The role of a sponsor.

A sponsor for a candidate can either be an individual or, better still, a group. Whether a group, a community (Ultreya), or an individual, whoever is responsible for enrolling and preparing the candidates - the following is expected:

a) that they understand the purpose of the Cursillo Movement, the environments that have been selected as priorities for evangelization, and the basic criteria as to who can, who should, and who should not make a Cursillo;

b) that they be well acquainted with their candidates, through close personal contact;

c) that as "servants of the truth" they try, through their witness of word and of life, to awaken in their candidates an attitude of openness to inquiry, to friendship, and to change; and

d) that in cases where the sponsor is an individual, that person should be an active member of a group, so as to help the candidate by example to become incorporated into a group of Christians, while accompanying him or her for a reasonable length of time in the Post Cursillo. (F.I. #234)

The Candidate

First, from the beginning of the Movement, the basic criteria for a person being selected has been that the candidate be in a position to receive the sacraments. Non-Catholics, including spouses, must not be accepted for a Catholic Cursillo mainly because the weekend is based on the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, Catholic doctrine and dogma. Non-Catholics should be encouraged to participate in whatever renewal program, including Cursillo,is available to them within their own denomination.

Secondly, those who have psychological or emotional problems or whose moral life is not in order, should not go.

Thirdly, that they have been properly prepared for the weekend and will be taken care of in the Post Cursillo. (L.M. pg. 70/71)

Preparing the Candidate

Basically, the preparation of the candidate should be by personal contact to dispose him or her to be open to what the weekend will offer in a better understanding of themselves, of their relationship with God and the Church and in experiencing Christian community. Preparation should also include an invitation to join a community afterwards. The weekend should be pictured as an introduction to something better, not an end in itself. (L.M. pg. 68-71)

How to Find a Sponsor

If you know someone who has attended Cursillo, ask that individual to give you information about the Cursillo experience. This person can help you decide if Cursillo is right for you. This individual can also help locate a sponsor for your Cursillo participation.

If you don't know anyone who has been to Cursillo, use the Cursillo Find a Group link to locate a Cursillo community near you. Search for a Cursillo community by name or location. Tell the contact person for your local community that you are interested in attending a Cursillo weekend and that you would like to find a sponsor.

Guidelines for Couples

The purpose of the Cursillo Movement is to evangelize environments through the natural leaders of those environments. With this in mind and taking into consideration the pluralistic society in which we live, we will encounter situations where a spouse may not be Catholic or the spouse of the natural leader does not wish to attend the Cursillo weekend. Thus the reason for guidelines on couples.

The Couples Guidelines: When selecting a person for Cursillo,male or female, it should be determined if that person is married before preparing the person for Cursillo. Even though the Cursillo Weekend is lived individually, the spiritual life of the couple, both before and after the Cursillo Weekend, must be considered. The Cursillo Movement holds in highest regard the Sacrament of Marriage and if participation in a Cursillo by one and not the other might have an adverse effect on that Sacrament, then we suggest some other form of individual spiritual renewal.

Once it is known that the person is married, we need to determine whether both are eligible to attend the Cursillo or if both are interested in attending the Cursillo Weekend. If something would prevent one spouse from attending, either because that individual is not eligible or that person does not wish to attend, then the following steps would be taken.

1. The couple would be invited to meet with the Spiritual Advisor of the Movement, member of the Secretariat, and/or leader from the School of Leaders.

2. During the meeting a full explanation to the purpose/method of the Movement would be given.

3. A complete explanation, of what is expected of those who go through the 3-Day exercise, is given.

4. Most importantly, an explanation of what is expected during the 4th Day (Group Reunion and Ultreya).

5. If both agree, that one spouse attending the Weekend while the other spouse does not will not have an adverse affect on their Sacrament of Marriage, then the one who is eligible and wants to attend should be allowed to do so.

In the case where both are eligible and both agree to attend the Cursillo,then both should be prepared at the same time and the question of who attends first is not important.

The purpose of the Spiritual Advisor, a Secretariat member, and/or leader from the School of Leaders meeting with the couple is meant to compliment the work already done by the sponsor, not to take the place of the sponsor. (National Secretariat - 1993)

Sponsors Role Following the Weekend

Actually, the Cursillo leaders are responsible for the candidates before, during and after the Cursillo Weekend. That responsibility may be shared with sponsors. The critical point in selection is that the leader and the sponsor know the candidate, his or her disposition, personality, etc. A sponsor who knows a candidate will obviously take the follow-up responsibility more seriously. A sponsor who is in a group reunion, attends Ultreya, and can group with the candidate afterwards will be more responsible than someone who hands out an application. (L.M. pg.74)