Welcome to our Cursillo community — a place where friendship, faith, and simple daily witness help us grow closer to Christ and one another. Whether you’re new to Cursillo or reconnecting, we’re glad you’re here. If you have any questions or comments, please write us at trentoncursillo@gmail.com.

What is Cursillo?

Cursillo is a movement within the Church that helps people discover—or rediscover—the joy of living as intentional Christian disciples. Rooted in friendship, prayer, and simple daily witness, Cursillo equips ordinary people to bring the Gospel to the environments where they live, work, and serve. Through its three‑day Weekend and ongoing community life, Cursillo nurtures a deep, personal encounter with Christ and encourages a lifelong journey of faith, fellowship, and mission.

What is the charism (a gift of the Holy Spirit given for the good of others and the building up of the Church) of the Cursillo Movement?

The charism of the Cursillo Movement is the joyful proclamation of the Gospel through the power of personal witness and authentic Christian friendship. At its heart, Cursillo helps ordinary people discover that they are loved by God and called to transform their everyday environments—not through grand programs, but through simple, steady, Spirit‑led living. Its charism emphasizes piety, study, and action, lived in community, so that Christians become leaven in the world, bringing hope, encouragement, and the presence of Christ wherever they go.

What is piety, study and action?

In Cursillo, piety, study, and action are the three simple, steady practices that help a Christian grow and live their faith in daily life. Piety is nurturing a real, personal relationship with God through prayer and the sacraments. Study is opening the mind and heart to learn more about faith so it can shape everyday choices. Action is bringing Christ to the world through small, intentional acts of love, service, and witness. Together, they form a balanced way of living the Gospel with joy and purpose.

What is the origin of the Cursillo Movement?

Cursillo began in Spain in the 1940s, when a group of young laymen and clergy sought to renew Christian life in the aftermath of war and cultural upheaval. Their desire was simple but bold: to help ordinary people discover the love of Christ and become apostles in their daily environments. Through prayer, study, and a deep trust in the Holy Spirit, they developed the first Cursillo Weekends and the method that still shapes the movement today—one rooted in friendship, authenticity, and the joyful transformation of the world from within.

 

What are some elements of the Cursillo Movement?

Cursillo Weekend

A Cursillo Weekend is a three‑day encounter with Christ that helps people rediscover the depth, joy, and simplicity of living the Gospel. Through talks, prayer, sacraments, and authentic community, participants experience God’s love in a personal and transformative way. The Weekend doesn’t end on Sunday—it launches a lifelong journey of growing in faith and bringing Christ to the places where they live, work, and serve.

Friendship Group

A Cursillo Friendship Group is a small, steady circle of companions who meet regularly to share their spiritual lives with honesty and encouragement. In this simple rhythm of prayer, reflection, and accountability, members help one another stay rooted in grace and faithful to their personal piety, study, and action. It’s a place of trust, support, and joyful perseverance on the Christian journey.

Ultreyas

A Cursillo Ultreya is a joyful, community‑building gathering where Cursillistas come together to share faith, encourage one another, and stay connected to the Cursillo spirit. Through brief witness talks, small‑group sharing, and prayer, the Ultreya helps people keep moving forward—“onward”—in their spiritual lives and in their daily mission.

School of Leaders

School of Leaders is a small, ongoing formation community where Cursillistas deepen their understanding of the Cursillo method and grow as servant‑leaders. It’s a place of shared prayer, study, and action. The School helps leaders stay rooted in the movement’s charism, strengthen their spiritual lives, and support one another as they animate the wider Cursillo community with humility, joy, and purpose.

Diocesan Mass

A Cursillo Diocesan Mass is a celebration of the Eucharist that gathers Cursillistas from across the diocese to pray, worship, and renew their shared mission. Rooted in the joy and simplicity of the Cursillo charism, this Mass strengthens unity, deepens spiritual friendship, and sends the community forth to live the Gospel with renewed purpose in their daily environments.

Secretariat

The Cursillo Secretariat is the servant‑leadership team that guides, supports, and safeguards the Cursillo Movement within a diocese. Working in prayerful collaboration, its members help keep the movement faithful to its charism, coordinate key events like Weekends and Ultreyas, and provide direction so that Cursillo can continue forming Christian leaders who bring the Gospel to their everyday environments with joy and purpose.

When are upcoming Cursillo Weekends?

 

Who are the current members of the Trenton Cursillo Secretariat?

Priest Spiritual Advisor - Father Ed Blanchett
Deacon Spiritual Advisor - Deacon John Clymore
Deacon Spiritual Advisor - Deacon Joseph B. Gorini
Diocesan Cursillo Coordinator - Bob Morris
Assistant Coordinator - Rick Klarmann
Pre-Cursillo Section Head - Barbara Kittle
Cursillo Section Head -
Post-Cursillo Section Head - Alice and David Riggio
Secretary/Treasurer - Lisa Klarmann
Music Minister - Tara Mika

How do you remember deceased members of the Trenton Cursillo?

We remember our deceased cursillistas at this link.

Who are past Diocesan Cursillo Coordinators (Lay Directors)?

Bill Cortright (1971 & 1972)
Frank McGough (1973 & 1974)
Joanne and Bill Blohm (1975 & 1976)
Bill Grippo (1977 & 1978)
Ray Suszenski (1979 & 1980)
Cass DeFalco (1981 & 1982)
Harry DiSeveria (1983 & 1984)
Rich Tomkovich (1985 & 1986)
Len Capobianco (1987 & 1988)
Dick Hemler (1989 & 1990)
John Cifrodella (1991 & 1992)
Gordon Reinold (1993 & 1994)
Jo DeFalco – Tholenarr (1995 & 1996)
Frans Tholenarr (1997 & 1998)
Cheri Price (1999 & 2000)
Richard Andrejack (2001 & 2002)
Al Martella (2003 & 2004)
Cynthia Diamond (2005 & 2006)
Pat Martucci (2007 & 2008)
John DiStefano (2009 & 2010)
Mary Ann Dowd (2011 & 2012)
Ronnie Martella (2013 & 2014)
Rick Klarmann (2015 - 2017)
Mary Weis (2018 & 2019)
Kathy Tucker (2020 & 2021)
Robert Lauricella (2022 & 2023)

 

Where can I get an application to a Cursillo Weekend?

DOWNLOAD AN APPLICATION to attend a Cursillo Weekend at this link.

 

How do I contact Trenton Cursillo? 

Please email us at trentoncursillo@gmail.com. GOD BLESS YOU!

Opportunity For Your Piety and Study

 ✨ OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR PIETY & STUDY✨

 

* Event: Feast of St. Anthony of Padua Day of Prayer 

* Date: June 13th

* Place: St. Peter Church in Point Pleasant 

* Time: 9am-3pm

* Cost: $20

* Full Information: Please check the attached flyer for complete details and location.

How to Register / Inquire:

* Use contact person via phone or text to help guide you….

* Contact Person: Tara Mika

* Phone Number: (908) 278-3909

A Heavenly Wedding Banquet

FROM BOB MORRIS, CURSILLO LAY COORDINATOR

 

60 Cursillistas (and a few future ones) from the Dioceses of Trenton, Camden, Metuchen, Newark, and the Staten Island Ultreya came together as one community this past Sunday, November 16 and had a wonderful time at our Grand Ultreya at St. John’s parish in Lakehurst.

It was so good to see so many people and to meet many Cursillistas from different places. The presence of the Holy Spirit was evident throughout the day. After a half hour of enjoying appetizers and fellowship, we kicked off the festivities in song led by our liturgist Tara Mika. After welcoming remarks from yours truly and a blessing from Father Lou Papera, we broke into 15 groups for Group Reunion.

We then had a powerful witness talk from John Bonviaggio, who gave amazing and moving testimony of how since making his weekend he has lived a life of bringing Christ to others. His witness was a perfect example of living the Environment talk.

Following some reflections on John’s talk, we sang another song and then current Lay Coordinator of Metuchen and the 4^thLay Coordinator of Trenton Bill Grippo gave a brief history of Cursillo in the Diocese of Trenton and some encouraging words.

We concluded in song and prayer and then enjoyed a delicious potluck dinner with so much food that we all ate and took food home.

I’ve heard only overwhelmingly positive feedback on the day and how impactful it was.

Many thanks to our Secretariat for planning the day, especially to David and Alice Riggio, who spent so much time putting this day together and did a super job coordinating everything. Special thanks also to the volunteer kitchen crew of St. John’s for their help and support the entire day!

Photos coming soon! 

 

God Bless everyone and if you couldn’t make it, we hope to see you soon.

CHRIST IS COUNTING ON US by RICK KLARMANN

FROM SCHOOL OF LEADERS (MAY, 2024)

Recall at the end of your Cursillo weekend there was a commitment ceremony. During the ceremony you received your Cursillo cross with the Spiritual Advisor saying, “Christ is counting on you.” Then you replied, “I am counting on Christ.”

As I was preparing for this School of Leaders, those words were on my heart and mind. “Christ is counting on me, and I am counting on Christ” but for what? What is He counting on me for? What am I counting on Him for?

The obvious answer is a general one—we call it the great commission—spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. But what specifically does He have in mind for me? This book and where I am in life have caused me to consider not only what I am doing but why. Jesus says in John’s Gospel. “I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) I realized that getting back to basics—making sure I had a good foundation—was just as important at the beginning of my Fourth Day as it is today.

Before I go on, Kathy will recap some of the material we have covered at School of Leaders so far.

I made my weekend in 1981 and my memory of how I lived my Fourth Day immediately after my weekend is a little fuzzy (for good or bad). I recall the fellowship, the Palanca, our chapel visit, the cross ceremony and many other aspects of that weekend. But I do not recall having a clear understanding of what Jesus was asking of me or what I was expecting of Him. I knew it had to do with the “great commission” but what that meant specifically, I wasn’t sure. So, I did what came naturally; I started doing. Sometimes I did the right thing and sometimes I’m not sure.

Last month Kathy spoke about a Venn diagram (SCROLL DOWN TO SEE DIAGRAM BELOW) and that image has haunted me. Yes, haunted.

I must confess that I am not a reader, but I have been reading a lot of Cursillo material—the Leaders Manual, the Articles of Operations from the National Cursillo website and other documents—lately. I know I need to better understand our Movement. So, I was researching Precursillo. If I were to ask you what you believed Precursillo was responsible for, I wonder if you answer would be the same as mine; that Precursillo was concerned with sponsors, candidates, and applications, but the more I read the more I realized that Precursillo is so much more.

 We’ll get into that in the coming months but leads me to the Venn diagram and the haunting. I started seeing the connections, overlaps, and individuality in the three sections. We use the tripod to help us understand our Piety, Study, and Action; that all three components must be present and in balance—not focusing on one or two areas at the expense of other areas. The Venn diagram helps me visualize the connections, and if my focus is on one area over another, the balance is off.

 Let me give you an oversimplified example. Let’s say we need three ingredients—flour, eggs and milk—to make bread. If you have milk and eggs but no flour you have scrambled eggs but not bread. If you have milk and flour but no eggs you have paste—sticky glue. I’m not sure what you get with just eggs and flour, but it can’t be tasty. My point is everything is necessary and in the right proportion. I will NEVER forget Pharisaical Phil who is so heavenly minded that he is no earthly good.

This book has been asking me (us) to reflect on our Movement and our place in it. And Kathys inspiration about the Venn diagram helps me, a visual learner, to see the connections and overlaps in Cursillo.

So, let’s back up to our Weekend. There were three encounters—first with Jesus, then ourselves, and finally with others. The first encounter causes us to ask some tough questions, “Who am I? Why am I here?

Throughout the day I am asked to consider if my life, with all of the good and bad in it, were a movie, would it be something I would want my spouse, children or loved ones to see? Day one had the Ideals talk, Grace talks, and ends with Piety. Everything happening on this day reminds that a life of Holiness is possible (” …with God all things are possible.” MT 19:26)

Having encountered myself, the next encounter was with Christ. The question “Who I am (to Him)?” is further explained as we were reminded that we are loved by a God who would do anything for us so we could be with Him. Throughout that day we were guided to know Him better (Study) and His gifts for us the Sacraments.

Then after another short sleep, we begin the third encounter—with others. No, I’m not talking about being wakened by singing but that we have a mission to be the Good News for everyone we meet. Mary Ann would call it our moveable square meter or the hula-hoop effect. All the talks taught us that this apostolate we call Cursillo is not something we should be doing from time-to-time or when we have time, but it should become part of our lives (Action).

As we continue this year at School of Leaders, my hope is that we will all see the three encounters as the heart of our Piety, Study, and Action as well as the heart of all that we do in Precursillo, Cursillo, and Postcursillo.

The lever that helps us do the impossible is prayer, Palanca. Recall as we were preparing for the last weekend, David spoke to us about Palanca. He reminded us that we are supposed to be people of Palanca—not just in preparation for a weekend but all the time. We pray for our Movement, our leaders and all of the special intentions we are aware of. Therefore, as we approach Pentecost, I ask that each of you commit to praying the Prayer to the Holy Spirit for nine days (your personal Novena to the Holy Spirit) asking the Holy Spirit to pour out His Grace, His Gifts on the Cursillo Movement in the Diocese of Trenton to:

•  Discern His will and give us the strength to do it.
•  Bring about a deeper commitment to the Cursillo apostolate.
•  Be a living invitation to join us in the Cursillo apostolate.

In June and July, the School of Leaders will dive deeper into Precursillo in the form of a Friendship and Sponsors workshops. We will try to keep the workshops to about two hours, but they might go over a little. We are not restricting any potential candidates from attending these workshops but realize these two sessions will be geared more for community than candidates. Please join us.