more easily.  God’s grace is indispensable in the conversion process of each of us and of groups.  The cornerstone of this grace is prayer.   Palanca + God’s grace= conversion. “We must affirm that before anything else, the most characteristic mark of the Cursillo methodology ties in the whole concept of Palanca prayers, sacrifices, and work of mercy.  Palanca must be genuine and offered by communities and individuals living in union with Christ and each other if the effectiveness of all other human efforts in the Movement is to be assured.” (LM p. 135)

Authentic Palanca are not posters, banners, flowers, friendship letters or good wishes.  Letters in themselves are not Palanca, but the actions conveyed in the letters are.  Keep in mind that Palanca can be performed for various purposes without letters being written. All of us need this kind of daily Palanca.

“Palanca offerings should not be limited to the three days, but should be offered for all aspects of the Movement including, but not limited to, the selection of teams, candidates, the study of the environments, the growth of Group Reunions, Ultreyas, and especially the work of the Secretariats and School of Leaders.” (LM p. 136)

Palanca should also be an active part of each phase of Cursillo:

•  Pre-Cursillo - for the evangelization stage, and for potential candidates and their ability to attend a weekend
•  3-Day weekend- “The role of the outside community is passive and isolated in terms of the Weekend, except for its Palanca...for participants (team and candidates…to give witness to the solidarity of the members of the Church.) (LM p. 138)
•  The Post-Cursillo- new Cursillistas will be leaving the cloistered Christ-centered environment and returning to the environments they left on Thursday.  They will now need our Palanca and support to help them to continue to live for Christ in grace.  This is where Ultreya, Group Reunions, and School of Leaders will also need Palanca for their continued success. (LM p. 139)

“All is done for the purpose of building up God’s Kingdon here on Earth.  The leaders need the ongoing prayers, sacrifices, love, and support of the Cursillo community.  In other words, they need Palanca for the efforts they are making on behalf of Christ for the Cursillo Movement.” (LM p. 140)

Palanca should not be limited to one geographical area, but seen as a universal tool for the Movement within the universal Church of which we are all a part. (LM p. 140).  

Why General Palanca vs Personal Palanca during the 3 Day Weekend? 

(Reference: A School of Leaders rollo given by Gail Terrana (World Cursillo Secretariat member) to the Rochester, NY School of Leaders in September, 2023.)

• It was never the intent of the original Movement to send personal Palanca as the Weekends are about the communal prayers and sacrifices for primarily, the success of the overall weekend, and then, individuals (this is important, too).
• Personally knowing the new Cursillista is not necessary for Grace to flow.  This is a “One for All” activity by the Fourth Day Community. 
• Personal Palanca, in a way, could disrupt the cloister of the weekend, as the notes could disrupt the openness/attentiveness to the conversion process. 
• Some may be confused/upset if they do not receive (a) personal note(s) while others do.
• Personal Palanca notes could create an obligation to reciprocate or discomfort if the palanca is seen to be solely for that person and not the group.
• Cursillo is a communal Movement, so we seek to show this at all times, by even invoking the saints' intercessory prayers to show the communal aspect for the weekend.
• When Palanca is introduced by the Rector/a, this showcases the laity as a powerful force behind God’s Grace.  The final step in the weekend progression is the Fourth Day Community so Palanca is seen “in the flesh.”  Truth about communion and Life In Grace is now realized. 

For further reading this is an article on the National Cursillo website:   palanca.pdf (natl-cursillo.org)