About Us

OUR MISSION

The Cursillos in Christianity is a Roman Catholic Movement, in obedience to the Bishop and the Diocese of San Bernardino and in accordance with the direction of the National Cursillo Secretariat, which by means of its own method, serves to (1) fulfill the mission of the church in making possible for people to live what is fundamental to being a Christian (called to impacting family, neighborhood, and society so that people's lives will be filled with hope) and (2) promote the creation of core groups of Christians who will leaven the environment with the Gospel.

OUR PURPOSE

To provide an understanding and conviction concerning what is fundamental to being a Christian. The Cursillo Movement strives to strengthen individuals so that they might live out that understanding and conviction, supported by Christian community life.

SECRETARIAT

Lay Director Bro. Ron Busante

Secretary Bro. Jesse Jones

Treasurer Sis. Nora Del Rosario

Pre-Cursillo Sis. Cynthia Ronquillo & Sis. Gaie Vicente

Cursillo Proper (3-Day) Sis. Irene Arevalo & Bro. Jun Rinen

Post Cursillo Sis. Amy Medina Yance

School of Leaders Sis. Kris Catapang & Sis. Bernadette Plaza

SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR

Rev. Ed Gomez

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Chino

SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR EMERITUS

His Excellency, The Most Reverend Rutilio J del Riego

Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus

Diocese of San Bernardino

Our History

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 for men and two 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.

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. They reorganized 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 and 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. Over forty Cursillistas attended workshops, conferences, and training to learn more about the movement. With the help and encouragement of the Region XI Service Team from San Diego and L.A., the Cursillos in Christianity Filipino Group was successfully formed.

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 two classes each year, one for men and one for women with a break during the pandemic. Presently, we have over 1,000 Cursillistas on our roster, and with the Grace of God, the roster continues to grow each year.