What is Via de Cristo?
Via de Cristo (The Way of Christ) is a non-denominational Christian experience based on a three-day weekend, which takes a New Testament look at Christianity as a life style. It is a highly structured weekend for Christians, designed to strengthen and renew the faith of individuals, and through their families, congregations, and the environment in which they live and work. A Cristo weekend is presented as a combined effort of lay people and clergy.

Purpose of Via de Cristo
In today's world, can Christianity penetrate all the different areas of our secular lives? Can it live there? Can it grow there? Can it transform the world in a way that is more fruitful than the past and in keeping with the times? The Cristo movement thinks so! It proposes no new type of spirituality, but simply a method through which one's grace filled life may be adopted, lived and shared in every area of human life, in a natural, loving way. What is required then? Christians who are willing to dedicate their everyday lives to God, in an on-going manner.

What happens on the Via de Cristo Weekend?
The Cristo weekend is three days in length, beginning on Thursday evening and ending the following Sunday evening. During the three days, those in attendance live, study, worship, and commune together with singing and prayer. The weekend is centered around fifteen talks, four by clergy and eleven by lay people. Following each talk, small group discussions are held about the main points of the talk. The talks, in an overlapping fashion, present Jesus Christ, as an Ideal. The titles of these talks indicate their content:

Ideal
Grace of God
Laity
Actual Grace
Piety
Study
Grace Filled Days
Apostolic Action
Obstacles to Grace
Leaders
Environment
Life in Grace
Christian Community in Action
Group Reunion & Ultreya
Fourth Day

The Cristo weekend gives attendees a living understanding of Basic Christian Truths, and some practical insight into just carrying them into their daily lives and to continue growing in the "Life in Grace" after the three days!

What happens after a Via de Cristo Weekend?
You may attend a Cristo weekend only once in your life, but you are asked to build on it for the rest of your life. The Cristo weekend is not a retreat - nor a substitute for a retreat, however subsequent retreats can compliment it. The follow-on activity is known as the Fourth Day. The Fourth Day is actually the rest of your life. Those attending are asked to do two things during their Fourth Day(s). Expand their spiritual life through study and congregational participation. Become more active Christians in their daily life. Via de Cristo offers two on-going means of perseverance. The Group Reunion: Small groups of men and women who meet weekly for a short period to help one another in their quest for spiritual development and to hold each other accountable in their respective walks with the Lord. The Ultreya: Meetings of the local community for encouragement and study. Participation in these two groups is an integral part of the Cristo movement and are strongly encouraged - but are voluntary.

Who Should Go to a Cristo Weekend?
Christians who desire to grow in their Christianity; those who would like to learn about prayer, Bible study, and sharing their faith with others; those who seek more joy and purpose in their faith.


Disclaimer:
The Cristo Weekend is an intense three-day Christian experience, which uses modern group techniques to bring the candidate into a renewed relationship with Christ, The Church, and their brothers and sisters in Christ. It can be physically and emotionally tiring. If you have a physical infirmity or an emotional problem for which you are now undergoing or have had treatment, the Cristo Weekend may not be for you. Please consider carefully before submitting your application. Discuss this with your sponsor. If you have submitted an application for a weekend that you cannot attend, please advise your sponsor as soon as possible.