The Cursillo was a movement started in Spain by the Catholic Church to help revitalize the church and its members
after WWII. The Cursillo movement was confined to Spain until the late 1950's when a group of men from the Spanish
Air Force who were training in Texas and in a Reunion Group, conducted the first Cursillo in the United States. Among the
Spanish-speaking people the movement began to spread across the United States. The first English-speaking Cursillo was not
held until the early 1960's.
When Protestants began attending weekends, Roman Catholics saw the need to make the experience
available to Protestants which led to the development of the ecumenical Tres Dias Movement. The first Tres Dias weekend,
open to all Christian traditions, was held in Newburgh, NY, November 2-5, 1972 (at the Oblate House -- the same location where
Mid-Hudson Tres Dias weekends were held until 2001 when the Oblate House was sold and later demolished!). Dave McManigal,
a Protestant who had attended a Roman Catholic Cursillo and who was led to be instrumental in forming Tres Dias, was the first
Rector. From there Tres Dias spread into New England, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. On July 11, 1980, the communities
joined together to form the national Tres Dias organization. As of 2005, there were over 60 Tres Dias communities worldwide.
The International Secretariat meets three times per year. For more information on the worldwide aspects of Tres Dias,
go to the international Tres Dias website at
www.tresdias.org.
Tres Dias is unique in that it is a Christian experience open to all who are in agreement with the statement
of faith and who desire a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. Tres Dias is not sponsored by any single Christian
denomination.
As this movement continues to grow, pray that it will continue to be faithful to God's Spirit. May we
be among the Christian leaders God is using to revitalize His people.
MOST IMPORTANT: Although Tres Dias is a powerful tool which
God has used consistently, it must NEVER take the place of, or be a substitute for worship in your own church. Rather, it
should enhance your regular church commitment!
