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History from cursillo to de colores en cristo
"De colores....rollo....abrazo...ultreya...a person listening to crucistas talk among them might be tempted to assume that de colores are a secret society with a Spanish flavor. But, any one of the hundreds of thousands of cursillistas and crusistas will explain that de colores is a retreat, a movement, and most important a method of spirituality.
Cursillo (meaning short course) began in 1949 when bishop Juan Hervas and a group of dedicated laymen were seeking a way to renew the diocese of Majorca, Spain. They developed a spiritual renewal method consisting of a weekend retreat and several forms to follow-up. This method remains essentially unchanged.
The first cursillo weekend in the United States was held in Texas in 1957. During the next four years Spanish language weekends were held throughout Texas, in Phoenix, Arizona, New York City, and in Lorain, Ohio.
The first English language cursillo was held in San Angelo, Texas in 1961. That same year, the movement spread to California, Indiana, Michigan, New Mexico, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland, Missouri, Massachusetts, and Washington State.
In December of 1964, cursillo #13 was held in Muskegon at our Lady of Grace Church with Bill Weidman as rector. Catholics, desiring to share this unique experience with their non-catholic friends and clergy, began sponsoring those of varied faiths to weekends. This began on a very small scale and at a slow pace, but by the mid 70's, hundreds of men and women, laypeople and the clergy from virtually all major denominations, had made a cursillo struggling with the fact that the cursillo in the Muskegon area was no longer fulfilling it's original purpose to the catholic diocese, but at the same time believing in the interfaith experience that had evolved. De colores en cristo was born.
The English translation is "the colors of Christ". There are other denominational cursillos..., Presbyterian, episcopal, etc.., as well as cursillos in other countries. De colores were born in the spirit of interfaith communion of the love feast... the agape. It is important to realize that the de colores movement was born of love and not law.
The first de colores were held in Muskegon in 1980. In 1981, the first de colores was held inside the walls of Muskegon correctional facility, An attempt was made to hold two weekends each year. This was possible for many years until over-crowding in the facility interfered. Two weekends were held in Camp Geneva in Holland and others in Grand Rapids. In January 1985, de colores officially expanded to Grand Rapids with that secretariat being the first offspring. Other areas in Michigan with secretariats include Detroit, southwest Michigan, Michigan West Shore Ministries, Traverse City, and Effingham, Illinois. Who knows where god will take this movement next.
God has blessed de colors with dedicated leadership, laity and clergy, protestant and catholic. With requests from across the country desiring this interfaith experience it is sure to continue to grow. De colores were founded in the cursillo "method", but there have been some changes and refinements since that first weekend in 1949 to accommodate the interfaith experience. For example, the catholic cursillo is centered on the mass, while de colores are centered on the word.
You are here today because a group of dedicated men was given a "vision" of a method of renewing their catholic diocese in Spain. Another group was given the "inspiration" to translate the method into the English language, and another group had the "courage" to work together across denominational barriers and boundaries to bring us to where we are today.
Just as the men and women in 1949 are a part of this history, so are you. For who knows where the lord will lead de colores en cristo tomorrow?
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