Contemplative Outreach, Ltd.

9-Day Centering Prayer Retreat
2026-09-09 15:00 - 2026-09-17 13:00 (America/New_York) | Jesuit Retreat Center, 5629 State Rd, Parma, 44134, United States
This retreat offers an in-depth experience of silent prayer for those who already have an established practice of Centering Prayer of 6 months or more. It is an opportunity for deeper union with God through communal sharing of silence and stillness.
• For those making their first intensive retreat, the “intensive” track will offer daily 3 sets of two 30-minute periods of Centering Prayer including an intervening meditative walk before breakfast, lunch and dinner. You will also view videos twice daily from The Spiritual Journey series of talks by Fr. Thomas Keating.
It is TBD whether or not a second intensive track will be offered.
• The “Post-Intensive” track is normally for those who have previously participated in two or more intensive retreats. The post-intensive participants will have additional optional sessions of Centering Prayer and no group education time.
The retreat is based on the Snowmass intensive retreat structure and will be facilitated by Contemplative Outreach staff who include Fr. Bill Sheehan, Marty Badgett, Bob and Kathleen Gorman.
• Fr. Bill Sheehan has been an integral voice for Centering Prayer since the founding of the movement with Fr. Keating and others at Lama, New Mexico in 1983. Over the past four decades, he has continually provided his wisdom and presence to the Centering Prayer community at countless retreats.
• Marty has served on numerous Intensive retreats while Kathleen and Bob have served alongside Marty and Bill the past 3 years.
DETAILS: The Jesuit Retreat Center in Cleveland is surrounded by 57 acres and is the perfect place to deepen your relationship with God. Arrival 3 p.m. September 9 and Departure after lunch September 17. The retreat center is 15 minutes from the Cleveland Hopkins International airport in Parma, Ohio.
COST:
$1000 includes private room with hallway bath
$1250 includes private room w/bath
All rooms come with breakfast, lunch and dinner.
$250 nonrefundable deposit.
When registering by mail, please include a check payable to Contemplative Outreach of Columbus.
Mail to:
Contemplative Outreach of Columbus
1101 N Grove Ave,
Oak Park, IL. 60302
For more information or to register contact Bob Gorman at rbrtgorman@protonmail.com

9-Day Centering Prayer Retreat: Intensives I, II, and Post
2026-09-09 16:30 - 2026-09-17 11:00 (America/Halifax) | Jesuit Retreat Center, 5629 State Rd, Parma, 44134, United States
SEPTEMBER 9-17, 2026
This retreat offers an in-depth experience of silent prayer for those who already have an established practice of Centering Prayer of 6 months or more. It is an opportunity for deeper union with God through communal sharing of silence and stillness.
This retreat offers three tracks simultaneously: Intensive I, Intensive II, and Post Intensive.
• Intensive I and II: Daily there will be 3 sets of two 30-minute periods of centering prayer including an intervening meditative walk before breakfast, lunch and dinner. You will also view videos twice daily from The Spiritual Journey series of talks by Fr. Thomas Keating. If this is your first centering prayer retreat of this length, we suggest you choose Intensive I.
• The Post-Intensive track is normally for those who have previously participated in two or more Intensive Retreats. The Post-Intensive participants will have additional optional sessions of Centering Prayer and no group education time.
Fr. Bill Sheehan will offer a contemplative Eucharist. Optional soul-friending with staff is available. The retreat will be facilitated by Contemplative Outreach staff.
Nonrefundable deposit for all registrations is $100. Questions or to register: email rbrtgorman@protonmail.com.
Or register by mail with a check payable to Contemplative Outreach of Columbus:
Contemplative Outreach of Columbus
1101 N Grove Ave,
Oak Park, IL 60302
SCHEDULE:
• Arrival: Wednesday, Sept 9, from 2 pm to 4 pm.
• Opening session: 4:30 pm, dinner at 5:30 pm
• Retreat ends: Thursday Sept 17th 11 am (noon lunch optional).
TRAVELING TO JESUIT RETREAT CENTER PARMA, OHIO: The Cleveland Hopkin International Airport is 15 minutes from the Jesuit Retreat Center which is located at 5629 State Rd. Cleveland, Ohio 44134.
RETREAT PRICES MEALS INCLUDED:
Single Room Private Bath $1500
Double Room Private Bath $1100
Single Room Communal Bath by gender $950
Double Room Communal Bath by gender $800
(a $100 non-refundable deposit will be required when you register)

Eight Day Centering Prayer Dual Track Intensive/Post Intensive Retreat
2026-09-11 14:00 - 2026-09-18 09:00 UTC | Holy Cross Monastery – New York, 1615 Route 9W, West Park, NY, 12493, United States
The Eight-Day Centering Prayer Dual Track Intensive / Post Intensive Retreat offered from Friday, September 11 – Friday, September 18, 2026, provides an opportunity to deepen the practice of Centering Prayer in an atmosphere of profound silence and community support. The Intensive track will follow the Contemplative Outreach guidelines for an Intensive Retreat including six 30-minute Centering Prayer periods daily plus viewing and faith sharing on Thomas Keating’s Human Condition teachings. The Post Intensive track provides an additional 30 minutes of Centering Prayer with time for daily solitude.
Retreat leaders: Leslee Anne Terpay and Br. Bernard Delcourt are available for soul-friending. During the retreat, one will experience integrating as one wishes contemplation and action through silence, solitude, community and the rhythm of this Episcopal Benedictine monastic community’s worship and prayer life including daily Holy Eucharist. An established practice of Centering Prayer for at least 6-months is highly recommended.
Monday check-in is from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Supper is at 5:40 pm. Orientation begins at 6:45 pm. The retreat concludes with breakfast on the last day with optional attendance at Holy Eucharist.
Cost for the retreat is $1135. The retreat fee includes a single room and all meals. Shared single occupancy bathrooms in the hallways. To register, please contact our Guesthouse Office by phone at +1-845-384-6660, ext. 3002 or email guesthouse@hcmnet.org. The guesthouse office is open Tuesdays to Friday.
If you have questions about the retreat content or which track is best for you, please contact retreat leader: Leslee Terpay at co-leslee@comcast.net.
Leslee Anne Terpay: As a Contemplative Outreach Commissioned Presenter of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina, Leslee shares Fr. Thomas Keating’s teachings on the Christian Spiritual Journey in workshop and retreat settings. She is part of the Service Team that stewards Fr. Thomas’s teaching for serving Centering Prayer Retreats. She is a spiritual director in Lone Tree, Colorado and a graduate of The Center for Action and Contemplation Living School.
Br. Bernard Delcourt is the Director of Associates of the monastery. Br. Bernard is a Contemplative Outreach commissioned presenter. He has been a monk since 2004. Before becoming a monk, he was an investment banker and then a life and business skills coach. He is also a spiritual director and regularly visits seminarians in New Haven to offer them spiritual direction.

Centering Prayer Weekend Retreat
2026-09-11 16:00 - 2026-09-13 11:00, 2026-11-13 16:00 - 2026-11-15 11:00 UTC | Bethany Retreat Center, 1031 Germania Rd, Frenchville, PA, 16836, United States
Join Sr. Ruth Ann for our new Centering Prayer Series, offered every other month. This ongoing retreat invites you to broaden and deepen your Centering Prayer practice in a warm and welcoming environment. Come once or come to them all—each session stands on its own while also supporting a growing contemplative rhythm.
Together, we’ll explore the foundations of Centering Prayer, a gentle yet profound method of silent prayer that opens the heart and mind to the presence of God.
Please see the link below for more information and to register (scroll down for the desired event).

Presenter Formation Retreat
2026-09-22 16:00 - 2026-09-26 12:00 (Asia/Karachi) | Sophia Center, Atchinson KS, 751 S 8th St, Atchison,KS, KS, United States
The Presenter Formation Team of Contemplative Outreach.org provides this retreat to offer participants the opportunity to become commissioned Presenters of the Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop.
Working with a notebook of materials, each participant will have ample opportunity to learn the content of the Introductory Workshop and to practice presenting the content to others, with supportive feedback and guidance.
All participants must complete an application prior to registration for this event. To receive an application please contact Rob Carr at robcarr924@gmail.com
Those approved applications will receive a link to the Sophia Retreat Center for registration.
Registration is $400.00, which includes lodging, all meals and materials.

4-Day Contemplative Retreat
2026-09-30 17:00 - 2026-10-04 14:00 (Europe/Paris) | Sacred Heart Monastery, Missiezusters Klooster, 20, Steyl, Venlo, 5935 BX, Netherlands
“In the stillness of Centering Prayer, we learn to rest in God, not as an idea, but as a living presence that transforms us from within.”
– Cynthia Bourgeault
Sharing silent prayer in the context of a retreat offers a profound experience of soul-to-soul connection — with fellow practitioners and with all living beings.
This 4-day retreat is designed to nourish the soul’s deep longing for intimacy with God, inviting participants into a transformative journey through contemplation and the sacred practice of silence.
Held entirely in silence, the retreat includes:
Two daily input sessions to deepen understanding of the Centering Prayer method and reflect on the contemplative path;
Multiple periods of Centering Prayer each day;
Opportunities for soul sharing with the guide (if desired);
Personal time for reflection and journaling.
It is recommended that participants have attended either a weekend Centering Prayer retreat or a one-day introductory workshop and maintain some level of ongoing practice.
Please see the link below for more information and to register.

Changing with the Fall Colors Half Day Centering Prayer/Welcoming Prayer mini-retreat via Hawaiʻi (1st Saturday of every month)
2026-10-03 09:00 - 11:30 (Pacific/Honolulu) | Internet – Online
Online Half Day Centering Prayer/Welcoming Prayer mini-retreat via Hawaiʻi (1st Saturday of every month)
May 6 @ 9:00 am – 11:30 am UTC-10
FREE
First Saturdays online retreats are a special time where we explore our Centering Prayer practice. We are looking forward to sharing Physio-Divina (Moving) practices, Visio-Divina (visual-Art) practices, Terra-Divna (Nature) Lectio-Divina (Sacred Text) practices in addition to the Centering Prayer and Welcoming Prayer practice that are our foundation. Pulelehua, Liedeke, and Margie welcome others if you are called to join us.
We hope you will join us from wherever & whenever you are! Schedule in Hawai’i Time (UTC -10)
8:45am Room open to for early connections
9:00 Welcome and introductions
9:15 Centering prayer in nature
9:45 Welcoming prayer on the earth
10:00 Centering prayer in nature
10:20 Break
10:30 Terra Divina connecting to nature thru images and video of nature
10:45 Reflections
11:00 Body Prayer with Lectio Divina
11:15-11:30 Closing Prayer
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/92185854158?pwd=[REDACTED]
Zoom Meeting ID: 921 8585 4158 Passcode: [REDACTED]
Website: http://www.cohawaii.org
Phone (628) 400-2644
Email: cohawaii@gmail.com
All session are freely offered, donations are welcome, no registration is needed.

9-day Intensive I, Advanced Intensive and Post Intensive Retreat
2026-10-07 - 2026-10-15 | Mercy Center Auburn, 535 Sacramento Street, Auburn, CA, 95603, United States
This retreat offers three tracks simultaneously: Intensive I, Advanced Intensive, and Post Intensive. If this is your first Centering Prayer retreat of this length, we suggest you choose Intensive I. We will be using two prayer rooms with two sets of staff, one for the Intensive retreats and one for the Post Intensive retreat.
See the flyer for more details.
All rooms are single with a sink in the room, shared bathrooms. Two hermitages with private bathroom are available for an additional charge.
Please see the link below for more information and to register.

All Saints-All Souls Visio Divina & Centering Prayer ONLINE
2026-11-07 09:00 - 11:30 UTC | Internet – Online
All Saints-All Souls Visio Divina is the focus for this online half day Centering Prayer/Welcoming Prayer mini-retreat via Hawaiʻi (1st Saturday of every month)
@ 9:00 am – 11:30 am UTC-10
FREE
First Saturdays online retreats are a special time where we explore our Centering Prayer practice. We are looking forward to sharing Physio-Divina (Moving) practices, Visio-Divina (Visual-Art) practices, Terra-Divina (Nature), Lectio-Divina (Sacred Text) practices in addition to the Centering Prayer and Welcoming Prayer practice that are our foundation. Pulelehua, Liedeke, and Margie welcome all who wish to join us.
Dates 2025 ( the zoom link is the same for all these dates): Jan 4, Feb. 1 March 1, April 5, May 3, June 7 July 5, August 2, September 6, October4, November 1, December 6
We hope you will join us from wherever & whenever you are! Schedule in Hawai’i Time (UTC -10)
8:45am Room open to for early connections
9:00 Welcome and introductions
9:15 Centering Prayer
9:45 Break
9:50 Centering Prayer
10:20 Break
10:30 Visio Divina and Reflections
11:15 Closing prayer
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/92185854158?pwd=[REDACTED]
Zoom Meeting ID: 921 8585 4158 Passcode: [REDACTED]
Website: http://www.cohawaii.org
Phone (628) 400-2644
Email: cohawaii@gmail.com
All session are freely offered, donations are welcome, no registration is needed.

Silence that Connects the World – Session 6 (via Zoom)
2026-11-14 14:00 - 15:30 (Europe/Paris) | Internet – Online
Session 6. Healing Presence in the World
Theme: Integrating contemplative practice with compassionate action in daily life.
“Contemplation is life itself, fully awake, fully active, and fully aware that it is alive. It is spiritual wonder. It is spontaneous awe at the sacredness of life, of being. It is gratitude for life, for awareness, and for being.”
— Thomas Merton
Step into Stillness
Pause from the noise of daily life and reconnect with the divine presence within. Join us for an online gathering of Centering Prayer practitioners—a simple yet profound space for silence, reflection, and shared practice within a global community. Together, we’ll explore stillness, presence, and the richness of the practice in community.
What to Expect:
Shared silence and practice
Brief teaching and reflection
Small-group sharing
Encouragement in the contemplative path
2-3:30pm UTC +1 (8am Eastern Time)
Please see the link below to obtain the Zoom link.

Advent Centering Prayer Weekend Retreat
2026-12-03 16:00 - 2026-12-06 11:00 UTC | Bethany Retreat Center, 1031 Germania Rd, Frenchville, PA, 16836, United States
This retreat is designed for those with an established daily practice of Centering Prayer who wish to deepen the transforming love of God in the midst of silence and solitude.
The weekend will include Centering Prayer, conferences with contemplative dialogue, personal time, meals and Sunday liturgy.
Please see the link below for more information and to register (scroll down for the desired event).

Advent a time to immerse in Welcoming and Centering Prayer ONLINE
2026-12-05 09:00 - 11:30 UTC | Internet – Online
Advent is the focus for this online half day Centering Prayer/Welcoming Prayer mini-retreat via Hawaiʻi (1st Saturday of every month)
@ 9:00 am – 11:30 am UTC-10
FREE
First Saturdays online retreats are a special time where we explore our Centering Prayer practice. We are looking forward to sharing Physio-Divina (Moving) practices, Visio-Divina (Visual-Art) practices, Terra-Divina (Nature), Lectio-Divina (Sacred Text) practices in addition to the Centering Prayer and Welcoming Prayer practice that are our foundation. Pulelehua, Liedeke, and Margie welcome all who wish to join us.
Dates 2026( the zoom link is the same for all these dates): First Saturday
We hope you will join us from wherever & whenever you are! Schedule in Hawai’i Time (UTC -10)
8:45am Room open to for early connections
9:00 Welcome and introductions
9:15 Welcoming/Centering Prayer
10:00 Break
10:10 Centering Prayer
10:40 Break
10:50 Lectio Divina and Reflections
11:15 Closing prayer
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/92185854158?pwd=[REDACTED]
Zoom Meeting ID: 921 8585 4158 Passcode: [REDACTED]
Website: http://www.cohawaii.org
Phone (628) 400-2644
Email: cohawaii@gmail.com
All session are freely offered, donations are welcome, no registration is needed.

Centering Prayer: Lectio Divina and the Four Senses of Scripture
2026-12-08 14:00 - 2026-12-11 13:30 (America/New_York) | Holy Cross Monastery – New York, 1615 Route 9W, West Park, NY, 12493, United States
This “Praying Holy Scripture” retreat offers Centering Prayer periods plus presentations based upon Fr. Thomas Keating’s teachings on the deepening levels of faith: the Four Senses of Scripture – literal, allegorical, behavioral/moral, and unitive senses. The presentations teach a contemplative way of listening to and reading Scripture known as the ancient monastic practice of Lectio Divina. During the retreat, one will experience the interplay of the silence of Centering Prayer and Praying Holy Scripture combined with the rhythm of this Episcopal Benedictine monastic community’s worship and prayer life including Holy Eucharist. This contemplative retreat welcomes those comfortable with silence and yearning to learn this ancient way of praying rather than studying Holy Scripture.
Check-in is from 2:00 to 5:00 pm Tuesday. Vespers begins at 5:00. Supper then follows. Orientation begins at 6:45 pm. The retreat concludes with noon meal on Friday. (Daily Holy Eucharist is available at 9:00 a.m.).
The suggested donation for the retreat is $445. The retreat fee includes a single room and all meals. Shared single occupancy bathrooms in the hallways. To register, please contact our Guesthouse Office by phone at +1-845-384-6660, ext. 3002 or email guesthouse@hcmnet.org. The guesthouse office is open from Tuesday till Friday.
Leslee Anne Terpay: As a Contemplative Outreach Commissioned Presenter of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina, Leslee shares Fr. Thomas Keating’s teachings on the Christian Spiritual Journey to Love in workshop and retreat settings. She is part of the Service Teams that steward Fr. Thomas’s teaching for serving Intensive Retreats and Lectio Divina. She is a spiritual director in Lone Tree, Colorado and a graduate of The Center for Action and Contemplation Living School.

Extended Weekend Centering Prayer Retreat
2026-12-17 15:00 - 2026-12-20 13:00 UTC | St. Mary’s Sewanee, 770 St. Mary's Lane, TN, 37375, United States
In this extended weekend retreat, participants will be offered opportunities to practice Centering Prayer, be in sacred silence, enjoy the outdoors, and learn more about Thomas Keating’s teachings.
Please see the link below to register.
