Facilitating is a ministry that empowers people and enables group process.
As a ministry it helps group members to become more aware and more loving. . . .
Good facilitating enables the growth of a Centering Prayer support group, empowering the group to feel capable and strengthened for the spiritual journey.
– Mary Mrozowski
The Centering Prayer Group Facilitator Support Team’s purpose is to support facilitators who share their practice of Centering Prayer and deepening relationship with God in contemplative communities.
RESOURCES:
The Facilitator Handbook is the basic resource and ongoing reference for new and seasoned facilitators. Reminding us that the facilitator’s own prayer practice and spirituality are at the core of service – everything worthwhile we do as facilitators springs from the prayer – the Handbook is a compendium of resources and tools for facilitators and their prayer groups. It covers attributes and spirituality of a facilitator, group purpose statements, guidelines for sharing, practicalities for establishing and conducting group meetings, suggestions for (and links to) further study, and group dynamics, all grounded in the Vision and Theological Principles of Contemplative Outreach. You can view the Facilitator Handbook here.
The Facilitator Formation Level 1 Workshop is a digital, online, self-guided training program designed to empower local chapters to hold their own facilitator formation workshop. It also may be used for individual self-study. The package includes the Facilitator Handbook, a document on how to use workshop materials, and ten online video segments on the fundamentals of facilitating a Centering Prayer group.
Level II deepening materials. The Facilitator Formation Level II Workshop materials foster and deepen the process of transformation in facilitators and members of Centering Prayer groups. These and other topics can be shared with small groups or at a multi-topic workshop retreat:
- Twelve Principles of Servant Leadership
- What is Contemplative Service? From Mythic to Mystic
- Four Levels of Listening
- Dispositions of the Servant Leader
- Five Stages of Groups to Maturity
- Exploration of the Human Condition
- Stages of Faith Development
- Five Common Obstacles to Centering Prayer
- Psychological Experience of Centering Prayer
- Mystery of Transmission
Members of the Centering Prayer Group Facilitator Support team can also present the materials in a one- or two-day workshop or shorter Zoom sessions. Zoom workshops are currently held two or three times a year. Some of the most recent workshop topics have focused on holding space, growing as a Centering Prayer practitioner, and working with difficult group dynamics.
Team members are available to provide support and encouragement over the phone, on Zoom, or by email to those who wish to give workshops, and to give workshops. Contact office@coutreach.org for more information.
Nestor is the founder of the Facilitator Formation Service Team
