APG: Asia and Pacific

After the first Cursillo held in the United States in 1957, the talks and literature were translated into English by the Americans. This led to the rapid introduction of the Movement throughout the English-speaking world and in Asia and the Pacific Region.

All member countries in the Asia-Pacific Region originally belonged to the International English Language Group (IELG), however, by the early 1980s it became apparent that this area would become strong enough in Cursillo to stand on its own.

In 1963, the USA brought the Cursillo Movement to the Philippines and it was the Filipino cursillistas who played a very important role in spreading the Movement in the Pacific countries. There are many hundreds of thousands of Filipino cursillistas.

It was also in 1963 that the Cursillo Movement began to develop among the Spanish community in New South Wales, Australia. The first English speaking cursillo was held in 1965.

The USA brought Cursillo to Sri Lanka in 1964. The Cursillo Movement there is active in many dioceses.

Cursillo in Hawaii began in 1965 and, although part of the United States, has always been a member of the Asia-Pacific Group, since it is located on the Pacific coast.

In 1965 Cursillo was introduced in Vietnam by a group of Filipino Cursillistas serving in the Allied Forces in South Vietnam. The first Cursillos were given in English to Vietnamese government officials and military personnel in Saigon and the Movement spread rapidly throughout South Vietnam until 1975 when the communists took power.

Since 1975 many Cursillistas were among the refugees who settled in different countries around the world. Vietnam in Diaspora established a Cursillo Movement in Canada 1977, America 1981, Australia 1992, and France 1993. Vietnam in Diaspora became an official member of the Asia Pacific Group in 1992.

In 1967 the Cursillo Movement was introduced in Korea by Filipino Cursillistas, 14 of whom flew to Seoul, and conducted the Cursillo in English. Within 3 years the Movement had spread throughout the country. Since the beginning of the Cursillo Movement in Korea there have been many hundreds of thousands of brothers and sisters who have made their Cursillos.

1968 the first Cursillos were held in Taiwan and were introduced by a team of Filipino Cursillistas.

Also in 1963 the first Cursillos were held in Japan, with a team from the USA. This was the first Cursillo in the world given through interpreters because neither the priest nor the team could speak Japanese.

Cursillo was also held in Thailand and in Guam for the first time in 1968.

Cursillo was started in Singapore in 1971 and in 1988 a team of Cursillistas from Australia traveled to Singapore in an effort to re-establish the movement.

In 1983, 28 delegates from Australia, Taiwan (R.O.C.), Guam, Japan, Macau, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Hawaii and the Military Ordinariates of Korea and Okinawa (Japan) gathered for the First Asian Cursillo Encounter, although it was not until 1990 that the Asia-Pacific Group was recognized by the OMCC as the 4th member of the International Group.

In 1990, cursillistas from Taiwan introduced the Cursillo Movement to the Chinese Catholic communities in Southern California. Since then, Cursillos in Chinese have been held in Los Angeles, San Jose, Dallas and Houston in the USA; Vancouver, Toronto and Edmonton in Canada.

A group of Filipino and Australian workers who were cursillistas met regularly for reunions and Ultreyas. Through sharing and prayer, they planned to extend the movement to Saipan. A group from Guam visited to explore the possibility of extending the movement in the CNMI. Saipan sent 4 men and 4 women to Guam to attend a Cursillo in October 1992. The first Cursillo was held on Saipan in 1993.

After many years of perseverance and attempts to establish the movement in New Zealand, the Archbishop of Auckland gave his approval and the first men’s and women’s Cursillos were held in 2003. Prior to this 3 New Zealanders from 2 different dioceses came to Australia to experience their 3 days. These Cursillistas then set about doing the groundwork and a team from different dioceses within Australia led the first weekends.

In 1993, leaders from Korea came to Sydney, Australia to lead Cursillo for Korean-speaking men and women, and in June 2007, the Korean Cursillo Movement of Oceania (in Australia) became a member of the Asia Pacific Group.

In 2008, Chinese Cursillistas from Taiwan and North America collaborated in the reestablishment of Cursillo in Hong Kong (a Cursillo was held in the late 1960s with no follow-up). Individuals from mainland China have held their Cursillos in Hong Kong, Taiwan, USA and Canada; small, clandestine Cursillos have also been held in China.

The U.S. military bases in Okinawa and Korea also have Cursillo Movements and are members of the Asia-Pacific Group. In Korea, the Movement was renamed the English-language Cursillo Movement.

In 2009, teams of Australian men and women held the first Cursillos in American Samoa.

In 2016, contact was re-established with the Philippines and at Fatima 2017, mainland Vietnam was again officially recognized as a member.

India has been a member of the Group, but contact has been lost and no details on the history are available. In 2019, attempts to establish contact with the Bishops’ Conference in India regarding the Cursillo Movement failed.

Between 1990 and 2004, APG Encounters were held annually in the following countries: Hawaii; Australia; Philippines: Korea; Thailand: Taiwan; Saipan; LA, USA, and biannually 2004 – 2010. The 21st Asia-Pacific Gathering was held in Hawaii in 2019.

APG has hosted the 5th World Gathering held in Korea in 1997, and in 2013 the 8th World Gathering was held in Brisbane.