By Jan Masterson, Contemplative Network Director Communications
Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. (COL) and Contemplative Network, Inc. (CN) share a history. In 1986, COL established Houston as one of its first chapters. When the initial coordinator retired in 2004, the Houston Chapter elected and Fr. Thomas Keating anointed Dr. Bob Hesse and Dr. Kimball Kehoe as co-coordinators. As Keating’s interest in medical research grew, he encouraged the formation of a 501(c)(3) corporation in Houston, the city with the largest medical and research hub in the world, The Texas Medical Center (TMC). Houston is also home to one of the most diverse collections of faith traditions and spiritual philosophies in the United States, numbering approximately 4200. Thus, in 2011, CN was established to teach Centering Prayer (CP), encourage interfaith dialogue and sponsor medical research. The board elected Kehoe chairman and Hesse president. In 2022, CN began a rapid expansion as a result of the work of committed volunteers and the promising results of medical studies showing improvements in quality of life associated with the practice of Centering Prayer. The interfaith board grew to help spread our message. Today, CN is involved in fund raising in hope of adding to the community of Centering Prayer practitioners and increase the number of subjects participating in medical research of CP’s effects on quality of life.
CN’s chairman, Dr. Bob Hesse, noticed during attendance at numerous domestic and international conferences, the meetings offered on “faith and science” are often siloed by denomination and discipline, thus missing their asymptotic (close) convergence. The Faith and Science Conference Enhanced by Art, Music and Interfaith Mysticism sponsored by Contemplative Network and Rome-based Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra is combining these subjects in a unique gathering. The theme is “A Journey into God’s Mystical Love.” Our goal is to show how faith and current science reinforce each other and encourage respectful dialogue between laity, clergy, scientists and medical professionals.. The Conference is scheduled during the Jubilee Year in Rome, Italy on June 17 to June 20, 2025 and will explore St. Augustine of Hippo’s observation, “Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature.”.
The conference is dedicated to the loving memory of Fr. Thomas Keating, who had a keen interest in the relationship between consciousness and mysticism. In closing a retreat at St. Benedict’s Monastery, he seamlessly moved from exploring the fruits and challenges of practicing Centering Prayer to the complementary relationship between faith and science. The depth of his understanding, the breadth of his vision and his belief science offers a rich opportunity to deepen our contemplative practice and faith offers a necessary foundation for sound science ignited a fire in the retreatants, including our moderator, Jeff Renner. As Keating said in his Oracle message, “Through the great discoveries of science and spirituality, we find ourselves in essentially a new place, a new and different place, than ever before in history.”
We are excited to announce world renowned scientists as keynote speakers whose presentations will transition between the four science chapters of Hesse’s book. For physics to creation, Jennifer Wiseman, Ph.D., a senior astrophysicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, will discuss the Properties of the Universe. Bernard Carr, Ph.D., whose research advisor was Steven Hawking at Cambridge, will cover the Big Bang. For chemistry to life, Kate Adamala, Ph.D. who studied the origin and early evolution of life under Noble Laureate Dr. Jack Szostak, will discuss Atoms to DNA. Heather Heying, Ph.D., an evolutionary biologist, is presenting on Evolutionary Theory. In the area of Biology to Consciousness, Stuart Hameroff, M.D. , who collaborates with Oxford Nobel Laureate, Sir Roger Penrose, in their proposition that consciousness precedes and persists after life, will discuss Consciousness and Free Will. Harold Koenig, M.D., lead editor of The Handbook of Religion and Health will discuss the numerous studies showing a statistical connection between Religion and Health. In the final session on Psychology to Mysticism, James Finley, Ph.D., a practicing Clinical Psychologist, will define Meditation and Contemplation. Summarizing the presentations, Bob Hesse, Ph.D., CN Chairman and author of the book used as the conference agenda, will discuss Neuroscience to Ministries. He will share results of medical research into the effects of Centering Prayer on Parkinson’s Disease, bipolar disorder and NDE. PTSD research is scheduled for completion in time for the conference.
We are blessed members of the Abrahamic faith traditions have enthusiastically agreed to join us. As Fr, Keating frequently said, “In the silence, there is no dogma.” His Eminence Peter Cardinal Turkson, S.S.D., Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Science, will open with an interfaith welcoming prayer service. Before dinner, Deacon Bob Hesse, Ph.D. and Rev. Laurence Freeman OSB Director of The World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM) will introduce interfaith Centering Prayer (CP) and lead us in its Christian application as mystical contemplative prayer. Day one Rabbi Harvey Rosenstock, M.D, and Rabbi Laura Duran-Kaplan, Ph.D. will lead us in CP as Kabbalah contemplative prayer. The second day, Imam Jamal Rahman and Islamic speaker, Seemi Ghazi, will lead us in CP as Sufi contemplative prayer. Pending his availability, His Holiness Pope Francis is scheduled to offer a private audience for the attendees the evening of the final day.
Bringing these diverse scientific speakers and interfaith clergy together is our moderator, long-time Centering Prayer practitioner, Jeff Renner, who is an active member of Contemplative Outreach. A nine-time Emmy winner, he served as science journalist, documentary producer and Chief Meteorologist at Seattle, Washinton’s KING5 Television for 39 years. He is uniquely qualified to introduce the presenters and clergy and moderate the daily panel discussions.
Each day will end with the attendees experiencing off-site venues offering tangible visions of the day’s topics. Enhancing Physics to Creation, is a narrated virtual tour of the Vatican Observatory. Chemistry to Life offers special, private tours of the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel with a concert of sacred music and a focus on Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam. Biology to Consciousness brings us to a special private tour of the Borghese Gallery with the focus on Bernini’s sculpture, Apollo and Daphne, symbolic of the birth of consciousness and free will. Enhancing Psychology to Mysticism is a tour of the Church of the Santa Maria dello Vittoria with the focus on Bernini’s sculpture of St. Theresa of Avila’s mystical experience.
The promotors of the conference are founding partners, Contemplative Network and the Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra and collaborating partner, Universita Pontificia Salesiana. Our international affiliates, which include faith-based universities, health care organizations and research centers, encourage you to attend the first regularly scheduled Faith and Science Conference during the 2025 Jubilee Year. It is a unique gathering of renowned scientists and interfaith clergy offering presentations targeted to an interfaith audience of non-theologians and non-scientists.
For more information and to register for The Faith and Science Conference Enhanced by Art, Music and Interfaith Mysticism, from June 17 to June 20, 2025 in Rome, Italy, visit our web site, www.faith-science.org. We are looking forward to meeting and visiting with you in the Eternal City.
When available, information on the next leg of our journey planned for Houston in 2027, will be provided in the CN quarterly newsletter, News and Views from Contemplative Network. To subscribe, visit our web site www.contemplative.net.
