We sponsor and support a special form of retreat, called a Walk, that follows a model established by the Upper Room which is based on the Catholic Cursillio.  

Cursillio means "Short Course" in Spanish. The Cursillio movement was started in the early 1950's in Spain, as a means of spiritual renewal for men in the Catholic church.

The purpose of Emmaus is to strengthen the local church through spiritual renewal of its members. Although we have a number of on-going activities that are necessary to support our Walks, and we encourage each person to participate in these, we emphasize that the top priority for each person is their local church community.

Our Walks begin on Thursday evening with snacks and a "Introductory" session. This is followed by a short overview presentation and a brief chapel service. Over the next three days, there are fifteen prepared talks by lay and clergy persons, followed by group discussions. Throughout the day, we do a lot of singing, have daily worship and communion, and experience a few surprises. Each Walk is covered by a 24-hour daily prayer vigil. Our walks are serious, but we also have a lot of fun, and the food is great!

Presently, we conduct four Walks each year. Men and women go on separate Walks a week or two apart; one set is held in the spring and the other set is held in the fall sometime around the first of November. We hold our Walks at various camps and retreat centers in the Southern Massachusetts Area.

Individuals must have a sponsor, so it is necessary to make contact with someone who has been on a previous Walk or is otherwise associated with Saint Lawrence Martyr. A sponsor is responsible for supporting you and looking out for your family while you are on a Walk. Some prior arrangements must be made for you by your sponsor, who is to stay in touch with your family while you are away. Our walks are "cloistered." This means that we want participants to focus on what's happening during the Walk, so we minimize communication with the outside world during the three days. Your sponsor makes sure that you or your family are aware of any unusual circumstances that require communication. If you are not approached by someone who wishes to sponsor you and would like to have a sponsor, just contact us and we will make arrangements.

Our Walks cost approximately $105 per person, but it depends to some extent on where a particular Walk is held. You get quite a lot for your money on an Cursillio Walk. However, we don't want cost to be a deterrence to your attendance. Confidential scholarships are readily available. Your sponsor can arrange for this.

Each Walk is highly structured, follows a well-defined model, and is led by a team of individuals, both laity and clergy, and directed by a Lay Director and a Spiritual Director who work closely together. The team consists of individuals who have been on one or more previous Walks and are given detailed training for each Walk.

If you would like to join us on a Cursillio Walk, please contact us