Mississippi Episcopal Cursillo is making a comeback this fall, thanks to a dedicated group of lay people intent on sharing with others the opportunity to deepen their relationship with Christ. Plans are now underway for Cursillo #137R, September 27-29, 2024, at Camp Bratton-Green.

Lee Dean, a member of St. Peter’s, Oxford, said that he was prompted by a February text from his rector, the Rev. Jody Burnett, wondering who might be willing to help relaunch Cursillo, as the program is fully lay-led. Lee said he responded to Jody with his own question: “Are you asking me to do it?”

At the last Mississippi Cursillo retreat, #137, in October of 2019, Lee served as “Head Cha-Cha,” ensuring that participants had all they needed and were comfortable. With almost five years having passed since a diocesan Cursillo gathering, Lee was eager to help get the retreat weekends going again. He said he immediately followed his question to Jody with another text saying, “I’ll do it.”

“I missed being together, and I missed the way the Holy Spirit comes alive when we are together with the goal of sharing the love of Christ,” Lee said.

Thus began a string of text messages and emails from Lee to some 30 fellow Cursillo veterans across the diocese inviting them to a March planning meeting at St. Philip’s in Jackson. From there, a group reconvened in May at Bratton-Green to solidify plans, subsequently booking the camp for Cursillo #137R.

The “R” added to the number is a reflection of this fall’s “soft-launch” of a refreshed, shortened format and new location. Previously, participants arrived for the weekend retreats on a Thursday evening and departed on Sunday. In recent years, understanding three nights away creates a hardship for would-be participants who work or have school-age children, Episcopal Cursillo Ministry developed a two-night format. At #137R, the agenda for the shorter retreat will be used for the first time in Mississippi.

Cursillo #137R will also have a new location, returning to the Gray Center’s south (camp) side, where the retreats took place long ago, before the diocese developed the conference center. Cabins have recently been updated with air conditioning and new mattresses, adding comfort to the beauty of the surroundings.

The pandemic, along with the closure of the conference center, caused Mississippi Episcopal Cursillo to take a longer hiatus than leaders had expected, but the group that gathered at Bratton-Green in May is energized for the relaunch. Included were several past leaders of retreat weekends and some who were members of the “Secretariat” (diocesan leadership team) back in 2020.

At the May meeting, Elizabeth Bush, a member of St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Jackson, who was serving as Secretariat chair prior to the pandemic, agreed to continue in that capacity. Also agreeing to fill Secretariat positions were Billy Ray Sigh of St. Philip’s, Jackson (secretary); Mary Tio of Redeemer, Biloxi (treasurer); and Limeul Eubanks of St. James’, Jackson (registrar).

The new Secretariat members and others present for the May gathering are hopeful that Cursillo #137R will achieve two important goals. First, they hope that clergy who’ve not been through a Cursillo weekend will attend so that they can then serve as spiritual directors for subsequent weekends.

The spiritual return-on-investment is high for clergy. As priests and deacons who serve in parishes with a large number of Cursillo participants well know, the Holy Spirit often creates disciples over the weekend retreats.

A second goal for #137R is that laity who’ve previously been through a Cursillo weekend will consider participating again. The idea is that these repeat participants can offer feedback on the new format and location, and, more importantly, renew and deepen their connection to Christ in advance of staffing upcoming Cursillo weekends.

In addition to #137R in September, plans are underway for Cursillo #138: April 4-6, 2025, and Cursillo #139, September 5-7, 2025. More information about all of these weekends is forthcoming. For now, save these dates and prayerfully consider taking some time away to grow in Christ’s transforming love.