The earliest Cursillo weekends were held in the late 1940's on the Spanish island of Mallorca.  It was started as an effort to help prepare the young men of Catholic Action for a life in Christ, as well as to help cure the bitterness of Civil War.  The principle lay founder, Eduardo Bonnin was active in the movement until he passed to his reward in 2008. 

The first weekend in the US was held in 1957 by Spanish Air Force officers in pilot training in Texas with the help of a Spanish priest who had recently transferred to the area.

Since coming to the U.S., Cursillo has found expression in several denominations and in nondenominational groups as well.   Episcopal Cursillo and Methodist Walk to Emmaus groups helped Presbyterian Cursillo groups begin in Charleston, SC and in the Presbytery of the Peaks in Virginia.

A Lutheran Cursillo group helped our North Carolina group get started.

One estimate is that nearly 2 million people have now gone through a Cursillo method weekend in the United States and 10 million or more worldwide.  

There are now twenty four local Presbyterian Cursillo and Pilgrimage groups holding weekend spiritual renewal retreats.  Additional groups are being formed in other states.