This web site contains most of the information you would need to understand the following:
What is Via de Cristo?
Who should attend a Via de Cristo?
Who will be at Via de Cristo?
What happens on a Via de Cristo weekend?
What about after the weekend?
Benefits of attending a Via de Cristo
More about Heart of Illinois Via de Cristo
Here at this web site you will have access to our upcoming events, weekend registration forms and sponsor guidelines, a downloadable PowerPoint presentation about Heart of Illinois Via de Cristo, answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ), directions to the next ultreya, links to other Via de Cristo web sites, and much more. Please feel free to contact us through any of the means we have provided.
What is Via de Cristo?
Who should attend a Via de Cristo?
Who will be at Via de Cristo?
What happens on a Via de Cristo weekend?
What about after the weekend?
Benefits of attending a Via de Cristo
More about Heart of Illinois Via de Cristo
Here at this web site you will have access to our upcoming events, weekend registration forms and sponsor guidelines, a downloadable PowerPoint presentation about Heart of Illinois Via de Cristo, answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ), directions to the next ultreya, links to other Via de Cristo web sites, and much more. Please feel free to contact us through any of the means we have provided.
What is Via de Cristo? Via de Cristo (pronounced Bee-ya day Kreesto) means “Way of Christ” in Spanish. It was developed by Lutherans and based on the Cursillo® methodology, which originated in the 1940's with the Roman Catholics. It is a short course about Jesus and our Christian faith.
Via de Cristo is a weekend of Christian Community Living held separately for men and women.
Via de Cristo is a servant ministry (not-for-profit).
Via de Cristo can enhance the ministries of pastors and lay people alike.
Who Should Attend a Via de Cristo? The Via de Cristo is designed for those Christians who, having been informed of the aim of the Via de Cristo method, believe the Via de Cristo can strengthen them in their faith and bring them closer to Christ in their lay ministries. In short, the person who makes a Via de Cristo should recognize that being a Christian involves responsibility for apostolic endeavor, and should therefore have both the human foundation and moral reserve to accept this responsibility. Single men or women may make a Via de Cristo. For married couples, ideally the husband and wife should attend consecutive (one week apart) weekends. If that is not possible, it is still preferred the husband attend prior to the wife.
After the weekend experience, attendees are commonly called cursillistas (Pronounced Kur-See-YE-Stahs) or pilgrims.
Who Will be at Via de Cristo? Via de Cristo is ecumenical, and any weekend should find a mixture of attendees from various Christian churches. There will be people like yourself, who are curious, searching, discovering and growing. Included will be team laymen or women who spend weeks working and praying together preparing for the weekend, and becoming a community. Spiritual directors, some pastors who serve as part of the team, will be present. The laymen and clergy who comprise the team spend weeks working together preparing their talks. It takes careful planning because the time is short, and the subject extensive. People from all walks of life grow closer to one another during the Via de Cristo. They listen, discuss, sleep, eat, and sing in a jovial, family atmosphere.
Via de Cristo is a weekend of Christian Community Living held separately for men and women.
Via de Cristo is a servant ministry (not-for-profit).
Via de Cristo can enhance the ministries of pastors and lay people alike.
Who Should Attend a Via de Cristo? The Via de Cristo is designed for those Christians who, having been informed of the aim of the Via de Cristo method, believe the Via de Cristo can strengthen them in their faith and bring them closer to Christ in their lay ministries. In short, the person who makes a Via de Cristo should recognize that being a Christian involves responsibility for apostolic endeavor, and should therefore have both the human foundation and moral reserve to accept this responsibility. Single men or women may make a Via de Cristo. For married couples, ideally the husband and wife should attend consecutive (one week apart) weekends. If that is not possible, it is still preferred the husband attend prior to the wife.
After the weekend experience, attendees are commonly called cursillistas (Pronounced Kur-See-YE-Stahs) or pilgrims.
Who Will be at Via de Cristo? Via de Cristo is ecumenical, and any weekend should find a mixture of attendees from various Christian churches. There will be people like yourself, who are curious, searching, discovering and growing. Included will be team laymen or women who spend weeks working and praying together preparing for the weekend, and becoming a community. Spiritual directors, some pastors who serve as part of the team, will be present. The laymen and clergy who comprise the team spend weeks working together preparing their talks. It takes careful planning because the time is short, and the subject extensive. People from all walks of life grow closer to one another during the Via de Cristo. They listen, discuss, sleep, eat, and sing in a jovial, family atmosphere.
Established 1997
Promoting and practicing piety, study and action in Central Illinois
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful,
and kindle in us the fire
of your love.
Send forth your Spirit, and we shall
be created, and you shall renew
the face of the earth.
O God, who by the light of the Holy
Spirit instructs the hearts of the
faithful, grant that by the same
Holy Spirit we may be truly wise
and ever rejoice in his consolations;
through Christ our Lord. Amen
and kindle in us the fire
of your love.
Send forth your Spirit, and we shall
be created, and you shall renew
the face of the earth.
O God, who by the light of the Holy
Spirit instructs the hearts of the
faithful, grant that by the same
Holy Spirit we may be truly wise
and ever rejoice in his consolations;
through Christ our Lord. Amen
Click image for detailed
weather information for
the Peoria IL area
weather information for
the Peoria IL area
Land of Lincoln,
land of corn fields,
and land of...
land of corn fields,
and land of...
CT
What Happens on a Via de Cristo Weekend? A weekend begins on a Thursday evening and ends the following Sunday evening. During the three days of Via de Cristo, attendees listen to 14 talks given by laymen and clergy. Following each talk, small-group table discussions focus on the main points of the talk. In an overlapping fashion, the talks present various aspects of the Christian life, based on the person and teachings of Jesus Christ as an ideal.
What About After the Weekend? After the three days is the fourth day--the balance of the cursillistas' life on earth. During this time they are expected to apply the apostolic fervor and spirituality which the Via de Cristo has generated in them to bring others to Christ. The community spirit is continued after the weekend through reunions of small groups of men or women who meet weekly to encourage one another in their quest for spiritual improvement and their ministries. Periodic area-wide ultreyas give all cursillistas a chance to meet and renew the spirit of a Via de Cristo weekend.
Benefits of Attending a Weekend. You will receive tools that will allow you to further the renewal of the church. You will better equipped to ask your pastor, “Pastor, where can I help?” In other words, a stronger focus of responsibility and mission beyond Via de Cristo.
You will gain a potential for personal growth and discover more about God’s wonderful gift of Grace.
You will realize you are not much different than others you met on the weekend. You are all “fellow strugglers”, not “finished products.”
More About Via de Cristo. As you journey through our web site, we're positive you will discover more about Via de Cristo, God's love for you, and see how Via de Cristo has affected the lives of others,
What About After the Weekend? After the three days is the fourth day--the balance of the cursillistas' life on earth. During this time they are expected to apply the apostolic fervor and spirituality which the Via de Cristo has generated in them to bring others to Christ. The community spirit is continued after the weekend through reunions of small groups of men or women who meet weekly to encourage one another in their quest for spiritual improvement and their ministries. Periodic area-wide ultreyas give all cursillistas a chance to meet and renew the spirit of a Via de Cristo weekend.
Benefits of Attending a Weekend. You will receive tools that will allow you to further the renewal of the church. You will better equipped to ask your pastor, “Pastor, where can I help?” In other words, a stronger focus of responsibility and mission beyond Via de Cristo.
You will gain a potential for personal growth and discover more about God’s wonderful gift of Grace.
You will realize you are not much different than others you met on the weekend. You are all “fellow strugglers”, not “finished products.”
More About Via de Cristo. As you journey through our web site, we're positive you will discover more about Via de Cristo, God's love for you, and see how Via de Cristo has affected the lives of others,
A few of the churches involved in HOIVdC...
Welcome to the
Heart of Illinois
Via de Cristo
Web Site!
Heart of Illinois
Via de Cristo
Web Site!
We should also mention that we have hearing devices for those who have hearing problems. In addition, we have a golf cart for those who may have difficulty walking.
This page has been visited 511 times
If you're a first time visitor, please sign our guestbook!