BY CHRISTY ALLARD, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC

Cursillo is Spanish for “short course.” The weekend starts on a Thursday evening at Gasper River Retreat Center in Bowling Green. It ends Sunday evening. During those three days you will live and work together with others attending the weekend with you while listening to talks given by priests and laity. You will also share the Eucharist and pray together. The titles of the talks indicate their content: Ideal, Habitual Grace, The Lay Person in the Church, Actual Grace, Piety, Study, The Sacraments, Action (Lay Evangelization), Obstacles to a Life of Grace, Leaders, Study of the Environment, Life in Grace, Christianity in Action, The Cursillista Beyond the Cursillo,  and Total Security (in Jesus).  Each talk is followed by a discussion period.

Why attend? The Cursillo is an encounter with Christ. Christ-like attitudes in a few good people can be contagious. The goal of the movement is that Christ be the prime influence in society. So the primary objective of the Cursillo Movement is to further develop a consciousness of their power and mission to become leaders in the work of Christian renewal.

Who is invited? Practicing adult Catholics in good standing who are ready to unplug (no phones or electronics) from Thursday evening until Sunday evening while learning and reflecting in a group environment on their faith. See any of your local parishioners who have made a Cursillo weekend for further details. If you are unsure who has made a weekend in your parish, (or there are none in your area) please contact us at the information below.

Where is it? Gasper River Retreat Center in Bowling Green.

When is it? The men’s weekend is Feb. 26 – March 1. The women’s weekend is March 5-8.

How will this be formatted? You will have a sponsor who will either personally take you to the Gasper Retreat Facility on Thursday evening and pick you up Sunday evening (after the graduation ceremony) or will ensure you have an adequate means and way of getting to and from the retreat without undo hardships to you or your family. There are many follow-up activities to this weekend which include Group Reunions (small group) as well as Ultreyas (grouping of groups). You are welcome to attend either of these groups prior to making a Cursillo weekend. There are multiple Ultreyas around the Owensboro diocese.

For more information please contact Christy Allard at (270) 889-1526 or [email protected].

Originally printed in the February 2026 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.