A Brief History of the Owensboro Cursillo Movement - Now named Western Kentucky Ecumenical Cursillo
The Episcopal Cursillo Movement (Owensboro Cursillo) began when the West Kentucky Ministry Plan (WKMP) was in operation in western Kentucky from 1971-1976.
The Cursillo grew out of the effort of the WKMP and that committee’s desire to bring about renewal among the smaller congregations in that end of the state.
Early in 1972 the Director of the WKMP, The Reverend Spencer Quick met briefly with the Reverend George Hunt in Salinas, California where he was observing the training of laity in that Diocese. George spoke to Spencer on the whole subject of renewal, “No effort on your part or on the part of WKMP committee will accomplish any permanent renewal, it has to come as a gift from the Holy Spirit. In order to better understand what it is that I am saying, you must attend a Cursillo yourself.” George refused to give Spencer any more details about Cursillo but insisted that he find out where he could attend one.
When he returned to Owensboro, he inquired about the Catholic Cursillo from the Reverend Charles Fischer who was then the Spiritual Director of the Owensboro Cursillo in the Catholic Church, Fr Fischer explained that the Catholic Cursillo was not open to non-Catholics, but the Catholic Diocese of Peoria, Illinois was accepting some non-Catholics. Fr Tom Henseler welcomed Spencer to the Men’s 34thCursillo, which was held at a Catholic school in Galesburg Illinois.
When Spencer returned from Peoria, he was welcomed by the local 4thDay Catholic community at their weekly Ultreyas, and out of this relationship, the Catholic community under the leadership of Fr. Charles Fischer, Clarence Ebelhaur, Ray Harragan, Bill Hayden, Dan Fulkerson, Frank Schadler Jr., Herman, and Ernestine Barr, in the fall of 1973, the Catholic Fourth Day community put on the 1stmen’s Cursillo as a gift to the Episcopalians and the Protestant community at large. Their first two were held at the Sarto House in Evansville, Indiana. The second Men’s Cursillo was held in April of 1974. Dan Fulkerson was the Rector of this Cursillo, Clarence Ebelhaur was the rector of the 1st Men’s Cursillo at the Sarto House.
These two men’s Cursillos was purposely planned to provide enough lay leadership in order to “get started” in the Owensboro area. The only protestant on the first two men’s teams was the Reverend Spencer Quick. Fr Phillip Riney shared with Fr. Fischer the responsibilities of the clergy on the first two Cursillos.
In the fall of 1974, the first Women’s Cursillo was held, but this time at Zion UCC Church 7thand Allen Street in Owensboro. Ernestine Barr was the first women’s Rectora and Barbra Quick was her assistant. After the first three Cursillos had been put on by the Catholic 4thDay Community for the Protestants, the Catholic Secretariat felt that we were then able to go on without such a large transfusion of their help. A purse of $500.00 was then presented to the Reverend Spencer Quick, contributed to by the Catholic Community to help us get started with our own Pilgrims' Guides. Etc. From 1974, until the fall of 1988, all the Owensboro Cursillos were held at the Zion UCC Church except for a brief stint at Mt St Joseph in March and September 1984. From the spring of 1989 to the fall of 1996, Cursillo weekends were held at St. Paul's, in Princeton,KY. In the spring of 1997, the Cursillo moved to Corydon, KY, and utilized the former Corydon School that was owned by a local Baptist church. Weekends were held at Corydon until the spring of 2009. From the fall of 2009, until the spring of 2014, Cursillo weekends were held at Camp Reveal, part of the ministries of the Evansville Rescue Mission, in Evansville, Indiana. In the fall of 2014, Cursillo moved to Camp Clark in Dixon, KY.
Rev. Spencer Quick who established the Ecumenical Cursillo in 1973 served as Spiritual Director until April 2000. At that time Rev. Gary Turner assumed the role until January 2021. In May of 2021 Bro. Jason Buckman was commissioned to serve as the third Spiritual Director of the Western Kentucky Ecumenical Cursillo.
