Peoria Prison Cursillo dates back to 1976 when father Tom Henseler and the late Deacon John Holtzman took a team into the prison at Vienna, Illinois. Buoyed by that experience, Peoria Cursillo returned to Vienna in 1977 and 1978, but it would be 15 years before Peoria Cursillo was again conducted in the prisons in Illinois. During that lull, a study was made regarding the viability of Peoria Cursillo in the prison system. After a positive recommendation by the study team, Bishop John Myers gave Peoria Cursillo the mission of taking Cursillo into all the prisons in the diocese. Activities began in earnest late in 1993, when Rector Ron Ghidina and his team went into the prison at Sheridan, Illinois.
Prison Cursillo has grown steadily since that time, reaching a peak of seven to nine Cursillos being conducted each year between 1998 and 2001 at six prisons in the diocese. Recent closures of facilities at Hanna City and Sheridan, as well as severe budget cuts within the state of Illinois, have had an adverse effect on the number of Prison Cursillos conducted since then. Nonetheless, the appeal of Cursillo is impressive, with the number of candidates totaling more than 3000 since that first Prison Cursillo back in 1976. At this writing, Sheridan Prison has reopened and plans are being made to conduct a weekend there late in 2004 or early in 2005. Tom Tesar, Site Coordinator at Pekin Prison indicates continued acceptance of Peoria Prison Cursillo by the residents there with 40-60% of the female population as Cursillistas (at times perhaps as many as 75% depending on turnover.).
Prison Cursillo is structured to "fit" the prison system. Teams enter prison facilities in the morning (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,) and leave early in the evening. There are twelve talks on the weekend, with combinations made of Sanctifying/Actual Grace, Environment/CCIA and Total Security/4th Day.
The talk outlines are the same in prison as they are in "street" Cursillos. Teams report that through the Cursillo method..."the Grace of God works on the hardest of hearts, no matter the environment.”
Our commitment to the prisons includes not only the weekend, but also the follow-up Ultreyas, which are held monthly. The Illinois Valley Prison Core Group reported a record of 60 straight Ultreyas at Sheridan through the late 1990's and early 2000's before Sheridan closed. This was indeed a remarkable feat, considering the many reasons a prison might have for denying access to its facilities.
Along with the euphoria of a successful weekend, there can be the agony of defeat. The prison may not allow an individual, even a whole team, to enter its gates on occasion. The viability of conducting a weekend in the prisons sometimes changes from month to month and depends on the situation inside the walls, as well as the availability of guards and prison officials. Volunteers have to be trained, tested, and badged, and the paperwork can sometimes be overwhelming. Trust in God, patience, and faith in the Cursillo method are the keys for all prison volunteers. Fred Payne, former Site Coordinator at Lincoln Correctional, has a motto: "be flexible." The Site Coordinator at Hill Correctional in Galesburg, Maryellen Rogers, put it this way: "It's our job to prepare and pray and do Palanca. God has the hard part, getting us in and achieving success...”
It's amazing how successful God has been at Prison Cursillo in the Diocese of Peoria