cursillousa.org

cursillousa.org is the official website of the National Cursillo Movement in the United States. It is an informational and resource hub for the Cursillo in Christianity Movement, not a general church site or a commercial storefront. The site is primarily in English, with entry points for Español and Tiếng Việt, and it connects visitors to affiliated local centers, an online bookstore, palanca requests, newsletters, and formation materials about the movement's charism.

What the site is for

The homepage describes Cursillo in Christianity as a Movement that, "by its own Method, attempts from within the Church, to give life to the essential Christian truths in the singularity, originality and creativity of the person." It frames the movement around three fundamental encounters: with oneself, with Christ, and with others, summarized in the phrase "Christ - Person - Friendship."

The site serves people who are already involved in or curious about Cursillo and want to find official national-level information. It is not a directory of every parish or a booking system for retreats.

What you can find there

• Links to affiliated centers — the site points to local Cursillo centers rather than listing every local schedule itself.
• Online bookstore — a linked store for movement-related materials.
• Palanca requests — a way to share and respond to palanca (prayer and sacrifice) intentions.
• Newsletters — including an August 2026 newsletter and an email sign-up form with fields for email and confirmation.
• Formation and founder materials — pages on Servant of God Eduardo Bonnín Aguiló, the founder of Cursillos in Christianity (1917–2008), including a biography, an interview titled "Signs of Hope," and talks such as "Essential, Important, and Accidental Elements" and his address at the III World Ultreya in Rome.
• National Encounter 2026 — a photo album from the National Cursillo Encounter in Wheaton, Illinois.

Who it is relevant to

This site is useful if you want to understand the movement's official self-definition, read foundational texts attributed to its founder, subscribe to national newsletters, or find your way to a local center. If you are looking for a specific weekend retreat date, local contact details, or registration, the affiliated-center links are the intended path; the national site itself does not present those as its own function.

One detail worth noting: the site includes a prayer card and a call to pray for Eduardo Bonnín's canonization cause, which began in Mallorca, Spain on February 5, 2015. That content signals the site's devotional and informational role rather than an administrative one.

Practical notes

The newsletter sign-up asks for an email address and confirmation, and the site presents language options in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. No pricing, membership fee, or login requirement is stated on the page, so treat access details as something to confirm directly on the site rather than assume.

The Cursillo in Christianity Movement is a Catholic renewal movement that, in the words of its own definition, "attempts from within the Church, to give life to the essential Christian truths in the singularity, originality and creativity of the person." Its stated purpose is to help people live and share what is fundamental to being Christian, and it organizes that purpose around three "fundamental encounters": with oneself, with Christ, and with others. The National Cursillo USA site (cursillousa.org) presents this as the movement's core identity, framed by the theme "Christ – Person – Friendship."

The Three Fundamental Encounters

The movement's self-description centers on a progression of encounters:

• With oneself — discovering one's potential while accepting one's limitations.
• With Christ — encountering "the Christ of the Gospel" as a living, simple, clear, and true experience.
• With others — directing friendship with "the virtue of constancy" in day-to-day life, personally and in community.

The site ties these together with a practical formula: conviction directs freedom, decisiveness reinforces will, and constancy sustains friendship. In other words, the movement treats personal conversion and lasting friendship as linked, not separate, goals.

Christ – Person – Friendship

The tagline "Christ – Person – Friendship" summarizes how the movement sees its method. The often-quoted slogan associated with Cursillo — "Make a friend, be a friend, bring a friend to Christ" — reflects the same logic: evangelization happens through ordinary friendship rather than through programs or campaigns. The National Cursillo USA description explicitly lists this slogan among the site's features, alongside links to affiliated centers, an online bookstore, palanca requests, and other resources.

What the Movement Emphasizes

According to the site's "Definition of the Movement," Cursillo works "by its own Method" from within the Church. The emphasis falls on:

• The essentials of Christian life rather than peripheral practices — the site references "Essential, Important, and Accidental Elements" as a way of distinguishing what is fundamental.
• The individual person — the definition stresses each person's "singularity, originality and creativity," suggesting the method is meant to adapt to the person rather than flatten them.
• Living faith in daily life — the goal is described as giving life to Christian truths "in their day-to-day life, personally and with others."

The founder, Eduardo Bonnín Aguiló (1917–2008), is described on the site as "an apprentice Christian" and "Founder of Cursillos in Christianity." His beatification and canonization process began in Mallorca, Spain, on February 5, 2015, and the National Secretariat invites prayer for his canonization. The site also quotes his caution that if Cursillo is to remain faithful to its purpose, "it should not lower its target" — it should give participants "a 'living', simple, clear, and true experience of the Christ of the Gospel."

Who This Is For

This overview is useful if you are evaluating whether to learn more about Cursillo, looking for the movement's official U.S. national presence, or trying to understand its stated spirituality before contacting a local center. The national site functions as a hub: it points to affiliated centers (where local participation is typically organized), an online bookstore, palanca requests, newsletters, and a photo album from the National Cursillo Encounter in Wheaton, Illinois. If your interest is in participating, the practical next step is to use the site's links to find an affiliated center near you; the national page itself describes the movement's identity rather than listing local schedules.

Palanca is the Cursillo tradition of offering spiritual support—prayers, sacrifices, and small acts of self-denial—for people attending a Cursillo weekend or otherwise active in the Movement. The National Cursillo USA website (cursillousa.org) supports it by providing a palanca requests link among its featured resources, alongside links to affiliated centers, an online bookstore, and other materials. The site describes the Movement's purpose as facilitating "the living and sharing of what is fundamental to being Christian" through encounters with oneself, with Christ, and with others—and palanca is one of the ways members live that shared support.

What Palanca Means in Practice

The word palanca means "lever" in Spanish. In Cursillo usage it refers to the spiritual "leverage" that members back home provide for those on a weekend: prayer, attendance at Mass, rosaries, fasting, small sacrifices, and notes of encouragement. The idea is that no one makes the weekend alone—the community lifts the candidate through these offerings.

Two practical points follow from this:

• Palanca is spiritual, not material. The tradition centers on prayer and sacrifice rather than gifts or money. The website's description of the Movement emphasizes friendship and living the Christian fundamentals in daily life, which is the context palanca operates in.
• Palanca is tied to specific people and moments. Requests typically name candidates or teams and a date, so responses can be offered in time.

How the Website Supports Palanca

According to the site's own description, cursillousa.org features "links to affiliated centers, on-line bookstore, palanca requests, resources." That means the national site acts as a directory and gateway rather than a central palanca inbox:

• Palanca requests are one of the listed resource categories, so visitors can find requests posted or linked through the site.
• Affiliated centers are also linked. Because Cursillo weekends are run by local diocesan or regional centers, palanca is usually organized at that local level—so the center links are often the most direct route to a specific weekend's palanca needs.
• The online bookstore and general resources support formation and the broader life of the Movement, including the "make a friend, be a friend, bring a friend to Christ" emphasis in the site's tagline.

The site does not publish a single national palanca submission form or a public list of individual requests in the material available, so treat the palanca link as an entry point to be explored rather than a guaranteed one-stop submission page.

How to Submit or Respond to a Palanca Request

Because the national site points outward to centers, the reliable path is:

1. Start at cursillousa.org and open the palanca requests link to see what the national office currently lists.
2. Identify the relevant center. If your request concerns a specific weekend, use the affiliated centers links to find the diocese or region running it.
3. Contact that center directly to ask how palanca for its candidates is collected—many centers coordinate this through parish groups, sponsors, or a designated palanca coordinator.
4. Respond with the traditional forms: prayer, Mass intentions, rosaries, small sacrifices, and written notes of encouragement delivered through the sponsor or center.
5. Verify timing. Palanca is most useful before and during the weekend, so confirm deadlines with the center rather than the national site.

Common Stumbling Blocks

• Expecting a national submission form. The site's structure suggests palanca is handled locally; going straight to a center avoids dead ends.
• Sending material gifts. Palanca is spiritual support; check with the center before sending anything else.
• Missing the window. Requests tied to a weekend date are time-sensitive.

Where Palanca Fits in the Wider Movement

The site frames Cursillo around three fundamental encounters—with oneself, with Christ, and with others—and around friendship as a method ("Christ - Person - Friendship"). Palanca is a concrete expression of the third encounter: the community's friendship and prayer carried into a candidate's weekend. The site also highlights Servant of God Eduardo Bonnín Aguiló, the founder, whose cause for beatification began in Mallorca, Spain, on February 5, 2015, and whose writings stress keeping the Movement faithful to its original purpose—a reminder that palanca is meant as simple, lived support rather than an elaborate program.

For anyone new to the site, the palanca requests link is best used together with the affiliated centers directory: the national page tells you what exists, and the local center tells you what is needed this month.

The National Cursillo USA website (cursillousa.org) is the official national site of the Cursillo in Christianity Movement in the United States. It is a navigation and resource hub rather than a registration portal: you use it to reach affiliated local centers, read national news and event updates, request palanca, and subscribe to newsletters. If you are looking for a Cursillo weekend near you, start with the site's links to affiliated centers; if you want national news or formation material, use the newsletter, photo album, and bookstore sections.

What the site is for

The site describes Cursillo in Christianity as a Movement that, "by its own Method, attempts from within the Church, to give life to the essential Christian truths in the singularity, originality and creativity of the person." Its stated motto is "Christ - Person - Friendship," and it frames the Cursillo experience around three fundamental encounters: with oneself, with Christ, and with others.

That framing matters for how you use the site. It is built to connect people to the Movement and to each other, not to sell seats at an event. Expect links outward to affiliated centers and resources rather than a single national event calendar.

Finding a Cursillo center near you

The site's own description states that it "features links to affiliated centers." That is the primary path for locating a local Cursillo community.

1. Open cursillousa.org and look for the links to affiliated centers (the site lists these as a core feature).
2. Identify the center or diocese that covers your area.
3. Follow that link to the local center's own page or contact for weekend dates, applications, and local ultreya schedules.

Expected result: you reach a local contact who can tell you when the next Cursillo weekend is held and what the local application process requires.

Common sticking point: national sites rarely maintain a live, complete calendar of every local weekend. If a center link is outdated, contact the National Secretariat through the site rather than assuming no Cursillo exists in your area.

National events and news

The site highlights a National Encounter 2026 and a Photo Album with images from the National Cursillo Encounter in Wheaton, Illinois. These are the places to check for national-level gathering information and to see what a national encounter looks like before you attend.

The site also publishes a monthly newsletter; the page currently features the August 2026 Newsletter, which includes "Thoughts on THE CURSILLO According to the Founder, Eduardo Bonnín." Newsletters are the most reliable way to keep up with national announcements, since the homepage surfaces the latest issue rather than an archive-style event list.

Resources: bookstore, palanca, newsletters

To subscribe, the page provides an email sign-up form: enter your email, confirm it, and submit. The site offers the page in English, Tiếng Việt, and Español, so you can switch language if that is easier for you or your group.

Who Eduardo Bonnín Aguiló is and why he appears here

The site devotes prominent space to Servant of God Eduardo Bonnín Aguiló (1917–2008), described as "An Apprentice Christian" and founder of Cursillos in Christianity. The page notes that the first step in his beatification and canonization process began in Mallorca, Spain, on February 5, 2015, and the National Secretariat invites visitors to join in prayer for his canonization. Links lead to a prayer card, a biography, an interview titled "Signs of Hope," and his address at the III World Ultreya in Rome.

For a first-time visitor, this section explains the Movement's origins and charism; for someone already involved, it is the place to find the prayer card and foundational texts.

A practical starting sequence

• Want to make a Cursillo: go to the affiliated centers links, pick your local center, and contact it directly.
• Want national news or formation: read the current newsletter and subscribe by email.
• Want to support someone on a weekend: use the palanca request link.
• Want materials: browse the on-line bookstore.
• Want to understand the Movement first: read the definition of the Movement and the Bonnín formation articles on the homepage.

The site does not publish pricing for events or bookstore items in the material available, so confirm costs and any login requirements with the local center or the bookstore itself.

Eduardo Bonnín Aguiló (1917–2008) is identified on cursillousa.org as the founder of the Cursillos in Christianity Movement, and the site features him because his cause for beatification and canonization was opened in Mallorca, Spain, on February 5, 2015. The National Secretariat presents him as “Servant of God” and invites visitors to pray for his canonization, while also offering materials to learn about his life and thought.

His Role in the Movement

The site describes Bonnín as “An Apprentice Christian” and “Founder of Cursillos in Christianity.” The Movement itself is defined as one that, “by its own Method, attempts from within the Church, to give life to the essential Christian truths in the singularity, originality and creativity of the person.” Its stated aim is to help people discover their potential, accept their limitations, and direct their freedom, will, and friendships with constancy in daily life.

The homepage summarizes the charism with the phrase “Christ – Person – Friendship” and describes the Cursillo as facilitating “three fundamental encounters: with oneself, with Christ, and with others.”

Why the Canonization Process Matters to the Site

The first step in the process for Bonnín’s beatification and canonization began in Mallorca on February 5, 2015. Because of this, the National Cursillo Movement refers to him as “Servant of God” and asks visitors to join in prayer for his canonization into the Sainthood of the Church. This is a devotional and informational feature of the site, not a declaration that he has been beatified or canonized.

What You Can Find on the Site About Him

The homepage gathers several resources in one place:

• Prayer Card — for those who wish to pray for his canonization.
• Biography of Eduardo Bonnín Aguiló — an account of his life.
• Learn More — a link to further material.
• Interview: Signs of Hope — a conversation connected to his legacy.
• Evangelization Through Conversion — a reflection on the Movement’s purpose.
• Foundational Charism of Cursillo — background on the Movement’s origins.
• Encounter with Oneself — one of the three encounters he emphasized.
• Essential, Important, and Accidental Elements — a framework for understanding what is core to Cursillo.
• What is Fundamental for Being Christian — a statement of the Movement’s central concern.
• Eduardo Bonnín’s Address at the III World Ultreya in Rome — a primary text in his own words.

The site also quotes him on the Movement’s purpose: Cursillo “should not lower its target,” and should give attendees “a ‘living’, simple, clear, and true experience of the Christ of the Gospel as best as possible.”

How to Use This Information

If you encountered Bonnín’s name and want to understand the reference, start with the biography and the “What is Fundamental for Being Christian” article, then read his III World Ultreya address for his own framing. If your interest is devotional, the prayer card is the direct entry point. If you are researching the Movement’s identity, the “Essential, Important, and Accidental Elements” page explains which parts are considered non-negotiable and which are adaptable.

The site is available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, and offers a newsletter signup for updates from the National Cursillo Movement.