The Four You's ~ From the President ~ 2007 Annual Conference
Reader's Reflections ~ New Resources ~ Regional Updates ~ Newsletter Index

New Resources
in the Book Store

Books

Spirituality, Contemplation & Transformation,
Writings on Centering Prayer

By Fr. Thomas Keating, David Frenette, Justin Langille, Jennifer Michel, Paul David Lawson, David G. R. Keller, Tom Mache, Cynthia Bourgeault, Thomas Ward

Order Online B-60  $20.00

Journey to the Heart
Centering Prayer for Children

By Frank Jelenek
Illustrated by Ann Boyajian

Order Online B-56  $20.00

“My six-year old daughter, Noele, and I have been practicing Centering Prayer together periodically for six months. At first, she just liked the story, Journey to the Heart, and wasn't interested in "trying" it, but eventually her curiosity kicked in and she wanted to try praying the way she saw me do it. It was suggested to try Centering for one minute per year of age, so we have six-minute prayer sessions together. Noele likes everything about Centering Prayer, which is amazing to me since at times she can be hard to please. Centering Prayer for her is "talking to God in my heart". She chooses to call her sacred word her "secret" word since it's something she just shares with God, herself and me. I recently attended a 5-Day Welcoming Prayer Immersion Retreat, and I believe it helped prepare me for guiding and nurturing Noele through the beginning of her personal relationship with the Lord. I am also witnessing her develop into a very happy, creative and confident child. I am so grateful for this opportunity to share Centering Prayer with my daughter especially since it has made such an enormous impact on my life.”
Michele Ciottone

CD's & DVD's

Workbook

A Pathway to Freedom
An Introduction to Centering Prayer Workbook

By Savario Mungo & Marietta Della Penna

Available Online:
A Pathway to Freedom B-57 $12.99
El Sendero a la Libertad B-58 $12.99

In 2002, my wife and I began introducing Centering Prayer to 120 to 140 inmates each week at the prisons in Beeville, Texas. A problem I encountered was the lack of materials on Centering Prayer that the men could read easily. Their educational level was usually pretty low, although there were a number of very intelligent individuals. Fred Eckert, who introduced me to the Texas Prison system, provided me with a pamphlet, Locked Up and Free, which is available from Contemplative Outreach,  but although it was at a reading and interest level that the men understood, it was very brief. I needed resources that allowed the men to delve more deeply into the prayer practice. I complained to Fred about this and his answer was, “Well, write your own material.”

I got additional impetus to develop my own materials when I asked permission to teach a course on Contemplative Prayer to the inmates. I was informed that it had to be a a Texas Department of Corrections-approved course, with a curriculum or workbook. Since there was no workbook written specifically for men and women in jails and prisons, I decided to explore the possibilities of writing one. Then, I met Marietta Della Penna at a Formation Workshop in New York and we agreed to co-author the book. I had experience working with inmates and she had an extensive background in contemplative prayer and is a retired English teacher.

I have used the materials from the book for over four years in various prisons and jails here in Texas, and I am confident the workbook can be useful in a variety of settings, not just correctional ones. Group homes, residential programs and outreach settings lend themselves to the use of these materials. While teaching other classes in the prisons, I found that the workbooks were provided by donations from churches, individuals and organizations. I hope the same resources will be available for this workbook, which is also available in Spanish.

The Four You's ~ From the President ~ 2007 Annual Conference
Reader's Reflections ~ New Resources ~ Regional Updates ~ Newsletter Index