Quincy Cursillo is centered in Quincy, Illinois within the Catholic Diocese of Springfield, Illinois.  We hosted our first Cursillo in December 1974 and continue to hold eight weekends per year – four for men and four for women. They are held at the Franciscan Retreat Center located at 1909 N. 18th Street in Quincy, Illinois.

Cursillo (pronounced kur-see-yo) is a Spanish word meaning “short course”. During this three-day experience, those attending pray together, celebrate Eucharist, listen to talks given by priests, religious and laypersons, and share fellowship of Jesus Christ and each other.

Although a Cursillo is not a retreat, its aim is to concentrate on the Person and teachings of Jesus Christ.  As a Lay Movement, Cursillo gives those who attend a living understanding of basic Christian truths and a desire to serve the Church. It also provides a means to continue the Christian formation that begins during the three-day experience.

A Cursillo weekend begins on Thursday evening with candidate registration from 7:30-8:30 pm and culminates on Sunday evening with closing and Mass  at 4 pm.

COVID-19 AND CURSILLO WEEKENDS

Fellow Cursillistas,

I write to you in hopes you are all well and staying safe. Our Board met Wednesday night, May 13, on Zoom to discuss weekend scheduling in light of Covid-19. We discussed a number of considerations including Governor Pritzker’s 5 phase plan for reopening, Bishop Paprocki’s directives regarding gathering for Mass, health risks to the team and future Cursillistas, sanitation challenges (both for meals and keeping the facility clean) and our mission and method (how could we have a Cursillo without candlelight?)

In light of all of these, we have decided not to have a weekend in 2020. Our plan, which is obviously tentative, is to have our first weekend in March of 2021 with Damian McDonald as Rector. That would mean everyone would stay in place as rector or rectora but just a year later. We did this in hopes of creating less conflicts and also maybe being that much closer to a vaccine and/or an effective treatment. Assuming the reopening goes as hoped, the teams could start meeting again in January.

These are difficult times for everyone, whether you are in isolation or an essential front line worker. Now, more than ever, we need to rely on Jesus to give us answers and comfort.

Future Fourth Day Newsletters may have a different look given our present situation but we will try to keep everyone connected. May God be with each of you.

De Colores,
Diane Lagoski
Lay Director