The Cursillo Movement was birthed in the United States by laymen responding to the despair within the communities, as the result of the Depression.

In the late 1960s, the Cursillo Movement birthed the Kairos (meaning God’s Time) Ministry. Kairos addressed the spiritual needs of incarcerated men, by ministering to the men and their families, as well as those who worked in the prison environment.

In 1995, Credo, which was birthed from the Cursillo/Kairos Ministry, was first founded in New Jersey by James Hoffman, Frank Rocks, and 10 other men. Credo means, “They came to believe.” The first Women’s Credo, the West Virginia/Maryland (WV/MD) Women’s Credo, founded by Emil and Carol Liptak, followed in 1998.

The Southern Maryland Women’s Credo was founded by Kathy Conover, and the first Southern Maryland Women’s Credo Weekend was held in October, 2009. Baltimore Women’s Credo and Southern Maryland Men’s Credo have followed with their first Credo Weekends in the Spring of 2011.

In 2015, after much prayer, Dr. Valerie Williams became Director of the Southern Maryland Women’s Credo upon Kathy Conover’s Retirement. After, finding another location in Southern Maryland for Credo Retreat Weekends and with the assistance of many Credo Sisters from different Credo Ministries, the next Southern Maryland Women’s Credo Weekend will be held in October, 2019.

It is the intent of Southern Maryland Women’s Credo to provide an environment where these women can have the opportunity to experience the grace and love of God in ways they may have never experienced it before. This takes place at annual “Credo Weekends,” designed to help participants understand the importance of spirituality for daily living, particularly in recovery.