Topic:  What is the Curcillo Movement and the nature of its retreats?

Source of this posting: Moderator response

Date originally posted: November 25, 2003

Moderator who originally posted this source: Father Phillip

Question:  I recently attended a retreat called 'Kairos', with my fellow senior class mates. I had never heard of it before and was unaware of its origins and purpose. After the retreat, just a couple of days ago, I found it to be somewhat questionable. I learned that it came from the Curcillo Movement. Some of the activities did not seem to me, to be Roman Catholic. From my point of view my classmates were manipulated into sharing their inmost problems, feelings and thoughts. It was extremely emotional. At many points I was urged and almost forced to share personal things about myself to this group of fifty or so classmates. There was also a 'reconciliation' time given by our lay teachers,several tear jerking speeches, swaying group hugs for long periods, and other forms of group therapy. Lastly, there were emotional letters given to us by our parents and read infront of the entire class. I hope I am explaining this clearly. Nonetheless, I am curious to know if this retreat is accepted by conventional Roman Catholics, especially the Pope. My research showed that it was like an off-shoot Catholic group, almost with Protestant characteristics.I felt bad for those who seemed to be manipulated during this, like my friends. It may have been beneficial to some, but there also seemed to be uncouth activities. What are the critisicms of this Curcillo retreat? How does it affect the participants? Is the purpose creditworthy? Should this be performed on high school seniors?Is it really appropiate? Please take the time to answer my questions. I need an unbiased answer if possible but anything will help. Thank you very much. -Curious and skeptical

Answer: 

Thanks very much for writing to www.CatholicQandA.org and just for the record: We take time to answer every question that is posted so we're delighted to respond to you!

Anyway

Cursillo is a venerable Catholic-inspired retreat which has been adapted for all age groups for at least 75 years. Its origins are in Spain  hence the name but it has become a standard retreat format throughout the Catholic world.

Since the Pope and I don't get to talk too much on a personal level , I can¦t tell you whether he personally likes the Cursillo experience. I can say, however, that Cursillo has been supported by the hierarchical Church for many, many years.

From what's called an ecclesiological point-of-view, the primary question that you might want to ask is not so much whether conventional Roman Catholics, especially the Pope accept this type of retreat, but, rather, whether the particular retreat which you attended is sanctioned by the Bishop of your Diocese.

Each Bishop is a Successor of the Apostles, and he is our surest way to know the mind of the broader Church. Bishops invite other competent and faithful persons to assist them in providing for the needs of the Diocese  one person can't do everything!

So, if you have more questions, I would suggest that you make an appointment and talk, if your school is a Catholic High School, with your Principal and then if you still have questions with the Superintendent of Schools for your Diocese. You might also want to talk, first even, to the Campus Minister at your School or the Director of Religious Education in your Parish; then you could go to the appropriate official in the Diocesan Office. In these ways you can find out whether the Bishop of your Diocese has sanctioned the retreat.

Now, a more general principle: Part of the glory of Catholicism is that our community of faith is, really, universal since that's what Catholic means. To be sure, Catholic refers to our faith being taught and believed everywhere and at all times.

But another dimension of Catholicity is that the universality of the Church allows for a whole universe of people to be invited into relationship with Jesus and with the community. So that means that within the Church we get people from all nations, all languages, and all cultures the result of that Catholic universality is that we get people of every type with every kind of like and dislike.

That's kind of a long way of saying, that the Church is  apparently by God's Own design filled with many different kinds of people, and therefore, every person is not going to like every single aspect of how the Church offers its ministry. That is, it takes different strokes for different folks.

So, while the particular retreat you went on may not have been your cup of tea,it may have been just the right thing for somebody else.

Although I'm sorry that you felt manipulated and didn't like the experience too much, that in itself doesn't mean that the retreat was questionable, from the perspective of being authentically Catholic. It may just mean that you didn't like it¡and that's perfectly ok. You don't have to like everything that the Church does, particularly when it's a matter of style and presentation. (Though I hasten to admit that I wasn't there so I can't know the whole thing; neither have you and I spoken so I don't really know the whole story from you.)

Finally, a couple of more specific comments:

Having lay people give talks about reconciliation is fine theologically and canonically. Lay people, of course, can¡¦t offer absolution; only an ordained Priest or Bishop can do that. I would argue, actually, that hearing from lay people about the wonderful benefits of the Sacrament of Reconciliation can be quite moving and very helpful to lots of people. So as long as the private (auricular) confession and absolution are reserved to celebration between a penitent and a Priest, there's nothing wrong that I can see with what you describe.

While swaying group hugs for long periods of time may be fun for some people, they're not essential for Christian fellowship. At the same time, however, there's nothing prima facie that is anti-Catholic or wrong with them. However, I would say that such possibly-community-building activities are absolutely NOT therapy as your question could be read to suggest. Therapy, as I understand it, prides itself on being respectful of boundaries. Boundaries are important gifts from God that help us maintain our own individuality.

After saying all that, I must admit that I can certainly understand your uncomfortable-ness with the situation you describe. If you or anybody on the retreat felt coerced or manipulated into sharing your inmost problems, feelings and thoughts in ways that you would have preferred not to have done in that setting, then the leaders of the retreat need seriously to re-think the way they format and conduct it in the future.

In our Diocese we have a Search retreat for high school juniors and seniors and a similar Encounter for college and emerging adults as well as Cursillo for adults  which are somewhat like the retreat you describe. These retreats have truly and quite literally transformed the lives of many people. Participants have been brought into life-long relationship with Christ; they have become Priests, Religious women, professional lay ministers in the Church, and volunteer ministers in countless Parishes largely as a result of having made one of these retreats. So, I certainly know that God can and does use retreats of this sort for good and for glory.

But if it's not your thing don't worry about it. Within the context of the Church, there are lots and lots of ways of following Jesus. We might say that our lifelong task is simply to discover those ways that are particularly right for us and then to journey along that path!

A couple suggestions of ways to deal your feelings about the retreat:

1. Talk to those in charge of the retreat to find out what their intentions were, and be sure to share, respectfully, what your concerns about it were. Dialogue in a prayerful and respectful context often clears up so much doubt and confusion.
2. Offer to be a team leader/planner for the next one of these retreats (or similar ones when you go to college), and try to help form those experiences in ways that will make you and those like you feel more respected and welcome in the retreat environment.
3. Pray daily, offering your feelings of having been manipulated to God; ask that God bring healing and wholeness to you in those feelings and memories.
4. Examine why you felt so uncomfortable in the retreat situation. What made it so unpleasant for you? Seek out some kind of help  possibly professional  to give you that unbiased perspective you mentioned toward the end of your question as you sort through, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, your feelings about the experience.

Thanks so much for writing to www.CatholicQandA.org. And even more, thanks for your obvious faith and goodness; we're really privileged that God calls people such as yourself into the community of the Church!

God bless you!
Father Phillip