Sponsoring

Without the cooperation and support of the San Jose Cursillo Community and the sponsoring of new candidates, there would be no Cursillo Weekends. Thank you for getting involved in God's work.

The role of being a Sponsor is a tremendous gift from God but it is also a serious responsibility requiring time, effort and most of all, PRAYER.

Selection of the Candidates:

Cursillo is open to all mature adults, but ideally if married, both spouses should be acceptable and recruited together so that both can share the Cursillo experience and work together in God's love.
The sponsor should know the candidate well enough to be responsible for recommending the Cursillo Weekend to them. Cursillo is not for everyone and definitely is not a place to solve personal, psychological or emotional problems. If someone is undergoing marital separation or a loss and/or is suffering from depression they should consider making their Weekend at a latter date when they are less emotionally encumbered. The Weekend is a good time but that is not the main reason you sponsor someone.
The candidate should be a participating Catholic because it is a Catholic weekend. However, exceptions will be made, but it will be limited and will require the acceptance of the Spiritual Advisor/priest on the Weekend. All of the Sacraments will be discussed and there will be a reconciliation service and the rosary will be said. The Weekend is not ecumenical. If the non-Catholic candidate would be more comfortable with a Protestant format, we will assist in getting them on a Protestant Cursillo Weekend.
Candidates should be from the San Jose Diocese. Any exceptions should be referred to the Lay Director, Lynda DeManti. The acceptance of candidates from outside of the Diocese will depend on the availability of a functioning fourth day program in the candidate's home area and space available on the Weekend.
There will be a suggested contribution requested on the weekend. (Currently now costs are approximately $200.00 per person (including the deposit) to put on the Weekend, however, each person is free to contribute as their circumstances or blessings dictate. )
After the application has been completed, it needs to be mailed with a $50 (fifty dollar) deposit (at least four weeks before the Cursillo Weekend) to:
    San Jose Cursillo
    P.O. Box 6648
    San Jose CA 95150
Please refer to the Application Section of the website for applications to sponsor a candidate (new Application).
If you have any questions about sponsoring or want to be contacted, please send your request to the Pre-Cursillo Chair, Gay Katilius at gkatilius@gmail.com Your request will be responded to as soon as possible.

Duties of the Sponsor:
Every candidate requires a separate sponsor! Since the role of the sponsor is an important one before the weekend, during the weekend and following the weekend, it is recommended that team members NOT be sponsors. Also sponsors should sponsor not more than two candidates per weekend. There are no exceptions because the sponsor, when accepting this position, also accepts the responsibility for initiating the candidate into the Fourth Day and guiding them into the Cursillo Community and living a Christ-centered life. It is recommended that the sponsor be involved in a Fourth Day Group (Group Reunion or Ultreya) or be willing to become involved in one. The sponsor should also have an adequate knowledge of the Cursillo Method/Concept and should commit themselves only to those candidates they can follow up with effectively.

Pre-Cursillo Duties of the Sponsor:

Commit to attendance at the Sponsor Meeting, to help the Team during the Weekend and be responsible to the candidate after the Weekend.
It is absolutely necessary to adequately prepare the candidate for the Weekend. The sponsor should explain the Weekend and tell them what to expect (i.e. the talks, the Masses, meditations, etc.), Cursillo is not a secret organization or Weekend. It is up to the sponsor as to whether they want to talk about the beautiful expressions of God's love that are part of the Weekend.
The Why Consider Making a Cursillo brochure (which is also a section of the website) has essential information for both the sponsor and the candidate. It should be read and discussed by both the sponsor and candidate.
It is the responsibility of the sponsor to see that each candidate realizes they are renewing their Baptismal commitment to Christ by participating in a Movement of the Catholic Church. The more the Sponsor knows about the Cursillo Movement and can convey it to the candidate, the greater the experience of the weekend. Additional literature about the Cursillo Movement is available both in books and on the National website.

Cursillo Weekend Duties:

A sponsor is expected to palanca prayers and to attend the Clausura. All are encourage to attend the Potluck at the conclusion of Clausura if possible.
A sponsor is to provide the candidate with transportation to and from the Weekend. The sponsor is also to accompany the candidate into the place of the Weekend and help make the candidate feel comfortable.
The sponsor should make an effort to be available to the candidate's family during the Weekend (help watch the children, fix dinner, drive someone somewhere, etc.).

Post-Cursillo Duties of the Sponsor:
The sponsor will assist the candidate in attending Ultreyas and offer help finding or forming a Group Reunion (4th Day). The Group Reunion/Ultreya concept is the key to preserving and keeping the fire with Christ and the Community alive, which began on the Three-Days.

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Revised 4/28/09

Last revised 4/27/09