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What is Cursillo?
Cursillo is a Catholic renewal movement that helps people study, live and share their faith more fully. It works through a short retreat weekend followed by ongoing small-group gatherings, so it is less a one-time event than a long-term pattern of friendship and support. The name is Spanish for “short course,” which describes the weekend format.
The Belleville Cursillo Movement serves the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois, and its site describes the purpose plainly: with God’s grace, a Christian becomes aware of their potential, accepts their limitations, studies their faith, lives it more fully, and shares it. Its motto — “Make a friend. Be a friend. Bring a friend to Christ!” — captures the personal, relational emphasis.
How it typically works
- A three-day weekend retreat, usually held at a retreat center, with talks, discussion, prayer and meals together.
- Participants attend as candidates; a sponsor accompanies and supports them before and after.
- After the weekend, participants join small groups (reunion groups) that meet regularly.
- A larger community gathering, called an Ultreya, brings groups together for encouragement and sharing.
- A School of Leaders meets for ongoing formation.
Belleville specifics from the site
The 2026 weekends are Women’s Weekend #47, August 6–9, 2026, and Men’s Weekend #42, August 20–23, 2026, both at King’s House at Our Lady of the Snows. Sponsor and candidate applications are available on the site. The School of Leaders meets the second Tuesday of each month at Corpus Christi Parish Center in Shiloh, Illinois, with a virtual option. Ultreyas include a Belleville Area gathering on the third Tuesday of the month at St. Teresa following 5:30 p.m. mass, and a St. Joseph/St. Agatha/St. John the Baptist Ultreya on the last Monday of the month at 7 p.m., with rotating locations.
Who it suits
Cursillo tends to fit Catholics who want a structured, communal way to deepen their faith and are willing to keep showing up afterward. The weekend is the doorway; the reunion group and Ultreya are where much of the value accumulates. If you prefer a solitary or purely intellectual approach, the group dimension may feel like a lot — but that same dimension is the point.
A practical next step
If you are curious, ask a Catholic friend who has attended a Cursillo weekend what their reunion group is actually like, then look at the sponsor and candidate applications on BellevilleCursillo. For a broader view of the movement, see Cursillo in Christianity.
How do I apply to attend a Cursillo weekend in the Belleville Diocese?
Applications for Belleville Cursillo weekends are handled through a sponsor, not by signing yourself up online. The movement's own guidance is "Make a friend. Be a friend. Bring a friend to Christ," and the practical version of that is: you attend as a candidate who has been sponsored by someone already involved.
What the process looks like
- Talk to a Cursillo friend, a past weekend attendee, or your parish contact about being sponsored.
- Complete the Sponsor and Candidate Application form, which is available as a download on the Belleville Cursillo site.
- Submit it ahead of the weekend you're aiming for. The posted 2026 weekends are Women's Weekend #47 (August 6–9, 2026) and Men's Weekend #42 (August 20–23, 2026), both at King's House at Our Lady of the Snows.
- For questions or to confirm details, the listed contact is Debbie Blume at 618-806-6951.
If you don't yet have a sponsor
You don't need to be deeply involved already — you need one person willing to walk with you through the weekend and the follow-up. Start by asking at your parish whether anyone is active in Cursillo, or attend a local Ultreya as a guest. The Belleville Area Ultreya meets the third Tuesday of the month at St. Teresa in Belleville after the 5:30 PM Mass, and the St. Joseph/St. Agatha/St. John the Baptist Ultreya meets the last Monday at 7 PM at rotating locations. These gatherings are the natural place to meet people who can sponsor you.
A realistic reader scenario
Suppose you're a parishioner in Shiloh or Belleville who has heard about Cursillo from a friend. Your best next step is not to email the diocese but to ask that friend to sponsor you and to help you fill out the application. If you have no such friend, call the contact number above and ask to be connected with someone in your area — that is exactly what the contact is for.
Where to look next
- The Belleville Cursillo site itself has the application download, the 2026 brochure, and an Events page listing School of Leaders (second Tuesday monthly at Corpus Christi Parish Center, Shiloh, also offered virtually) and Secretariat meetings.
- For the wider movement and background on what a weekend involves, see National Cursillo Center.
- For the retreat facility used by these weekends, see Our Lady of the Snows.
One practical note: dates, locations and contacts on a volunteer-run site can shift, so confirm the weekend and application deadline by phone before you count on it.
What happens during a Cursillo weekend?
A Cursillo weekend is a three-day retreat-style experience centered on talks, discussion, worship, and community. In the Catholic Cursillo movement, the weekend is meant to help participants study, live, and share their faith more fully, according to the Belleville Cursillo movement. It is not simply a conference or a silent retreat; much of the weekend happens in small groups and through personal conversations.
Typical elements of a Cursillo weekend
- Short talks: Laypeople and clergy give presentations on Christian life, grace, faith, and the call to share faith with others.
- Small-group discussion: Participants reflect on the talks in small groups, usually with a leader, and talk about how the ideas apply to daily life.
- Worship and sacraments: The weekend includes Mass, prayer, and often opportunities for confession or spiritual reflection.
- Meals and fellowship: Shared meals and informal time are a major part of the weekend, helping build friendships.
- A supportive team: A team of previous Cursillistas, clergy, and volunteers usually leads and serves during the weekend.
- A closing event: The weekend typically ends with a closing ceremony or gathering where family and friends may be invited.
What it is like for a participant
A first-time participant, often called a candidate, is usually sponsored by someone who has already attended a Cursillo. The sponsor helps with the application and supports the candidate before and after the weekend. The days are full, with a structured rhythm of talks, discussion, prayer, and meals. Many participants describe the weekend as emotionally and spiritually intense, but the focus is on encouragement and community rather than pressure.
The Belleville Cursillo movement lists its 2026 weekends at King’s House at Our Lady of the Snows, with a Women’s Weekend and a Men’s Weekend. It also provides sponsor and candidate applications on its site. For exact dates, locations, and application steps, see BellevilleCursillo.
A practical next step
If you are considering attending, the most useful first move is to talk with someone who has already made a Cursillo weekend. Ask them what the schedule was like, how much time was spent in small groups, and what kind of follow-up exists afterward. In the Belleville movement, follow-up includes Ultreyas and a School of Leaders, which suggests the weekend is intended as a beginning rather than a standalone event. If you need a sponsor or have questions, the Belleville page lists a contact for more information.
What is the role of a sponsor in Cursillo?
A sponsor's role in Cursillo is to accompany a candidate before, during and after the weekend — not just to recruit them. The Belleville Cursillo movement frames this as "Make a friend. Be a friend. Bring a friend to Christ," which captures the sequence: the relationship comes first, the invitation second, and the continued friendship afterward.
In practice, that means a sponsor typically:
- Identifies and invites someone who seems ready for the experience, rather than pressuring anyone.
- Explains what the weekend involves so the candidate arrives with realistic expectations.
- Handles practical preparation — on this site, that includes completing the sponsor and candidate application form for the upcoming weekends.
- Stays connected after the weekend, helping the new Cursillista plug into group reunions and Ultreyas rather than drifting away once the weekend ends.
The post-weekend part is where sponsors most often fall short. The Belleville movement lists ongoing gatherings that a sponsor can introduce a candidate to: the Belleville Area Ultreya on the third Tuesday of the month at St. Teresa following the 5:30 PM Mass, and the St. Joseph/St. Agatha/St. John the Baptist Ultreya on the last Monday at 7 PM with rotating locations. A sponsor who knows these rhythms can hand off a new person into a functioning community instead of leaving them to find it alone.
For anyone weighing whether to sponsor, the useful test is time, not enthusiasm: can you commit to the weekend plus months of follow-up contact? If not, it may be better to wait or to share the role with someone who can. The movement also runs a School of Leaders on the second Tuesday of each month at Corpus Christi Parish Center in Shiloh, Illinois, with a virtual option — a reasonable starting point for a first-time sponsor who wants to understand the method before guiding someone else through it. See BellevilleCursillo for the current application and event details.
How can I get involved in Cursillo after my weekend?
After your Cursillo weekend, the usual next step is to join the ongoing local community rather than treat the weekend as a one-time event. On the Belleville Cursillo site, that ongoing involvement centers on three things: School of Leaders, Ultreyas, and the Secretariat.
School of Leaders — Held the second Tuesday of each month at Corpus Christi Parish Center in Shiloh, IL, and also offered virtually. Contact Anna Feurer at 618-779-1388. This is the formation and study gathering, so it suits people who want to go deeper into the method and prepare to serve.
Ultreyas — The Belleville Area Ultreya meets the third Tuesday of the month at St. Teresa, Belleville, following the 5:30 PM mass. The St. Joseph/St. Agatha/St. John the Baptist Ultreya meets the last Monday of the month at 7 PM, with rotating locations. Ultreyas are the regular group-reunion setting: the most natural place to bring a friend and keep the weekend's momentum alive.
Secretariat — Meets in person; see the Events page for details. This is the leadership and organizational side, a fit if you want to help run weekends and the movement.
Sponsoring a candidate — The 2026 weekends are Women's Weekend #47, August 6–9, 2026, and Men's Weekend #42, August 20–23, 2026, both at King's House at Our Lady of the Snows. Sponsor and Candidate Applications are downloadable from the site. Contact Debbie Blume at 618-806-6951 with questions.
A practical first move: attend the next Ultreya in your area, then try one School of Leaders meeting. If you want the wider context of the movement, see Cursillo; for the Catholic parish setting in the Belleville diocese, Diocese of Belleville is the relevant official site.
What is the School of Leaders and who can attend?
The School of Leaders is a recurring gathering for people involved in the Cursillo movement in the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois. According to the movement's site, it is held on the second Tuesday of each month at Corpus Christi Parish Center in Shiloh, IL, and is also offered virtually. Anna Feurer is listed as the contact (618-779-1388).
Who it is for: The page describes it as part of the movement's ongoing formation and leadership activity alongside the Secretariat and Ultreyas. In Cursillo practice generally, School of Leaders is where clergy and lay leaders study and plan the movement, rather than the three-day weekend itself. The Belleville page does not spell out an eligibility rule, so if you are unsure whether you qualify, contact Anna Feurer before attending.
A practical next step: Read the "Events" section for the current schedule and any location changes, then call or email the contact to confirm the next meeting and whether the virtual option requires a link. If you are new to Cursillo, the more relevant starting point may be the movement's weekend or an Ultreya; the site points to the 2026 Cursillo Brochure and to sponsor and candidate applications for that side of the movement.
For broader context on what Cursillo is and how School of Leaders fits into it, see National Cursillo Center and USCCB.
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