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VIA de CRISTO A Spanish expression meaning "Way of Christ." Via de Cristo is the Lutheran expression of "Cursillo de Christiandad." (Trademarked by the Catholic Cursillo Community.)
What is
VIA de CRISTO?
Via de Cristo is a three-day school which takes a New Testament look at Christianity as a life-style. It is a highly structured weekend designed to strengthen and renew the faith of Christian people, and through them, their families, congregations and the environment in which they live, work, and play. Via de Cristo is a combined effort of laity and clergy working together to bring renewal to the Church. Via de Cristo recognizes that God's people are provided with many spiritual gifts. Via de Cristo, however, does not identify with the Charismatic movement.
History of VIA de CRISTO
The movement originated as “Cursillo®” in the late
1940's in the Spanish Catholic church and moved to the United States
in the late 1950's. It began in the Lutheran church when lay people
and clergy attended a Catholic Cursillo in 1971, both in Iowa and
Florida. The first Lutheran sponsored weekends were held in 1972 in
Iowa and Florida and have now been held in over 25 states and some
foreign countries. Via de Cristo is the Lutheran expression of this
method which is currently being used in many denominations
including: Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian and Reformed churches.
In January of 1980, the first set of Lutheran-sponsored Cursillo
weekends were held in Minnesota at Normandale Lutheran Church in
Edina. The Minnesota Episcopal Cursillo Community supported and
helped establish Cursillo in the Lutheran Community in Minnesota.
The first Texas Lutheran Via de Cristo weekend was held in January,
1986 at Camp Lutherhill near LaGrange, Texas.
In July of 1985, the Lutheran Cursillo Community of Minnesota
accepted the challenge of presenting the first two
Lutheran-sponsored Cursillo weekends in Papua New Guinea.
In 1986, the National
Lutheran Secretariat*, representing all existing Lutheran
Cursillo communities, voted to become ecumenical and changed our
name to Via de Cristo, meaning “Way of
Christ.”
Purpose of VIA de CRISTO
Via de Cristo is based on the fundamentals of Christianity,
concentrating on the person and teachings of Jesus Christ. The focus
is not on Via de Cristo itself, but on the local church. The
objective of the movement is to inspire, challenge and equip local
church members for Christian action in their homes, churches and
communities.
What happens on a VIA de CRISTO weekend?
A Via de Cristo weekend is three days in length, beginning on
Thursday evening and ending the following Sunday evening. The
participants live, study, worship and commune together daily.
Fourteen talks are given, nine by lay people and five by clergy.
Following each talk, small round table discussions focus on the main
points of the talk and a poster is drawn. The talks, in an
overlapping fashion, present the Christian life, based on the person
and teachings of Jesus Christ. The titles of these talks indicate
their content:
- Ideal
- Habitual Grace
- Laity
- Actual Grace
- Piety
- Study
- Sacraments
- Action
- Obstacles to Grace
- Leaders
- Environment
- Life in Grace
- Christian Community
- Total Security
Via de Cristo gives those attending a living understanding of
basic Christian truths. There is music and singing, food and
fellowship, a time for laughter and for prayer.what
What happens after the weekend?
You may attend Via de Cristo only ONCE in your life, but you are
asked to build on it for the rest of your life. After you have
attended a Via de Cristo weekend you are considered a Fourth Dayer
(meaning the rest of your life), and you are encouraged to:
- Expand your inner spiritual life through study and church
participation,
- Become more active witnesses for Christ in your daily life.
Via de Cristo also offers two ongoing means of perseverance:
- RENEWAL GROUPS, small groups of men or women who meet
regularly to study, pray, share and help one another in their
quest for spiritual development,
- ULTREYA, gatherings of the local church Via de Cristo
community for encouragement and fellowship.
Who should attend a VIA de CRISTO
weekend?
Via de Cristo is intended for lay people from every walk of life,
for pastors, for people who live strong and active lives in Christ,
and also for those who seek to be renewed and strengthened in their
relationship with Christ and the people around them. Via de Cristo
weekends are usually paired, with men attending the first weekend,
and women attending the second weekend. Via de Cristo is open to
married couples, and single men and women. Members of
a congregation may attend a Via de Cristo weekend after their
pastor, accompanied by one or two lay people, has attended a
weekend.
Summary
Keep an open mind and heart in making your decision to attend Via
de Cristo. Many of those who have attended also wondered whether
they should go. Now that they have attended, they want to share this
wonderful gift from God. Please understand that their experience
attending Via de Cristo was unique, and all the conversations in the
world will not become a substitute for your weekend. You need to
experience a weekend yourself to obtain its full and life enriching
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