The mission of Cum Christo is to bring Christians together in an ecumenical environment that renews their relationship with Jesus Christ and motivates them to grow as disciples of Jesus in their churches, their everyday life and other places where God leads them.
WHAT IS CUMCHRISTO
The Columbus CumChristo is an interfaith movement designed to help and support Christian leaders in their daily walk "With Christ"
Cum Christo emerged from Catholic Cursillo and has adopted many practices from this heritage. Cum Christo brings adults from Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches together for a 3-day “workshop in Christian living.” Participants are urged to grow as disciples of Jesus by gathering weekly in small “Group Reunions” to share their relationship with Jesus, their Christian study and Christian action. Prayer support for each other and accountability also are part of these Group Reunions. The entire Cum Christo community is invited to attend regular weekly gatherings to gain encouragement, reconnect, practice Group Reunion, worship, pray and share Christian fellowship. Cum Christo guides participants to live as Jesus’ disciples in their daily life and to be ministry participants and leaders in their church and in the other environments where God leads them.
HOW CAN I BECOME INVOLVED IN CUMCHRISTO?
- Applications for a CumChristo Weekend are available by calling the CumChristo office at 614-464-2474 or can be downloaded in PDF format from this website. You must complete the form and give it to a friend or acquaintance who has made a Weekend. That person (or someone he or she recommends) will sponsor you and give you more information about the Weekend. You must have a member-sponsor to make a Weekend. If you do not know anyone who has made a CumChristo Weekend, check our Church Contacts list to see if your church or parish has a CumChristo Contact person and phone or email that person. If your church does not have one, contact the Pre-CumChristo Coordinator by email.
- Once your application is signed by your pastor and submitted, it must be approved. You will then be notified.
- If you are recovering from a serious physical or mental illness, you should defer submitting an application.
- For more information, email the Pre-CumChristo Coordinator or contact your church or parish CumChristo Contact person.
THE CUMCHRISTO EXPERIENCE
A 3-day Weekend
- From Thursday evening to Sunday evening, lay people and clergy from all walks of life work together to gain a deeper understanding of God and of their faith.
- The CumChristo Weekend is a blend of seriousness and lightheartedness, directed toward living a Christian life. It begins with a retreat-like period of silence which lasts from Thursday night to Friday morning. Thereafter, the basic teachings of Christ are presented and discussed in an atmosphere of openness.
- During the weekend, meditations and talks are presented by lay people and clergy. The talks are followed by small group discussions of the topics presented. Prayers, songs, liturgies and chapel visits are also parts of the weekend -- as are eating, laughing, joke telling and socializing.
- The CumChristo Weekend offers you the opportunity to leave your worldly cares for three days and to concentrate on yourself and your relationship with God and your church.
The 4th Day
- The goal of the CumChristo movement and retreat goes beyond renewing your enthusiasm for the Lord Jesus. CumChristo offers you continuing inspiration and support in maintaining that enthusiasm.
- After the weekend, the CumChristo participants are urged to form small, informal groups of friends that meet weekly. Group Reunions, as they are known, enable members to support and encourage each other in extending the Kingdom of God to their environments.
- A weekly meeting called an Ultreya (Spanish for "onward") is held at the Holy Cross Cursillo Center. All who have made the weekend are invited to attend the Ultreya, which includes informal group reunions, a brief talk given by a lay witness, songs, a chapel visit, and socializing
- A newsletter called the Quiri-Quiri is mailed to all CumChristo participants. It contains information and announcements about upcoming CumChristo events as well as inspirational quotes, witness stories and other expressions of God's love.
WHAT ARE THE ACCOMODATIONS?
The weekends are held in the Holy Cross Cursillo Center in downtown Columbus (SEE MAP), a three-story building:
- The first floor contains the kitchen and dining room;
- The second floor has the meeting room, lounge, and chapel;
- The third floor is the dormitories.
- Bathrooms are on the second, third and basement levels.
- Shower facilities are located on the third and basement level.
- Meals are prepared by CumChristo volunteers.
- Medically necessitated dietary needs can be accommodated.
WHAT IS THE COST?
We ask that a $25 deposit accompany an application to attend a Cum Christo Weekend. Actual costs for a weekend for food and supplies amount to $100 per person. Each participant is invited during the weekend to make a contribution according to his or her means. Please do not let this donation keep you from a Cum Christo Weekend.
WHAT'S WITH ALL THE CHICKENS AND COLORS?
They symbolize the variety of God's love. The Spanish origin of Cursillo found the Spanish folk song "De Colores" to represent the wide variety in the world God made. While Americans think of Peacocks as colorful birds, the Spaniards think of chickens that are not all white like Foghorn Leghorn, but quite colorful.
