Contemplative Outreach, Ltd.

Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop on Zoom
2021-05-01 08:30 - 12:30 UTC | Internet – Online
Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop on Zoom
Holy Family Retreat Center, West Hartford, CT
Saturday, May 1, 2021
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Eastern Time)
Contemplative Outreach Commissioned Presenter, Nancy Stimac
In this transformational introductory workshop, you will learn the method and principles of the Centering Prayer practice in a quiet, reflective atmosphere. The history, psychology, and theology of the practice will be covered. Two prayer sessions and a question and answer session are included. The workshop also welcomes current practitioners who wish to deepen their understanding of the Centering Prayer practice and of their relationship with the Lord.
Check in 8:30-9 a.m. Program starts at 9 a.m Eastern Time
Offering: $30 per registrant
Register at: https://www.holyfamilyretreat.org/calendar/centering-prayer-5-1-21
Presenter Profile:
Nancy Stimac, a longtime contemplative prayer practitioner, is a commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina for Contemplative Outreach. She is a graduate of the Archdiocese of Hartford’s Catholic Bible School and Lay Ministry programs. She uses her gifts to serve the Catholic community of Windsor Locks as a prayer group facilitator, Bible study leader, RCIA teacher, lector, and evangelization team member.

Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop
2021-05-01 08:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT, 6107, United States
In this introductory workshop, you will learn the ancient method and principles of Centering Prayer practice in a quiet, reflective atmosphere. We will cover the history, psychology, and theology of the practice. Two prayer sessions and a question and answer session are included.
The human transformation we undergo in Centering Prayer is complex and multifaceted. We face common questions about how our practice is progressing and our psychological experience of releasing the emotional wounds of a lifetime. This presentation is intended to clarify the psychological process on our journey to transformation.
Presented by:
Nancy Stimac, a longtime contemplative prayer practitioner, is a Centering Prayer facilitator and commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina for Contemplative Outreach. She is a graduate of the Archdiocese of Hartford’s Catholic Bible School and Lay Ministry programs. She uses her gifts to serve the Catholic community of Windsor Locks as a prayer group facilitator, Bible study leader, RCIA teacher, lector, and evangelization team member.
OR
Mike Smoolca is an experienced contemplative group and workshop facilitator and a dedicated student of contemplative practices and wisdom spirituality. He is a Contemplative Outreach presenter and coordinator for Contemplative Outreach of CT and the Northern CT Chapter of the International Thomas Merton Society. Mike is a practicing spiritual director who received his certificate from Fairfield University. He has been an internship partner at the Spiritual Life Center in West Hartford, CT.

Six-Week Centering Prayer and Divine Therapy
2021-04-19 12:00 - 14:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Join this six-week program with Dr. Jana Rentzel as she presents on the psychological dimension of Centering Prayer known as “Divine Therapy,” by which we become healed of our lifetime emotional wounds and grow more fully into who God created us to be.
​You may have experienced that in entering the silence of prayer and meditation, old memories and past trauma’s come to mind. Divine Therapy is a beautiful model by which we can understand the deep healing that takes place as we surrender or past pains into the hands of God.
This course will use Cynthia Bourgeault’s book, Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening as it’s primary text.
Dr. Jana Rentzel has a PhD in Spiritual Psychology and is a Spiritual Director and meditation teacher.
When: Mondays April 19th – May 24th, 12:00-2:00pm ET
Cost: Early bird $125 through April 13th, $150 after midnight.
See the link below!

Centering Prayer Introductory Series - ONLINE
2021-04-17 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Internet – Online
The Mercy Center Centering Prayer Program presents:
Foundations of Centering Prayer
Live Online Saturday April 17, 2021
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM USA Pacific Time
Be still and know that I am God
“Silence is God’s first language,’ says the sixteenth century mystic John of the Cross. And silence is the normal context in which contemplative prayer takes place. But…there is silence and then there is silence. There is an outer silence, and outer stoppinCentering Prayer, g of the words and busy-ness, but there is also a much more challenging interior silence …” – Cynthia Bourgeault
Centering Prayer prepares us to more fully enter the interior silence and receive the gift of God’s presence, beyond thoughts, words and emotions. Centering Prayer facilitates the movement from more active modes of prayer–verbal, mental, or affective prayer–into a receptive prayer of resting in God. It emphasizes prayer as a personal relationship with God.
Whether you are new to Centering Prayer, or you would like to deepen your practice, it is helpful to look again at the foundations of the practice.
Please join us for a morning of online instruction, group practice, and opportunity for discussion and questions.
A $20 donation is suggested to support the program; however, any donation you are able to contribute is gratefully accepted. Your presence is most important.
Please register using the link below.
Joy Andrews Hayter, Ph.D. is a spiritual director, and Centering Prayer coordinator at Mercy Center. Joy is dedicated to fostering contemplative practices such as Centering Prayer and others within the Christian Wisdom tradition that help us become aware of God’s ever-present love. As a scientist she sees in the physical world an expression of that love.
Catherine Regan, Ph.D. is a spiritual director, retired psychologist, and adjunct staff member at Mercy Center, primarily serving on the Centering Prayer team. She has a special interest in participating in the reclamation of the Christian Wisdom tradition and fostering the contemplative practices so urgently needed at this time in our world.

Half-Day Online Retreat Series: "Invitation from God"
2021-04-17 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Centering Prayer: Revisiting the Fundamentals
Half-day retreats to deepen awareness of God’s transforming presence in our lives.
“Invitation from God”
An interview with Thomas Keating—the third in this COMW retreat series
Saturday, April 17, 2021, 9 a.m. Eastern Time to noon (via Zoom)
In our third half-day retreat in this series presented by Contemplative Outreach of Maryland and Washington (COMW), we will hear Thomas Keating describe the spiritual journey as a process of transformation in which we move through the levels of our consciousness, releasing old traumas and spiraling towards the presence of the Divine in our inner selves.
In Centering Prayer, we consent to and are sustained through the dark nights, the losses and the letting go of purification, through which we are gradually transformed. The gifts and fruits of the Spirit begin to rise up within us, manifesting in our way of being in the world. Through our consent to this pattern of dying and rising in the spiritual journey, we live out the pattern of Christ’s own death and Resurrection, i.e., the Paschal Mystery. As we are transformed, the Divine presence in us manifests as peace, joy, gratitude and freedom.
The invitation to embark on the spiritual journey is universal. In the final video of our series, Thomas explains the Parable of the Great Banquet as a representation of God’s gracious, open invitation to everyone in the human family to embark upon the spiritual journey of transformation in Christ.
*This Retreat will be held virtually on Zoom
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwsf-2prjsrHt0cBR6QzQwINOGvQ2H2dyPx
LEARN MORE: tinyurl.com/COMWApril17Retreat

Reflections on the Spiritual Journey: A Conversation via Zoom
2021-04-17 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Internet – Online
9am – 11am Central Time
Offered online via Zoom
The language of the “spiritual journey” is central to Thomas Keatings’ contemplative vision and his writings. And he sees the practice of Centering Prayer as a good way to further that journey.
In this workshop we will have an unstructured conversation about the journey and the practice of Centering Prayer. It is open to the curious beginner, the experienced practitioner, and those in-between.
Centering Prayer is a form of Christian silent mediation where one lets go of thoughts during periods of prayer typically lasting 20 minutes. It is rooted in the self-emptying love that forms the heart of Jesus’ teaching and life. The effect on those who practice it is an ever-increasing awareness of God’s action and presence in the course of ordinary life.
The Rev. Tom Ward is the retired university chaplain at the University of the South and now spends his days focusing on the contemplative dimension of the gospel, teaching Centering Prayer, and leading retreats.
Please register using the link below.

Integrating Nature and Body in Contemplative Practice
2021-04-17 08:30 - 16:30 UTC | Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT, 6107, United States
This day-long immersion centers around the relationship of the physical world, with the journey of transformation in Christ. Participants will practice disciplines for integrating the body in the journey of contemplative transformation. We will also learn methods of prayer and meditation that support intimacy with God’s presence in the natural world.
Presented by: Mark Kutolowski is an Oblate of Saint Benedict, a contemplative retreat leader, Centering Prayer teacher, wilderness guide, and instructor in the Russian martial art and health practice, Systema. He has spent the past 20 years exploring the integration of Christian contemplation with physical transformation. Mark and his wife Lisa guide River of Life wild pilgrimages throughout New England and live a lay contemplative life at their homestead, Metanoia of Vermont (metanoiavt.com).

A Workshop on Contemplation and Anti-Racism
2021-04-11 14:00 - 17:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Presented by Contemplative Outreach Chicago and the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate Anti-Racism Committee
Contemplation and racism are opposites. In Centering Prayer and other contemplative practices, we find a path that opens us up to oneness, while racism denies this reality, insisting instead on the “otherness” of those who may be different from us in appearance or culture.
This workshop will begin with a 30-40 minute contemplative experience, led by Alan Krema, coordinator of Contemplative Outreach Chicago. This will include Centering Prayer as well as body prayer and guided meditation to expand our experience from being centered in the thinking mind to include the moving and emotional centers of our being in the work. In opening ourselves to a greater and more connected state of awareness, we can share our being more openly with others, including others of different backgrounds.
The remainder of the workshop will be presented by members of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate Anti-Racism Committee (ARC). This committee is a multicultural mix of sisters and lay persons.
Main topics will include:
– Sharing current stories of racism and resistance
– Becoming aware of microaggressions
– Recognizing and working to eliminate white privilege
Each main topic will be followed by a breakout-room discussion.
The workshop concludes with a discussion of participants’ responses and hopes, and a prayer for our future.
For presenter biographical information, link to https://www.centeringprayerchicago.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ARW-Presenters.pdf
Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate Anti-Racism Committee Mission Statement:
Mindful of the sin of racism and our call to dismantle it in our society, our Anti-Racism Committee is working to raise consciousness and educate within our Congregation, among our Associates, in the institutions we sponsor and in the communities where we live and work.
Event is in US Central Time. Please register using the link below.

Centering Prayer and Divine Therapy
2021-04-10 10:00 - 11:30 UTC | Internet – Online
Join Dr. Jana Rentzel as she presents on the psychological dimension of Centering Prayer known as “Divine Therapy,” by which we become healed of our lifetime emotional wounds and grow more fully into who God created us to be.
​You may have experienced that in entering the silence of prayer and meditation, old memories and past trauma’s come to mind. Divine Therapy is a beautiful model by which we can understand the deep healing that takes place as we surrender or past pains into the hands of God.
Dr. Jana Rentzel has a PhD in Spiritual Psychology and is a Spiritual Director and meditation teacher.
When: April 10th, 10:00-11:30am ET.
Cost: Suggested $15 OR pay-from-the-heart, paying what feels right for you.
See the details below!

Awakenings on the Spiritual Journey: Insights & Practices for Growth & Healing in our Time
2021-04-09 18:00 - 2021-04-11 12:00 UTC | Internet – Online
VIRTUAL WEEKEND RETREAT SPONSORED BY CONTEMPLATIVE OUTREACH OF ST. LOUIS
Susan Komis and Jim McElroy will facilitate this hybrid retreat by sharing their experience and insights of practicing and teaching Centering Prayer, The Welcoming Prayer, and the Human Condition. Susan will offer a reflection on Fr. Thomas’s most fundamental teaching, The Human Condition, and then offer her thoughts on the stages of spiritual growth from “The Awakening” to “The Sage”. Jim will provide an in-depth teaching of The Welcoming Prayer as the companion practice to Centering Prayer and as a method designed to facilitate the dismantling of the false self-system and living from present moment awareness.
The Welcoming Prayer is a method of consenting to God’s presence and action in our physical and emotional reactions to events and situations in daily life. It deepens our relationship with God and allows to more fully live in the eternal now. The Welcoming Prayer helps to dismantle the emotional programs and heal the wounds of a lifetime by addressing them where they are stored—in the body.
Please see the website link below for more information.

Centering Prayer and the Welcoming Prayer in a Time of Uncertainty via Zoom
2021-03-27 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Internet – Online
The Centering Prayer group of Saints Simon and Jude Church invites you to join us for a morning of prayer and reflection with Father Bill Sheehan. This beloved teacher will share with us how the fruits of contemplative prayer can enrich our daily lives, especially in this time of uncertainty. This program will be presented via Zoom on Saturday, March 27 from 9 AM– 12 PM PST. No experience in Centering Prayer is needed. Bring only your desire to deepen your relationship with God.
Our time together will include several periods of quiet prayer, teachings on Centering Prayer and the Welcoming Prayer along with opportunities for questions and answers.
To register, contact Trish Rice @ pdrice2012@gmail.com. There is no charge for this event but a free will offering will be gratefully accepted.

David Frenette Event: Contemplation and Opening to Unity Consciousness
2021-03-20 14:00 - 15:30 UTC | Internet – Online
Join David Frenette as he presents on the spiritual journey and opening to what Fr. Thomas and other Christian mystics termed Unity Consciousness.
This event is hosted by Keith Kristich and the Closer Than Breath contemplative community.
When: March 20th, 2:00pm-3:30pm Eastern Time
Cost: $15 (*no one denied due to lack of funds!)
*Event is video recorded and sent out later for those that can’t attend live.
Click the link below to see the details!

United in Spirit Interfaith Retreat
2021-03-20 10:30 - 14:30 UTC | Internet – Online
Spend an enriching four hours participating in the United in Spirit virtual gathering March 20th. This year, we will continue to offer opportunities for the practice of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina and we will also join with our brothers and sisters in faith from the other Abrahamic traditions of Judaism and Islam-to learn more of their spiritual practices and join in a day of spiritual fellowship.
We will be blessed with the presence of Rabbi Zari Weiss of Seattle, together with Imam Jamal Rahman and Pastor Dave Brown of the Northwest Interfaith Amigos in a program facilitated by Jeff Renner of Contemplative Outreach of Puget Sound North. We will focus on the deep spark of divine connection, how it bridges alienation with healing and peace, and helps us develop a united vision for tomorrow. Registration is $10 to permit us to show our appreciation to Rabbi Weiss, Imam Jamal Rahman and Pastor Dave Brown for their time and wisdom.
REGISTRATION
Name:
Preferred Contact Mode (email or mailing address)
Telephone if needed/appropriate
Registration for 1 or ___
The requested registration is $10-scholarships are available
Checks should be made payable to:
COPSN (Contemplative Outreach Puget Sound North)
or…forwarded via Zelle online
Mail to:
COPSN United in Spirit 2021 Retreat
19920 N.E. 30th Court
Sammamish, WA 98074
Questions? jeffrenner3@comcast.net

The Welcoming Prayer
2021-03-20 09:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT, 6107, United States
Welcoming Prayer is a spiritual practice created by three of the founders of Contemplative Outreach; Mary Mrozowski, Fr. Thomas Keating and David Frenette. This simple but effective spiritual practice helps us to remain present and to welcome moments of physical and emotional pain that we confront in our daily lives. Instead of repeating our often-unconscious attempts to avoid or deny our afflictive emotions, we locate, sink into, and accept our physical reactions and emotional hurts. In the process, our pain becomes a portal of psychological and spiritual transformation
Presented by: Steve Standiford is a regular Centering Prayer practitioner. He leads retreats and workshops and teaches spiritual practices through Contemplative Outreach. He is also a psychotherapist in private practice in Manhattan and Westchester County.

Half Day Retreat — Centering Prayer: Revisiting the Fundamentals via Zoom
2021-03-20 08:30 - 13:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Offered by Contemplative Outreach of Maryland and Washington DC (COMW)
Centering Prayer: Revisiting the Fundamentals
Half-day retreats to deepen awareness of God’s transforming presence in our lives.
Invitation from God: An interview with Thomas Keating—the second in this COMW retreat series
Saturday, March 20, 2021
9:00am Eastern Time to noon Eastern Time Via Zoom
“We have all we need to merge with the Divine. We’re just not using it. The purpose of Centering Prayer is to unlock this capacity and remove whatever is in the way…”
– Thomas Keating, Invitation from God
At age 83, Thomas Keating met with Danish filmmaker Marie Louise Lefèvre at Saint Benedict’s Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado, for several short interviews on Centering Prayer. The resulting video, Invitation from God (released 2007), is compelling for Keating’s shining conviction in this method and its benefit for all humankind. The filming of the monastery and surrounding mountains’ stark, winter beauty as a metaphor for Keating’s words strengthens his message.
This second, half-day retreat in the series of three delves deep into the process of Centering Prayer. Keating explains both what happens when we’re regularly “in our Inner Room,” receiving the gift of “direct, experiential knowing,” and what that sets into motion.
Click on the website link below for additional information and access to the retreat registration link.
Led by COMW Team Member
Marjorie Centofanti mcentofanti43@gmail.com

The Transformative Power of Centering Prayer in Times of Chaos, Impasse, and Growing Divisions
2021-03-19 11:00 - 2021-03-21 17:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Enter the Chaos: Engage the Differences to Make a Difference
via Zoom
March 19 – 21, 2021
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily (Eastern time zone)
This three-day Centering Prayer retreat draws on
• the transformative power of Centering Prayer
• capacity to exercise contemplative power
• understanding our role in the evolutionary process
• willingness to welcome our own ongoing personal transformation
• conscious intent of the values we want to embody
And includes
• back-to-back Centering Prayer sessions to start each day
• contextualization of our work sourced from a contemplative heart
• understanding the evolutionary development of consciousness
• learning the specifics of the integral theory of spiral dynamics
• learning the skillful means to engage in transformative change
• applying what we learn to real situations which are characterized by tension among different stages of consciousness and seemingly opposing value systems
About the Institute for Communal Contemplation and Dialogue
The Institute for Communal Contemplation and Dialogue (ICCD) of Detroit MI has designed and developed this retreat. The ICCD retreat guides will be: Nancy Sylvester, IHM; Margaret Galiardi, OP; and Vernice Solimar, Ph.D.
Please register using the link below.

9 Day Intensive I and II Retreat
2021-03-18 17:00 - 2021-03-26 13:00 (America/Denver) | Internet – Online
Pre-requisite: A daily practice of Centering Prayer for 6 months or longer.
This retreat will be offered online, using Zoom. Everyone will participate in prayer, videos, and group sessions on Zoom. You may reside at the Mercy Center as an individual retreatant or
in your own home or other lodging.
This retreat offers two tracks simultaneously: Intensive I and Intensive II. For both tracks, there will be three sets of three 20 minute periods of Centering Prayer daily and two sessions of viewing recorded talks from The Spiritual Journey, a 5-part series of talks by Thomas Keating. Intensive I views selected talks mostly from Part 2. Intensive II views talks mostly from Parts 3 and 4.
Lectio Divina and a contemplative service will be offered daily, as well as optional individual meetings with the staff. Throughout the retreat, we will be in silence.
The retreat will be facilitated by Susan Turpin, Marty Badgett, and Fr. Bill Sheehan, OMI. Susan, Marty, and Fr. Bill have served within the Contemplative Outreach community for many years and led many Centering Prayer retreats and workshops.
Retreat begins Thursday, March 18th with check-in starting at 5:00pm; orientation at 7:00pm; ends Friday, March 26th after lunch.
For more information, contact Susan Turpin at 541-324-1207 or slturpin@me.com or Marty Badgett at 650-862-5451 or mbadgettexas@gmail.com.

The Process of Forgiveness: A Workshop via Zoom
2021-03-13 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Internet – Online
9am – noon Central Time.
Offered online via Zoom.
Forgiveness is at the heart of the Christian tradition. Jesus called us to forgive—not only our friends but our enemies as well. Most of us are aware of this dimension of the gospel but are forced to acknowledge that we do not forgive: We have festering wounds in our psyches and in our relationships.
In this workshop we will consider different dimensions of the call to forgive—from a consideration of classic texts to the psychic dynamics of forgiveness. Most importantly, we will learn a practice that opens us to the reality of forgiveness.
This practice comes through Contemplative Outreach, a spiritual organism founded by Thomas Keating.
The Rev. Tom Ward is the retired university chaplain at the University of the South and now spends his days focusing on the contemplative dimension of the gospel, teaching Centering Prayer, and leading retreats.
Please register using the link below.

Entering the Bridal Chamber of the Heart: The Luminous Gospels
2021-03-06 09:00 - 16:30 UTC | Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT, 6107, United States
This retreat will explore the Christian Wisdom tradition, focusing on the extracanonical Gospels of Thomas and Mary Magdalene. These so-called Luminous Gospels came to light in the mid-20th century and provide new insight into the development of early Christianity, the foundations of Jesus’ teaching, and the authority of Mary Magdalene as an Apostle. Come join us on the journey as we spend time within a contemplative framework of silent prayer, teaching, chanting, lectio divina, and heart-centered, whole-body practice.
Presented by: The Reverend Matthew Wright is an Episcopal priest, retreat leader, and long-time student of Cynthia Bourgeault. He serves as priest-in-charge at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Woodstock, NY and as a teacher for Northeast Wisdom and the Contemplative Society, non-profits dedicated to the renewal of the Christian Wisdom tradition.

Lenten Silent Saturday with Fr. Bill Sheehan, OMI via Zoom
2021-03-06 09:00 - 12:30 UTC | Internet – Online
Lenten Silent Saturday 3.6.21 ♱ 9a m – 12:30 pm Pacific Time
Registration is limited and required. Please register online using the link below.
$15.00 donation. Questions? contact Jill Yamada 949 257-6002
The Zoom link will be emailed to all registrants prior to March 6th
Our online retreat includes; time with Fr. Bill, Q&A’s and Centering Prayer sits.
New to Centering Prayer? No experience required, simply the desire to “Be still and know that I am God” Ps 46:10
For by the blood of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. How great is the grace of God! Eph. 1:7 (GNT)
In keeping with Contemplative Outreach United in Prayer Day on March 6, we remember Fr. Thomas Keating’s birthday on March 7

Introduction to Centering Prayer via Zoom
2021-02-28 13:00 - 16:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Centering Prayer is a form of Christian silent meditation where one lets go of thoughts during periods of prayer typically lasting 20 minutes. It is rooted in the self-emptying love that forms the heart of Jesus’ teaching and life. The effect on those who practice it is an ever-increasing awareness of God’s action and presence in the course of ordinary life.
Sunday, February 28th, 2021, 1:00-4:00PM Central Time, $50
Offered online via Zoom.
In this introductory workshop led by Tom Ward, participants will learn the method and principles of this prayer practice and have the opportunity to experience this ancient method in a quiet, reflective atmosphere.
The Rev. Tom Ward is the retired university chaplain at the University of the South and now spends his days focusing on the contemplative dimension of the gospel, teaching Centering Prayer, and leading retreats.
Please register using the link below.

Training the Heart: ​What Benedict and Ignatius Offer in Support of Centering Prayer - via Zoom
2021-02-27 13:00 - 16:00 UTC | Internet – Online
St. Benedict (d. 547) and St. Ignatius (d. 1556) are often contrasted for their distinct schools of spirituality and very different perspectives on discipleship. The underpinnings of their prayer forms, however, have more in common than meets the eye, and the threads binding the teachings of Benedict and Ignatius still offer encouragement and practical wisdom to contemplatives. The Minnesota chapter of Contemplative Outreach is joined by spiritual directors Sam Rahberg and Peter Watkins to explore and experience how time-tested practices, including Ignatius’ Praying with Imagination and Examen, can complement and support the practice of Centering Prayer.
1-4pm Central Time.
Event fee is voluntary – suggested offering of $20.
To register, please see the website link below.

Exploring the Wisdom of the Gospels
2021-02-27 09:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT, 6107, United States
Among the various titles given Jesus is “Wisdom Master.” An exploration of the Gospels Wisdom Parables will give us an understanding of what this title might imply. Using a Lectio Divina approach, we will unpack such parables as the Laborers in the Field, the Parable of the Talents, and others. You will end the day appreciating Jesus as “Wisdom Master” and with a method that gives the Gospels a living meaning.
A Live and Zoom option will be available.
Presented by: Rev. Bill Redfield is an Episcopal priest and licensed clinical social worker who has worked in private practice in central New York and Maine. He served for nearly 20 years as rector of Trinity Church in Fayetteville, NY, before retiring. He has had a lifelong interest in the intersection of spirituality and the inner life. He is the creative force behind the birth of Wisdom House in Fayetteville and has been a long-time student of and collaborator with Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault.

The Welcoming Prayer Practice via Zoom
2021-02-27 08:00 - 12:00 UTC | Internet – Online
The Welcoming Prayer is a method for living out the teachings of Fr. Thomas Keating. Its purpose is to deepen our relationship with God through consenting in ordinary activities. Retreat Leaders will be Sue Miller and Sheila Roche. This is a Zoom online workshop, 8am-Noon Central Time.
For registration and costs contact the Benedictine Sister Retreat Center via the email below.

Facilitator Training/Enrichment – COMW
2021-02-26 19:00 - 2021-02-27 18:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Contemplative Outreach of Maryland and Washington (COMW), in partnership with the international organization, Contemplative Outreach Ltd. (COL), COMW is now offering a hybrid path for facilitator training/enrichment. It combines:
COL’s new online training (February 26-27, 2021) – Organized and offered by COL and led by Bob Mischke and his COL colleagues.
A COMW mentoring period, as required in The Facilitator’s Handbook organized by COMW Team member Marjorie Centofanti.
COMW’S in-person, overnight Facilitating Workshop (Spring 2022) organized by COMW Team member Marjorie Centofanti.
Contact Marjorie Centofanti at mcentofanti@jhmi.edu with any questions about the facilitator training / enrichment programs.
Our May 2021 Facilitating Workshop is now cancelled and is being rescheduled for Spring 2022. If you are registered for the cancelled workshop and would like a refund or to transfer your registration to the rescheduled workshop, please contact Kathleen Blank Riether at kathblankriether@gmail.com.
For full details and registration, please click on the website link provided.

Spiritual Enrichment and Formation for Facilitators of Centering Prayer Groups
2021-02-26 18:00 - 2021-02-27 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Internet – Online
Offered via Zoom, this retreat provides a unique opportunity for current facilitators, as well as those considering becoming facilitators, to enrich and deepen their spirituality and explore the skills and attributes conducive to effective facilitation and functioning of prayer groups. Further topics include principles of facilitating centering prayer groups; faith sharing and group dynamics; establishing guidelines and agreements; practical aspects and tools of facilitating; and Zoom hosting skills. Time will also be given to resources such as the Facilitator Handbook and materials available online. This retreat is offered by the Centering Prayer Group Facilitator Support Service Team.
Daily program times subject to change:
1st DAY: Friday Evening, February 26, 2021
TIME: 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (PT); 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (MT); 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (CT); 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m (ET)
2nd DAY: Saturday, February 27, 2021
TIME: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m (PT); 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (MT); 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (CT) 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (ET)
A $30 donation is appreciated and any level of donation is welcome.
Please register using the form below.
Questions? Contact Pattye Spezia, wholenessp@icloud.com or +1-832-618-3099.

Centering Prayer Weekend Retreat via ZOOM
2021-02-26 - 2021-02-28 | Internet – Online
Fr. Bill Sheehan OMI will be presenting on Fr. Thomas Keating’s book, Consenting to God As God Is.
Retreat is from Friday evening to Sunday midday (Pacific Time Zone)
Scholarships available.
Please register using the link below and click on Featured Events to locate this offering.
For more information contact Sr. Linda Snow CSJ at: srlinda.snow@gmail.com

7th Centering Prayer and Enneagram Retreat
2021-02-20 09:30 - 15:00 UTC | Internet – Online
“Centering Prayer and Enneagram” retreat is meant for anyone who wants to advance in their contemplative prayer practice with a deeper knowledge of who we are and why we do the things we do. Knowing who we are is the first step into growing in wisdom. Enneagram personality types will show us what motivates us and why some of us can focus, learn, pray, and have a discipline of life better than others.
This online one-day retreat on zoom is a quick look into the Enneagrammic person in us. When we know what inspires us, then it will be easier for us to pray and play. When we pray well, we will play well, meaning, we will do whatever we do for living joyfully.
Set aside one day and take this program from the comfort of your home. Each session is about 45 minutes long with a 10 minutes break in between. You can interact with Fr. Jos while you are attending just like being in a classroom. You don’t need to download anything or call anyone. Just simply be home in your PJs and have a cup of coffee and relax, learn, and grow. Register now and you will be provided with a secure link for the Zoom Retreat.
09:30 am Introduction and Prayer
10: 00 am Session 1
10: 50 am break
11: 00 am Session 2
11: 50 am Centering Prayer Session
12: 10 pm Lunch break
01: 00 pm Session 3
01: 50 pm break
02: 00 pm Session 4

Exploring Desert Wisdom: A Contemplative Lenten Retreat (on Zoom)
2021-02-20 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Internet – Online
In the fourth and fifth centuries, hundreds of years after Christ’s birth, literally thousands of early Christians flocked to the desert to deepen their relationship with Christ. In this retreat, we will explore the power of the desert through psalms, Desert Father and Mother sayings and contemporary literature as well as Centering Prayer and lectio divina. It will be a time to quiet our minds and open our hearts to the desert’s wisdom relevant to our Lenten journeys.
9am – noon Eastern Time
Please register using the link below.

A Quiet Morning with Centering Prayer via Zoom
2021-02-20 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Welcome…Silence…Center…Receptiveness…Spaciousness…Rest…
Please join us this morning for a time together in Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina.
We will gather via Zoom for a 2 hour time of quiet and prayer in community.
Praying in silence together, experiencing our God praying in us together, allowing God
to breathe love in us together, being present in each of us and in us together.
A taste of Heaven.
Please see the website below to register. Time of retreat is in Pacific Time.
