Joliet Cursillo
    The Cursillo (short course in Christianity) came to the United States in 1957.  
    The first Cursillo in the Catholic Diocese of Joliet, Illinois was held August 15,
    1963 at St. Isaac Jogues Parish in Hinsdale, IL.  That first Cursillo was put on by
    Cursillistas from the Chicago Diocese Cursillo Movement.  Fr. Joseph Shimanek
    attended the first one and became Spiritual Director for over forty years.  
    Today there are thousands of Cursillistas in the Joliet Diocese.  The Joliet
    Diocese Cursillo Movement is now spiritually directed by Father Mark
    Jendrysik, pastor of St. Raphael Catholic Church in Naperville, Illinois.



    Your entrance into the Joliet Diocese Cursillo community begins with an
    invitation from a Cursillista who will serve as your sponsor.  Applications,
    which can be downloaded from the Joliet Diocese Cursillo Movement website at
    www.jolietcursillo.org, must be filled out by the candidate, sponsor and
    candidate’s pastor and then mailed to the Joliet Diocese Cursillo Movement’s
    Pre-Cursillo Chairperson.

    Once the candidate’s application is processed, the candidate will attend a three-
    day (72-hour) weekend usually held at a Pastoral Center.  The Cursillo begins
    on Thursday evening and ends on Sunday evening.  Transportation to and from
    the Pastoral Center will be arranged by the candidate’s sponsor.  Meals are
    included as part of the room and board fee and snacks and beverages will be
    readily available all weekend.

    The Cursillo is an opportunity to form and live in community with other
    Catholics and clergy members.  It is immersed in Catholic Doctrine and the
    Sacraments.  The weekend begins with meditation and silence.  Daily mass will
    be celebrated.  There will be morning and night prayer, rosary, and Adoration
    of the Blessed Sacrament.  Candidates may receive the Sacrament of
    Reconciliation as well as spiritual direction.  They will listen to 15 Apostolic
    talks, ten given by laity and five given by clergy, and will take part in small
    discussion groups following each talk.



    Cursillistas share in Post-Cursillo activities such as:
    • Small weekly discussion groups called “Group Reunions”
    • Monthly Ultreyas (Group Reunions from Parishes within neighboring
    communities attend Mass and share fellowship.)
    • Yearly Ultreya Grandes (Group Reunions across the Joliet Diocese attend
    Mass and share fellowship.)

    Cursillistas are encouraged to attend a monthly Leaders’ School to study the
    Cursillo purpose and method as well as Catholic Doctrine.

                            Link to the full Joliet Diocese Brochure

                             Link to the National Cursillo Home Page
    The History of Cursillo in the Joliet Diocese
    What to Expect from Cursillo
    The Retreat that Never Ends
"Go into the whole
world and proclaim
the good news to
all creation"
(Mk 16:15)
Joliet Cursillo ~ P.O. Box 4247 ~ Lisle, IL 60532