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Newsletter Table of
Contents ~ Fr. Keating's Article ~ President's
Letter ~ Reader's Reflections Chapter Updates 12 Step Outreach
| California, North San Diego | California,
San Fernando | California, Northern | Colorado,
Denver | Colorado 12 Step Outreach In January, 12-Step Outreach held their 3rd annual Leadership/Formation Retreat at St. Benedict’s Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado. During the retreat, the 12-Step Outreach Leadership Team met to review 12-Step Outreach progress during 2006, conduct the annual planning process for 2007, and develop assignments for 2007 for key committees that included Newsletter, Web Site, Finance, Conference, and Writing Traditions. Fr. Thomas was able to attend several of the planning sessions to provide his perspective and guidance. Formation Training was conducted for presenters for the Introduction to Centering Prayer as an 11th Step Practice Workshops (1-day), facilitators for Centering Prayer as an 11th Step Practice 3-day Weekend Retreats (3-day), and individuals involved in the growing number of other 12-Step Outreach activities. Fr. Thomas also delivered three talks on Centering Prayer followed by question and answer sessions that were video-taped and may be available in the future in either video, CD or transcribed format. Jenny Adamson, 12-Step Outreach. California, North
San Diego Our North San Diego 2007 Calendar has
offered and continues to offer many spiritually enriching opportunities for our
membership. In January we gathered for a Half Day Retreat entitled “Sacred
Steps.” To honor this “movement” we rotated through three circles which
included a labyrinth walk, a chant circle and a sacred movement and breath
circle. In March we participated with our San Diego “Metro” Chapter and
contemplatives around the world in the United in Prayer Day. Our membership
welcomed Marie Howard, our Regional Chapter Service Representative, in May for a
Visioning Day during which time we prayerfully discerned how to best foster and
support the growth of our Chapter. In June we had another Half Day Retreat
entitled “The Contemplative Life” which featured a video filmed at the St.
Benedict’s Monastery with Fr. Keating and the monks. Upcoming Events include
presentations by Cynthia Bourgeault, Bryan McNutt and our annual “Time of
Renewal” Advent Event. On another note, our Outreach Hospice Team is actively
involved with Silverado Hospice and is serving many end-of-life patients with
their contemplative presence. Having completed our first year as a new Chapter,
we look forward to another dynamic year serving our membership and the Vision of
Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. California, San Fernando We in the San Fernando Valley Chapter have established our Servant-Leadership Team to function as a team along with our Coordinator Mary Shear. This wonderful team effort brings years of knowledge and active Centering Prayer practice into our decisions and efforts. We are extremely grateful to Sr. Linda Snow for her many years of guidance and her continuing participation in our Chapter. We continue to be blessed with our access to Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino and the graciousness of the Sisters of Social Service. This past year we hosted Introductory Workshops; a 5-day Formation for Contemplative Outreach Service attended by 24 individuals, including attendees across the U.S. and Canada; and Silent Saturdays which were well attended and indicated to us the public’s need for the peace of silence. We were grateful to have Cherry Haisten’s presentation for our “Welcoming Prayer” weekend. We look forward to our annual 8-day Post Intensive Retreat taking place at Holy Spirit Retreat Center June 24th through July 1st. California, Northern Contemplative Outreach of Northern California now has two chapters. The first chapter covers San Francisco, Marin County and the Peninsula and is headed by Mary Wyman, the new San Francisco coordinator replacing Mark Lodico, who has entered the Episcopal seminary. All members of both chapters are grateful to Mark for arranging numerous workshops by Fr. Keating over the past 13 years. The second chapter covers Oakland and East Bay, and is headed by co-coordinators Eileen Halliburton and John Neville. Activities in the San Francisco, Marin and Peninsula areas include Introductory Workshops, an annual Triduum retreat and a 10-day Intensive and Post Intensive retreat offered by the Mercy Center Retreat House in Burlingame, California. Mercy Center also will offer the Living Flame Program beginning October 13, 2007 and continuing once a month for seven Saturdays through May, 2008. Details and online registration can be found on the website: www.mercy-center.org or by calling Catherine Regan, Centering Prayer Coordinator at 650- 373-4528. 12 Step Outreach
| California, North San Diego | California,
San Fernando | California, Northern | Colorado,
Denver | Colorado In San Francisco, the Most Holy Redeemer Parish group, operative for more than 13 years, lost its faithful co-coordinator, Tom Olszewski to cancer in early Spring. Mary English, former CO Board Member, reports that her group at St. Cecilia’s Church in San Francisco has been meeting for more than 12 years. There are six faithful members and the seventh has been serving for more than four years as a lay Maryknoll missionary in Mombasa, Africa. The San Francisco chapter’s Prison Ministry serving San Quentin prison has continued uninterrupted for ten years, led by faithful volunteers Sr. Marguerite Buchanan, RSM, Sr. Suzanne Tooland, RSM, Vickie Bolts and George Biniek. Vicki Bornstein, Pastoral Minister at St. Hilary Catholic parish in Tiburon, began an organizational effort to interest volunteers from all the parishes in Marin County to practice Centering Prayer with inmates at San Quentin. She has had excellent support from all priests in the Marin Parish Deanery. An Introductory Workshop was held on March 24 which incorporated Centering Prayer formation, elements of Taize and an overview of Prison Ministry. Father Keating will visit the new program in
Marin County on November 3, 2007. For further details, please call Vicki
Bornstein at 415-435-1122. Jane Ferguson and Valerie Lozowicki have been
organizing Centering Prayer groups throughout the San Jose area. Jane presented
Centering Prayer at Santa Clara University, and she and Valerie gave an
Introductory Workshop in Pascagoula, Mississippi, a sister parish to theirs in
Los Gatos. Eileen Halliburton, Co-Coordinator of Oakland-East Bay area, attended
formation for leading retreats at Snowmass and has scheduled a 4-day retreat at
Mercy Center in Burlingame (near the San Francisco airport) which she will lead
with Fr. Justin Langille, February 14-17, 2008. Colorado, Denver After ten years in our current location, the Center for Contemplative Living in Denver is now in the process of looking for a new home. We hope to open our doors in the fall in a location that will carry us forward into the next stage of our growth here in Colorado. We ask for your prayers that the Holy Spirit will lead us to our new home. Spring 2007 brought an air of excitement as we prepared for our March Annual Conference. This year, we welcomed two of our founding Fathers – Fr. Thomas Keating and Fr. William Meninger to address the “Companions of the Cloud”. People from across Colorado and the country come to experience the teachings of our spiritual leaders and to reconnect with the greater community of Contemplative Outreach. We continue to present new programs such as our Thursday night spirituality seminars and David Frenette’s “Heart of Contemplation” to support prayer practitioners no matter what their level. We hope to carry forward these successful programs into Fall 2007, in addition to our Introductory Workshop, The Spiritual Journey Series, Saturday Immersions Experiences, Days of Prayer and the Nine Month Course. Our annual October mini-retreats, our Advent Retreat at Sacred Heart Retreat Center, and a growing network of prayer communities along the Front Range offer other opportunities to deepen our prayer practices and our spiritual growth. Our servant leadership teams and volunteer staff are blessed to serve a growing community of seekers. Sr. Bernadette Teasdale, Coordinator, 303-698-7729, Colorado
We continue to reach out to a growing number of people who are
interested in learning about the contemplative way of life. David Frenette led
our fall weekend retreat as we explored how Centering Prayer opens us to the
gift of seeing God in our daily lives and relationships. For our weekend Advent
Retreat Fr. Terry Ryan presented some reflections on Fr. Thomas Keating’s
book, Manifesting God. Both retreats were held at the Abbey of St. Walburga in
Virginia Dale, Colorado. The leadership team from St. Thomas Aquinas University
Parish held the 7-week Introduction to Centering Prayer course. Fr. Terry Ryan
has presented several half and full-day workshops on the Mystics. His teachings
are very popular and instrumental in introducing people to contemplative
spirituality. His presentations are both informative and experiential with one
or two twenty-minute periods of Centering Prayer included. His subjects have
included Jean-Pierre De Caussade ’s Abandonment to Divine Providence. Also on
his agenda is a parish mission at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish entitled, “St.
Therese of Lisieux: A Spiritual Journey through Suffering”. This spring, David
Frenette will present the Welcoming Prayer in a 1-day-workshop at St. Thomas.
Fr. Terry Ryan will teach at two mini-retreats. The St. John’s team will teach
the 7-week introductory course. Our Lenten Retreat will be directed by Sr.
Scholastica England, OSB, and our annual 7-Day Post Intensive Retreat will be
held in the peaceful and serene mountain setting of St. Walburga. Susan Komis
will be with us for a Visioning day and an afternoon of enrichment. We look
forward to this time of planning for the future of our chapter and renewal for
its members. 12 Step Outreach
| California, North San Diego | California,
San Fernando | California, Northern | Colorado,
Denver | Colorado Dominican Republic
In October we were truly blessed by a visit from Sr. Margaret
Funk, who came to us with her loving message. We were taken with her gentleness
and humility in conveying her teachings on how strongly thoughts influence our
behavior, and giving us tools that, on becoming aware of these thoughts, would
help us to free ourselves from their influence. This year will be a year of
spiritual treasures for the growth our community. We enjoyed a visit from Sr.
Maria Tasto in early May for Lectio Divina workshops in Santo Domingo, and our
retreat house, Montesacro, in Polo, Barahona, where some of our facilitators
will have the opportunity to become presenters. Another gift will come to our
community in the person of Fr. William Menninger, who will visit us in September
for conferences in the city and a three-day retreat at Montesacro. In October,
we look forward to our 10-day Intensive Retreat, which will also take place at
Montesacro. Joined in prayer may we share the blessing of this our
journey. Florida, Tampa Bay
The Tampa Bay Chapter has established the 2007 Events Calendar
including both national and local presenters, with both morning and afternoon
Centering Prayer sits. Fr. Bill Sheehan presented “The Inner Room” on
January 13, while the United Day of Prayer was held in several locations. Sr.
Maria Tasto conducted a Lectio Divina workshop on May 12, as well as training
for our commissioned presenters on May 13. Forgiveness will be Janet Gallagher’s
topic on September 8, and “Contemplative Service: Attention/Intention” will
be presented by Bob Fasulo and Ed Savoy on October 13. We will finish the year
with “Reflections of Humility” presented by Marge Rafftery. Contemplative
Outreach of Tampa Bay is thankful to have use of the St. Anthony Hospital
facilities in St. Petersburg, which include a chapel, auditorium, cafeteria and
meeting rooms. Epiphany Cathedral in Venice continues to welcome our programs.
Introductory Workshops are scheduled in north, mid, and south areas of Tampa
Bay. Rickey Cotton has been traveling to Pensacola and Jacksonville, giving
support to small, yet dedicated groups. Our core group is expanding and will be
developing service teams to support our continued growth in future years. Georgia, Atlanta The Atlanta and North Georgia Chapter of Contemplative Outreach continues to grow and build on the good foundation that it started with under the direction of Roseanne Havird. Roseanne had to leave us to move back to her roots in Pennsylvania where she has been named a Regional Coordinator with the chapters of that area. Roberta and Cathy, co-coordinators, along with all the leadership here, have kept pressing on to carry on the work to introduce and establish Centering Prayer in our state of Georgia. In June, we represented Contemplative Outreach with books and tapes at the Atlanta Diocese’s “Eucharistic Congress” and had a wonderful opportunity to speak to many people about Centering Prayer. A highlight for all of us was a “Day of Prayer and Discernment” held in August, whereby each member made a commitment for one year. The Introductory Workshops even went as far as the city of Savannah, where they had a good response, and the first prayer group in this area was established. Our 5-day Intensive Retreat at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers in September went very well, also with a good turn out and a meaningful time for all. With Roberta’s and Cathy’s hard work, as well as our leadership group, we have planned a very exciting 2007, with our usual emphasis on Introductory Workshops, along with the United in Prayer Day in two locations in Atlanta on March 17. Highlights that we’re really excited about are;
our first Prayer Group Facilitator Workshop on April 28, Centering Prayer as an
11th Step Practice 3-day Weekend Retreat on May 25-27, our first Welcoming
Prayer Workshop on June 30, the Eucharistic Congress annual participation on
June 2, our first time to host The Contemplative Service Formation, a 5-day
training for future presenters, at Ignatius Retreat center on August 12-18, our
Annual 5-day Intensive/Post Intensive Retreat at the Monastery of the Holy
Spirit August 17-21, and finally, our first Leadership Weekend Retreat with Rev.
Tom Ward for all facilitators and leadership service people on September
21-23. 12 Step Outreach
| California, North San Diego | California,
San Fernando | California, Northern | Colorado,
Denver | Colorado Ghana, Kumasi Contemplative Outreach of Kumasi Ghana continues to grow, slowly, but steadily. For the past five years the focus has been initiating women and men religious in the Centering Prayer practice. There have been workshops from north to south, east to west, and these have been well received. A wonderful experience took place in January; three parishes planned two Introductory Centering Prayer workshops. Sessions were held in two locations and 30 lay women and men participated throughout. Each parish has arranged for follow-up meetings; attendance has been very encouraging in these sessions. The hunger for silence and deeper relationship with God manifests everywhere. Two years ago I introduced the Essentials to eight religious. They had been involved in Centering Prayer for several years. They are now teaching the prayer and establishing groups in their various areas. Our resources (basic books, tapes, CDs and DVDs) are very limited. We share them and also have a “lending library” to facilitate the weekend workshops. We adapt the process as needed, but are very faithful to the Essentials. Yearly in the spring, there is a 7 to 8-day
Intensive Retreat. There are usually between 12-15 participants, with several
people returning annually. The Spiritual Journey tapes (we have all but the
first six) are used, as well as the other enrichment tapes, such as Welcoming
Prayer, Forgiveness Prayer and recent talks given by Fr. Thomas at the annual
conferences. Like all mission areas, we have some real needs. If there are
chapters of CO in any area of the U.S. that would like to assist Ghana with
resources (used copies of OMOH, or other basic books, tapes, etc.) the Ghana CO
would welcome them with open arms, with their gratitude and prayer. I usually
attend the International CO meetings and would be glad to speak to any
individuals or groups interested in knowing more about Ghana, or in assisting us
with resource materials or financial support. Medasi!! Thank You! Indiana, Indianapolis On January 13, 2007, Susan Komis and Kay Powers, Regional Representative, met with 35 people to discern formation of a Contemplative Outreach chapter in Indianapolis. After an explanation of the Contemplative Outreach Network and the organic growth of Chapters, we were led through a prayerful process of visioning. From participation in visioning both communally and individually, the chapter Contemplative Outreach of Indianapolis, Indiana was formed. Please join us in prayer as our Leadership Team and Service Teams emerge to serve the needs of this newly formed contemplative community. Laurel Simon, Coordinator, 317-876-0147, Louisiana, New
Orleans Just as the city of New Orleans will take
years and years to rebuild, our depleted Centering Prayer community will take
time to regain numbers but our practice is guiding us through these still
difficult times. Right now we are bolstered by the contingent from across Lake
Ponchatrain (who come to us over a 26-mile bridge) and the people from the
Gonzales and Baton Rouge areas (close to two hours away from us in present
traffic). Central office continues to inspire and encourage us. Gail
Fitzpatrick-Hopler helped us renew our commitment to Centering Prayer and the
Welcoming Prayer practice in February, and led us to a new understanding of
consent as the essence of Centering Prayer. Our first Post-Intensive Retreat,
planned for July 20-27, will be led by Fr. William Sheehan. Little by little, we
step forward as individuals and as a community. Michigan (West)
In the winter and spring of 2007 several events have been held
for the chapter: A Facilitators Workshop was held February 17; a United Day of
Prayer on March 17, both at the Dominican Center in Grand Rapids and a 1-day
retreat in April at a cottage on Lake Michigan. Four new groups have been
organized and several churches are having a group read the book Forty Days to a
Closer Walk With God, with those reading the book meeting weekly for Centering
Prayer and Lectio Divina. We are planning a Welcoming Prayer Retreat in the
fall. 12 Step Outreach
| California, North San Diego | California,
San Fernando | California, Northern | Colorado,
Denver | Colorado Missouri, St. Louis
Last fall our Chapter Visioning Day produced a desire to get “back
to the basics” - introducing Centering Prayer to interested individuals and
supporting our Prayer Groups. The core activities this year will include Days of
Prayer, Silent Saturdays, Weekend Retreats,and 8-day Intensive/Post-Intensive
Retreat, a 12-Step Retreat and regularly scheduled Introductions to Centering
Prayer. Almost four dozen volunteers have made a commitment to helping us
realize this year’s Vision with a particular emphasis on reaching out to the
wider geographical area that our Chapter covers. In February alone, we presented
three Introductions in St. Genevieve and Columbia, MO and Belleville, IL. It is
so encouraging to have many requests for these presentations and to be blessed
with volunteers who delight in bringing Centering Prayer to others.
Additionally, we are planning a Prayer Group Facilitator Formation Gathering for
current and prospective facilitators some time in September, if not before. We’re
simply focused on devoting 2007 to nurturing and nourishing the contemplative
community in Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois. New York, Cornwall
formerly Walden This last 18 months has been a time of
great upheaval and transition for both St. Andrew’s Retreat House (which
hosted so many wonderful Contemplative Outreach programs), and for me
personally. In February 2006, the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity who owned St.
Andrew’s Retreat House decided to sell the property which meant relocating the
programs and finding a new place to live. In May of 2006, Fr. Carl Arico offered
Mass giving thanks for all the incredibly wonderful people and programs
experienced during the 10 years, and asking the Spirit’s guidance for the
future. In October 2006 we had our first event at Bethany Spirituality Center in
Highland Mills, NY, a six day retreat with Cynthia Bourgeault. Holy Week of this
year was celebrated at Divine Compassion Retreat Center in White Plains, NY. As
of this writing, I am working with two other retreat houses. March 1 of 2007, I
moved into a senior complex in Cornwall, NY, and love it (however, can’t
believe yet that I’m a senior!!!). The words that have come to me during this
time are expansion and integration…and that is certainly happening. We are
hosting the Wisdom School with Cynthia Bourgeault at Bethany, as well as our
Nine Month Course and August 10-Day Post with Bill Sheehan. Our Formation,
21-Day Centering Prayer Immersion Retreat and 5-Day Welcoming Prayer Immersion
are being held in White Plains…and who knows what is to follow. Please visit
our website www.centeringprayernys.org
for updates. I continue to be so grateful to God, Contemplative Outreach and all
of you for the wonderful support and love given and received during this
transition period. Contemplative Outreach of Orange County is alive and well,
and it appears, on the move…such an exciting time! New
York, New York
Greetings to all from the New York City chapter. This fall we
began a new program that we entitled “Journeying in the Spirit.” Held one
Saturday a month, the day includes opportunities to join together for Eucharist,
Centering Prayer, viewing of one of the Spiritual Journey videos, and brunch
with fellow practitioners of Centering Prayer. For Advent, the Chapter
Leadership Team co-facilitated a Quiet Day based on the theme “Prepare Ye the
Way of the Lord” that included reflections of John the Baptist’s message to
“repent” and Jesus’ invitation to repent or “change the direction in
which you are looking for happiness”. In Lent, we held a Lectio Workshop at
St. Bartholomew's that was presented by Stephanie Iachetta, with continuing
sessions led by Rebecca Barnes and James Reho, a seminarian at the General
Theological Seminary in New York. Additionally, this year we are also holding
the United in Prayer Day, hosted by St. Luke in the Fields Church and
facilitated by Richard Kigel, in conjunction with the larger Contemplative
Outreach network. I am also happy to announce that we have had two prayer groups
reactivate and a third new group form. In the past few months, we’ve also been
seeing an increased interest from various media organizations. An article on
Centering Prayer, for which Fr. Thomas and local chapter members were
interviewed, is slated to be released this spring in the New York Times
Magazine, and an article on Centering Prayer in New York was published by Time
Out New York, as well. We are encouraged by this interest and grateful to be
able to share the joy and impact Centering Prayer has had in our lives with the
mainstream press. New York, Westchester
Sr. Rose Vermette, RCD, will become coordinator of Contemplative Outreach of
Westchester when Diane Harkin and Stephanie Iachetta complete their three-year
terms as co-coordinators, effective August 21, 2007. Sr. Rose is the former
coordinator for Contemplative Outreach of Rockland County. The annual Centering
Prayer Weekend Retreat at Graymoor, co-sponsored with the Graymoor Centering
Prayer group, is scheduled for the weekend of October 27. Fr. Bill Sheehan is
the program leader. Ohio, Mid
The growing interest in Centering Prayer in Mid Ohio did not go
unnoticed. Contemplative Outreach of Mid Ohio was formed on July 31, 2006, and
it includes the Columbus, Toledo, Mansfield, Sandusky geographic areas, with
several longtime members of the Contemplative Outreach network. Our first event
was a Day of Enrichment where members from prayer groups in Columbus, Granville,
Fremont, Lexington, and Mansfield joined to pray together and to celebrate our
new chapter. Thanks to the gift and talents Mary Guilbert so generously blessed
us with, the Contemplative Outreach of Mid Ohio website is up and running to
announce our scheduled programs, including a 4-day retreat in July. I hope to
see you soon at one of our upcoming events! 12 Step Outreach
| California, North San Diego | California,
San Fernando | California, Northern | Colorado,
Denver | Colorado Ontario, Southwest Centering Prayer has been blossoming in this part of the world! As you are aware there has been a Centering Prayer Group meeting in Windsor for approximately ten years with Rose-Marie McIsaac as the contact person. For over a year there has been a Centering Prayer Group meeting at St. Michael’s Church in Leamington with Marlene Kelly-Kolotylo facilitating. The Holy Spirit has been at work and since that time there has been growing interest in Centering Prayer with inquiries being made to us. Last fall, we held two Introductory Workshops with Rose-Marie McIsaac and Fr. Joe Quinn C.S.B. presenting and Marlene facilitating. One was held at the Holy Family Retreat Center in Oxley (Essex County) and one in Windsor at John XXIII, the Regional Diocesan Office. They were both well attended. Out of these workshops two new groups in Centering Prayer have been formed and are meeting on a weekly basis. We were pleased to have Sr. Yvonne Parent, CSJ to facilitate the new group at Assumption Church in Windsor. The second group is being hosted at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Essex with Marlene Kelly-Kolotylo facilitating it. We are very inspired and enthused, and feel the support as a service team with the contacts we have made over the past year through meetings with Bishop Fabro CSB., Bishop of London Diocese—our Bishop, with the Deaneries in Windsor and Essex County, as well as with the inspiration and spiritual growth of each other in the groups and through the service team meetings. We are also very grateful for the resources made available to us through the International Contemplative Outreach Network and Contemplative Outreach Ontario for the mutual support we experience. We are looking forward to the August Visioning Weekend in Contemplative Outreach Canada. Recently we have taken steps to form a Southwestern Region of Ontario Chapter of Contemplative Outreach Ontario and now the Southwestern Region of Ontario Contemplative Outreach Chapter is a reality!
The Service Team is
comprised of Rose-Marie McIsaac, Fr. Joe Quinn, Marlene Kelly-Kolotylo and
Sister Yvonne Parent CSJ. The contact person for Windsor is Rose-Marie McIsaac
and Marlene Kelly-Kolotylo for Essex County. Tennessee, Mid
This has been a rich year for us. In October Thomas honored the
University of the South, Sewanee by receiving an honorary doctor of divinity
degree. He and Gail were also available to us to work on a plan for offering
Centering Prayer through the structure of the Episcopal Church. We are currently
implementing that plan in the Dioceses of Alabama and Mississippi. On that same
visit we entered into an agreement with St. Mary’s Sewanee to offer six
additional Contemplative Outreach events in 2008 at that retreat center. They
are as follows: March 7-9, Forgiveness Retreat with Carl Arico; March 10-11,
Clergy Enrichment with Carl again; April 6-10, Welcoming Prayer Immersion
Retreat with Cathy McCarthy; May 12-18, Formation for Contemplative Service with
Gail Fitzpatrick-Hopler; Oct 19-23, Lectio Divina Workshop & Formation with
Maria Tasto; and Dec 12-14, Advent Retreat with Justin Langille. This is in
addition to the two 8-Day, three 3-Day, and one 5-Day retreats that we have
offered for many years. We are grateful to Thomas, Gail, and John Kelsey (the
new coordinator for our region) for their cooperative leadership in furthering
the growth of Contemplative Outreach in Middle Tennessee. Also, please see our
new website at: www.centeringprayermidtn.com Virginia, Richmond
In the fall of 2006, Contemplative Outreach of Richmond, with St.
Stephen’s Episcopal Church, began to have a Second Saturday Quiet Morning for
Centering Prayer every month. With the help of newspaper notices, about
twenty-five people came, from across the city and from many denominations –
Episcopal, Baptist, Catholic, and Presbyterian. Praying people are welcome to
come for any part of the morning or for all of it, 9:00 am until 11:15 am.
Leaders are available to teach about Centering Prayer or to talk. Washington, DC Encouraged by ever increasing interest in Centering Prayer in our area, the Contemplative Outreach of Metropolitan Washington (COMW) leadership team is learning how to listen to the real needs of the community and how to share the tasks of responding to them. The Virginia Service team (NOVA), under the leadership of Laurel LaCivita, is a group of people of great talent and enthusiasm. They undertook planning for the Living Flame Program I and now have 38 participants, meeting once a month at Great Falls Presbyterian Church, and the feedback from it is very good. They are now preparing to bring Living Flame II here. Carol Leach and Bob Gullo gave the first ever Introduction to Centering Prayer in Baltimore to 40 people from a Ministerium of churches of several denomination, and the Intro has spawned three follow-up groups and possibly four new Centering Prayer groups. We invited all the Centering Prayer facilitators in the DC area (many who had never met each other before) for our first Facilitator Appreciation Dinner this past month. One guest said, “Centering Prayer must do something for people, because the group assembled at your home was the nicest bunch of folks one could hope to meet!” Another said, “This type of event is important, since at other events we spend most of the time “centering” and in silence, which makes it more difficult to network!” The COMW Leadership team made its first tithe to CO, Ltd. We feel good about the decision and blessed to be a part of CO.
This year we have sponsored a weekend retreat and
are planning a 5-day Intensive Retreat. In the process we have discovered how
much work this entails and will be analyzing the results. Henry Burke,
coordinator for Richmond, Virginia, has planned a Regional Refined Essentials
Workshop for Memorial Day weekend, and 16 presenters are signed up. Moira
Notargiacomo edits our quarterly newsletter, and Carol Leach updates our website
www.comwcp.org, that was
created by Phil Stone of www.findthedivine.com.
Gig Ross, a three-year member of the leadership team and Washington, DC contact
person, has stepped down and we will miss her greatly. Wisconsin,
Southeast A sunny June evening in 2006,
welcoming hugs, and a simple potluck of sub sandwiches, salad, fresh fruit and
dessert formed the backdrop for a Centering Prayer small group reunion. At St.
Leonard Parish in Muskego, Wisconsin, some Centering Prayers had drifted away
from the weekly gathering of a small group, largely due to a shifting in
personal schedules and family responsibilities. So, an invitation went out to
all present and previous small group members to gather for an informal evening
of reacquaintance, food, Centering Prayer, video, and discussion. After supper
the transition to 20 minutes of Centering Prayer was made by reading from Psalms
for Praying. The group then viewed a portion of Fr. Keating’s video from the
2006 United in Prayer Day. A brief discussion followed. This one and a half hour
get-together was successful, it seems, because as people were leaving everyone
said, “Let’s do it again next year!” 12
Step Outreach | California, North San Diego | California,
San Fernando | California, Northern | Colorado,
Denver | Colorado Newsletter Table of
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Letter ~ Reader's Reflections
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