From the Americas to the Philippines

THE CURSILLOS IN CHRISTIANITY IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DAVAO 1964 – 2014
(compiled, researched and written by Bong Baldoza MC #188)
7th of a series

Looking back fifty years ago, the coming of the Cursillos in the Philippines is a story of Divine Providence. Providential because past four hundred ninety two years, the seed of Christianity was sowed in the Island of Cebu, and its renewal, through the Cursillos also started in the same island. God’s grace indeed.

It was Bishop Arnulfo Arcilla of Sorsogon, the first Filipino bishop who undertook the Cursillos in Spain made the first attempt to bring the Cursillos to the Philippines. But due to the cost of bringing in the Spanish Cursillo Team and the language barrier, the attempt was abandoned. He instead, while in Spain, together with other bishops, convinced Bishop Julio Rosales of Cebu, Bishop Lino Gonzaga of Palo and Bishop Epifanio Surban of Dumaguete to take the Cursillos while in Spain.
In one of his trips to the USA, Bishop Rosales met two cursillistas from Stockton, California who volunteered to come up with a team at their own expense. One member of the team was a Filipino, a Cebuano, Bro. Rosauro Daclan fron San Nicolas Parish. The team was to be headed by Fr. Allen as spiritual director with two American laymen, Bro. John Markey, Bro. Jack McFarland and to include Bro. Daclan. But because of a previous commitment Fr. Allen was not able to come to Cebu and Bro. Daclan has to fly back in an emergency to the USA.

As scheduled, Bros. John and Jack arrived in Cebu for the Cursillos. However, upon their arrival they discovered that they don’t have a spiritual director. With hope and prayers, the two contacted their friends back in the US to send them a priest to be spiritual director. The reply came that there is already a Franciscan priest, but without a hint where to find him. Until Bishop Surban of Dumaguete heard the name mentioned, which priest is working in his diocese. The name is Fr. Bruno Hicks.
So in January 31, 1963 to February 3, 1963, the FIRST CURSILLO in the Philippines and the Far East started with Franciscan Priest, Fr. Bruno Hicks as Spiritual Director, Bro. John Markey as Rector and Bro. Jack McFarland as Vice Rector and rollista. This was held in St. Joseph’s Dormitory run by religious sisters (now a newly renovated building housing a pension house) along Urgelio Private Road. There were 36 participants consisting of clergy and laymen coming from not only Cebu but also in Dumaguete, Samar and leyte sent by their bishops who have undergone the Cursillos in Spain.