CO of Southeast Wisconsin (COSEW) -
As twenty-one facilitators gathered at our bi-monthly meeting, Lois Blasinski, Coordinator of Outreach Ministry, lead the discussion about centering prayer groups in new places with new boundaries - meal sites, retirement communities, and a hospital. Each place brings challenges and blessings to the practice of centering prayer. At St. Ben’s Meal Program “people are able to put their stuff down and close their eyes for ten minutes”. At the Southside Meal Program the centering prayer opportunity has expanded to include a weekly activity evening. At Repairers of the Breech, a daytime homeless shelter, the group is fluid. There is a five minute introduction to centering prayer focusing on God’s love and presence – in silence. A few words about the desert fathers of Africa are spoken and then everyone is invited to “get down in the river with Jesus”. The time concludes with holding hands, saying the Our Father, and prayers of intercession and thanksgiving. At Hope House homeless shelter the centering pray-ers really want the silence! Recently lectio divina was introduced. At a hospital, patients experiencing a long stay, family members of patients, and staff personnel all center together within a 30 to 60 minute setting. Both the local Regency Senior Community and Tudor Oaks Senior Retirement Community have weekly prayer groups. As one of the elderly persons said, “We already have a lot of practice in letting-go”. Many thanks to these outreach facilitators: Lois Blasinski, Mary Ann Erdtmann, Emil Harder, Carol Hegland, Ted John, Mary Ellen Schmidt, and Kitty Shinkle.
Judee Weber, Coordinator @ 262 662-4445,

CO of Southwest Wisconsin - The Centering Prayer practice is growing in the Madison area. In March of 2007 we held a 3-day Centering Prayer as an 11th Step Practice Retreat at Sinsinawa in Southwestern WI where 30 people attended. In September there was an Introduction to Centering Prayer at Saint Maria Goretti's Catholic Church in Madison also well attended by more than 30 people. We have three people going through formation training in March and we have two new commissioned presenters. We have grown from three ongoing prayer groups to five in 2007. On May 3rd, 2008 we have another Introduction to Centering Prayer session at Advent Lutheran Church. We were really blessed in November when Father Keating came to Madison to participate in the Panel Discussion "Science, Religion, and Contemplative Practice."
Hatheway Brooks, Coordinator @