of San Bernardino Filipino Group

In 1991, a group of cursillistas in San Bernardino was inspired to start the Cursillos in Christianity Filipino Group in the Diocese of San Bernardino. As a result, Class No. 1 was held at Tepeyac House in San Bernardino. Over the next few years, there were four classes: two (2) for men and two (2) for women.

After the completion of the four classes, the acting spiritual director, Deacon Rick Santuyo was recalled by his bishop to return to Guam. Due to his absence and the lack of formal organization, the activities of the movement ceased. In the meantime, most of the cursillistas who were involved in the San Bernardino Group remained active in the Diocese of Los Angeles and San Diego by regularly serving during the weekends. As the number of cursillistas from San Bernardino increased, a desire to further support and spread the movement continued to grow as well.

In 1997, a dozen cursillistas met, studied, planned and prayed fervently in re-organizing the San Bernardino Cursillo with the mentality of keeping the methods of the original founder intact. Fr. Arturo Balagat, a graduate of Class No. 3, became the acting spiritual director at that time.

Between 1997-1999, an interim secretariat was formed and the movement's mission statement was laid out parallel to the Bishop's pastoral plan. For the first time, the group was affiliated with the National Secretariat and Region XI Cursillo. About 40+ cursillistas underwent workshops, attended conferences and trainings to learn more about the movement. WIth the help and encouragement of the Service Team of Region XI, San Diego & L.A. Group, the Cursillos in Christianity Filipino Group successfully progressed through the early stages of their own formation.

In the Jubilee Year (2000), Cursillos in Christianity Filipino Group in the Diocese of San Bernardino resumed its activities by holding Class no. 5, a men's class followed by Class no. 6, a women's class, at the Divine Word Center in Riverside. Since then, they have held 2 classes each year, one for men and one for women. Presently, we have approximately 500 cursillistas on our roster and with the Grace of God, the roster continues to grow each year.