The following section is designed to give you a clearer picture of Via de Cristo in general and of the three-day Via de Cristo weekend itself. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact us.

What is Via de Cristo?

How did the Via de Cristo movement get started?

What happens on a Via de Cristo weekend?

Who should attend a Via de Cristo weekend?

When and where are Via de Cristo weekends held?

How can I attend a Via de Cristo weekend?

What happens after the weekend?

How much does the weekend cost?

May I go with a spouse or friend?

Can I check out these Via de Cristo folks before I sign up for a weekend?

Literally meaning "way of Christ," Via de Cristo is a short course in Christianity that is designed to provide all Christians with a closer and more personal relationship with our Lord and brother Jesus, as well as a firm foundation for individual and personal spiritual growth. On a Via de Cristo weekend, participants become increasingly aware that they are a part of a community abounding in God’s grace. The three days are a triple encounter: with Christ, with Christian brothers and sisters, and with a larger Christian community.

These weekends began as the Cursillo Movement of the Roman Catholic Church in Spain in 1948, and were first conducted in the United States in the late 1950’s. The first Lutheran Cursillos were held in Miami, Florida in 1971, with the first Atlanta Lutheran weekends shortly thereafter. Today, although different groups use different names (Via de Cristo, Tres Dias, Walk to Emmaus, etc.), the content of all "Cursillo" weekends is basically the same. These weekends are conducted by Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and other Christian groups. Today, more than 2 million Christians in over 50 nations have attended one of these weekends.

The Via de Cristo weekend is a three-day experience in living in a Christian community in a retreat setting. It begins with a Sendoff early Thursday evening and ends with a Closing late Sunday afternoon. The major focus of the weekend is a series of 14 talks, five given by Lutheran pastors and nine by lay persons. Each of these talks is followed by small group discussion. The pastor’s talks are aimed at a better understanding of the breadth and depth of God’s grace, while the lay talks deal with different aspects of our response to that grace. The weekend also includes morning and evening worship services each day, communion, music, laughter, prayer, and good food. Persons going on a Via de Cristo weekend for the first time are called Pilgrims. Pilgrims are accompanied by several people who have been on a weekend one or more times before, called the Team. Some team members give the lay talks, others work in the kitchen, and still others provide a variety of support functions, all aimed at meeting all the Pilgrims’ needs so that the Pilgrims are free to concentrate on the spiritual aspects of the weekend.

Via de Cristo is not designed to convert anyone to Christianity or bring them to the church. It is meant for those who are already faithful and committed to Christ and his church. The goal of Via de Cristo is to encourage Christians in their lives of faith and help them to develop a closer, more personal relationship with Jesus Christ. While we are predominantly Lutheran, we welcome the participation (both as Pilgrims and Team members) of any active Christians. Our movement includes Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, and members of other Christian denominations.

Each year the Atlanta Lutheran Via de Cristo movement offers a Men’s weekend, a Women’s weekend, and a Coed weekend. Check the Upcoming Events page on this website for specific dates on upcoming weekends. Our weekends are held at Camp of Colors (www.campofcolors.org), a facility which is used by several Via-de-Cristo-type organizations in North Georgia.  The camp is located in Dahlonega, GA.  Our sendoffs are held at Faith Lutheran Church in Marietta (www.faithlcms.org).  Your sponsor will arrange to get you to the sendoff on Thursday evening and to get you back home on Sunday evening.

If you would like to attend a Via de Cristo weekend, the best place to start is by contacting an individual who has previously attended a weekend. We suggest that you also speak to your pastor, since a pastor must sign the registration when you decide to attend. If you do not know of anyone who has previously attended a Via de Cristo weekend, we will be happy to put you in contact with such a person in your area who can answer your questions and serve as your sponsor.

The weekend is only a beginning. The Via de Cristo weekend is not an end in itself, but rather a tool to better equip Christians to be leaders in their churches and communities. You will be supported by many others who have attended a weekend before or with you. One of the main activities of the Via de Cristo movement is the formation of small groups which meet regularly (usually weekly) to affirm one another and to share the Christian life. There are also regular (every other month) gatherings of the entire Atlanta Lutheran Via de Cristo community known as Ultreyas, which include fellowship, a pot-luck dinner, worship, and communion.

Costs are kept to an absolute minimum needed to meet the expenses of camp rental, meals, and supplies. We require a non-refundable fee of $15 with your application. At the end of your weekend, you will be asked for a donation of $75.  There are scholarships available for persons who are unable to make the suggested donation.

Certainly. Many couples prefer to attend the same Coed weekend. For others who do not both want to be away from their children on the same weekend, or for a variety of other reasons, separate Men’s and Women’s weekends seem more appropriate. Our only restrictions regarding friends, spouses, and relatives are that men are not allowed on Women’s weekends, and vice versa.

That one’s easy. Our Ultreyas every other month are open to anyone. As mentioned previously, they include fellowship, a pot-luck dinner, singing, sharing, and worship with communion. You can find the schedule of future Ultreyas on the Upcoming Events page on this website. Come check us out. We think you’ll find a great bunch of Christian brothers and sisters.