Contemplative Outreach, Ltd.

COMW Feb 20 Half-Day Centering Prayer Retreat Via Zoom
2021-02-20 08:30 - 12:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Centering Prayer:
Revisiting the Fundamentals
Invitation from God—an Overview by Thomas Keating
This is the first half day retreat in a series of three based on the video Invitation from God (2007) with Father Keating filmed in Saint Benedict’s Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado. The first half day retreat presents the video on Father Keating’s overview of the benefits of Centering Prayer and its place in healing of not just the individual person but of the whole humanity. The subsequent two retreats will show additional videos from the same interview, where Father Keating goes in more detail with the method and effects of Centering Prayer.
“Peace in the world begins with yourself” says Father Keating in Invitation from God. It starts affecting everyone else. It is not a private matter. The whole human race transforms with you. Father Keating considers that the Kingdom of God is a higher state of consciousness. By saying yes to God’s action within us, we can create a more loving and merciful world. The discussion after the video will focus on how centering prayer can be relevant in today’s world as an instrument of promoting peace and greater understanding.
The morning will include three 30 minute periods of centering prayer and an interactive discussion.
Click on the website link for details and registration information. Pre-registration is required!
Times in U.S. Eastern time zone
Sponsored by Contemplative Outreach of Maryland and Washington (COMW) www.comwcp.org

The Cosmic Web of Love: A Centering Prayer Weekend Retreat via Zoom
2021-02-19 10:00 - 2021-02-21 12:00 UTC | Internet – Online
“In any given moment we have access to a connected, powerful wisdom spanning the entire cosmos; and we can learn to participate in a more complete, even joyous exchange with it.”
—Joy Andrews Hayter
We are in desperate need of wisdom at this time. And at this very moment, we are blessed with two powerful lenses through which this wisdom is making herself available to us: contemplative practices like Centering Prayer and the exploding world of science. Wisdom is always present, within and around us, ready to respond to our seeking. In these retreat days, we will attune ourselves to the revelatory relationship between science and spirituality, between the cosmos and our hearts.
Please join us as we engage – mind, body, and emotions – in this joyous exchange. How will the virtual retreat work?
You are invited to join us from your own home as we practice integrating prayer with our daily lives, in our homes, and in our circumstances as they are. Teaching sessions will include experiential, participatory, and embodied exercises to draw us more deeply into the healing, contemplative space. Breaks will be provided to help integrate the retreat with our lives as they are.
Program Features
• Live Online Centering Prayer Sessions – Join via Zoom at scheduled times or practice on your own.
• Live Online Teaching Sessions – Join us live via Zoom or view recordings at a later time.
• Live Online Small Groups – for experiential processing (not recorded).
We hope that you will choose as much or as little of it as fits in your life, on any given day. Let the rest go. Be met, exactly where you are, trusting that God’s love surrounds all of it, all of us, exactly as we are.
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.
Heather Ruce, M.A. is a wisdom spiritual director with a background as a therapist and training in a neurophysiology based approach to trauma resolution. She loves working with individuals as well as facilitating groups and retreats focused on learning and practicing the Wisdom Tradition.
Please register at www.mercy-center.org using the link below or telephone 650-340-7474. Scholarship funds available upon request.
Registration closes February 18, 2021
All times are in Pacific Standard Time (PST).

The Welcoming Prayer (Part I & Part II) via Zoom
2021-02-13 09:30 - 2021-02-20 11:30 UTC
Sponsored by Contemplative Outreach of Southeast Wisconsin
Part I: February 13, 9:30-11:30 am US Central Time
Part II: February 20, 9:30-11:30 am US Central Time
To welcome and to let go is one of the most radically loving, faith-filled gestures we can make in each moment of each day. It is an open-hearted embrace of all that is in ourselves and in the world. – Mary Mrozowski
The Welcoming Prayer is an embodied practice for consenting to God’s presence and action in our physical and emotional reactions to events and situations in daily life. It welcomes the Holy Spirit into the particular pain we experience, whether physical, emotional or mental. The Welcoming Prayer, like Centering Prayer, is designed to help us allow the Divine Therapist to remove the obstacles that keep God’s all-powerful grace from flowing in and through us and out into a world in desperate need. It provides a means for moving deeper into trust and intimacy with the living God that Jesus experienced.
February 13:
Part I of the workshop will explore how The Welcoming Prayer addresses the human condition, and will introduce the prayer and offer an opportunity to experience the prayer.
February 20:
Part II will explore the Prayer in greater depth, offer a second practice session, and discuss how to bring the practice of The Welcoming Prayer into daily life.
A regular practice of Centering Prayer is recommended as a prerequisite for this workshop.
Presenter: Ten years ago, Jack Dierks began practicing Centering Prayer and the Welcoming Prayer. In 2017 he completed training and is now a commissioned presenter of the Introduction to Centering Prayer Workshop. Drawn to the Welcoming Prayer, he has completed training and is eager to share it with others. Jack is a member of the Leadership Team of the Contemplative Outreach of Southeast Wisconsin chapter, responsible for organizing and offering Introductory Workshops on Centering Prayer. Jack is a retired teacher.
Please register using the link below.

Centering Prayer Pre-Lenten Morning: "I Will Lead Her Into the Desert" - Via Zoom
2021-02-13 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Therefore, I will now allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. From there I will give her vineyards, and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she shall respond as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.
―Hosea 2:14
Lent offers us one of those rare times to let go and make a space for God. Our common participation in this ritual can open us more deeply to the sacredness of the moment, ourselves, and our world. Our prayer morning is an opportunity to cease all activities and ponder our personal aim for this Lenten season. We will have two sessions of Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, and time for community sharing. Please come join us for contemplative fellowship, as we open ourselves together to be a chalice for God’s love.
Marty Badgett has co-led extended Centering Prayer retreats for many years, and hosted many one-day contemplative prayer days in Berkeley California and in Austin Texas. Marty is a commissioned Centering Prayer presenter, and is the coordinator for the Northwest San Francisco Bay Area.
Prayer Mornings are a new part of the ongoing Centering Prayer program at Mercy Center Burlingame, in hopes of deepening our community relationships and our Centering Prayer practice.
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 at mercy-center.org using the link below.
Times for the morning retreat are Pacific Standard Time (PST).

Transfiguration Centering Prayer Retreat via Zoom
2021-02-13 06:30 - 17:30 UTC | Internet – Online
Saturday, February 13th, 6:30AM-5:00PM Central Time, $90
Offered online via Zoom.
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.

Centering Prayer: Weekend Immersion via Zoom
2021-02-12 19:00 - 2021-02-14 12:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Deepening the Contemplative Dimension of Life
Contemplative Outreach Chicago is sponsoring this online 2021 Winter Weekend Retreat, with Alan Krema as retreat guide.
This retreat will immerse us into three days of Centering Prayer with attentiveness to our activities between the meditation sessions. We will explore awareness of our being and openness to the presence resident in our bodies. We will listen to the calling of living into abundance and liberation. This comes with responsibility to remove the obstacles we have in us arising from the addictive and reactive structures that restrict our growth.
We will meet for Centering Prayer sessions with small presentations in each session. Between meditation sessions we will be invited to carry the awareness of our Divine indwelling source into the tasks of our day. In addition to reflection and prayer, you will be invited to have simple tasks like meal preparation available for you to practice attention. Couples are encouraged to participate together. We assume that participants have a regular practice of Centering Prayer.
The schedule will include five sessions (US Central time):
Friday Evening 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Saturday Morning 9:00 – 11:00 am
Saturday Afternoon 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Saturday Evening 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Sunday Morning 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Alan Krema is a presenter of Centering Prayer and Welcoming Prayer for Contemplative Outreach. Alan is a Wisdom student of Cynthia Bourgeault and has completed the Living School program at the Center for Action and Contemplation. He is a long time practitioner of Centering Prayer as well as facilitator of several Centering Prayer groups. Alan currently serves as chapter coordinator for Contemplative Outreach Chicago and is a member of the Shalem Institute program for Group Spiritual Leadership.
Registration
There is no charge for this retreat. Upon registering, you will receive a confirmation email and be given an opportunity to make a freewill donation. To register, click on the website listed below on the left.
Registration will close on Friday February 12 @ 10:00 AM (US Central Time).
Zoom link
The Zoom link will be emailed on Friday February 12 @ 12:00 PM (US Central Time).
Questions?
Please email registrar@centeringprayerchicago.org for a Zoom link resend or for any questions.

Quaker Mystics and Methods
2021-01-30 08:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT, 6107, United States
Quaker practice is grounded in the understanding that each person has direct and immediate access and connection to the Divine. Together we will explore Quaker history and mystics, allowing us a peak into the past in order to fully live in the present. Through experiential activities individually, in pairs, and small groups, we will explore discernment and faithfulness through a lens of Quaker spirituality and practice. By listening to the “still, small voice” together, we will practice hearing God’s call.
Both live and Zoom options will be available.
Presented by: Hilary Burgin is the Executive Director of Quaker Voluntary Service, a year-long program for young adults excited by the intersection of justice and spirituality. Her dedication to journeying with others in their spiritual lives has been a foundation of her work. Hilary previously served as the Young Adult Engagement Coordinator for the regional body of Friends in New England and has led experiential workshops, retreats, and programs for Seekers across the country.

Recovery Welcoming Prayer Workshop: Welcoming Prayer and Emotional Sobriety
2021-01-27 19:00 - 20:30 UTC | Internet – Online
This workshop introduces participants to the Welcoming Prayer practice, a method of consenting to the Higher Power’s presence in our physical and emotional reactions to events and situations of daily life.
Welcoming Prayer is a companion practice to Centering Prayer. Those in recovery have found both these practices to be great tools to deepen their spirituality and live in the present moment. It is similar to “pausing when we are upset” and detaching from the committee that drives our addictions and co-dependency.
This program will be offered online via the Zoom platform.
Information on how to access the program will be provided to participants in their registration confirmation email.
Please register using the link provided below.

Thomas Keatings’ “Guidelines for Christian Life, Growth, and Transformation” Workshop via Zoom
2021-01-24 13:00 - 16:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Offered online via Zoom, 1-4pm Central Time.
The title of this workshop, “Guidelines for Christian Life, Growth, and Transformation” is also the title of the 12th and final chapter of Thomas Keatings’ classic primer of Centering Prayer, Open Mind, Open Heart. In these guidelines, Thomas offers a conceptual spiritual and theological framework for this simple practice which has led and continues to lead many modern pilgrims to contemplative prayer. In this workshop we will listen to and discuss these guidelines. They might provide a conceptual introduction to Centering Prayer for those who are curious, a support for those who are in the middle of the journey, and reminder for long-time practitioners. They are complementary to the practice of Centering Prayer, which is the heart of the matter.
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.

Introduction to Centering Prayer via Zoom
2021-01-23 10:00 - 12:30 UTC | Internet – Online
Discover the meaning of Psalm 46: “Be Still and know that I am God.”
In this workshop we will explore the indwelling presence of God within each of us through the practice of a method of Christian meditation – Centering Prayer.
Experienced practitioners, commissioned through Contemplative Outreach Ltd., will lead a discussion about the benefits of Centering Prayer in ordinary life and together we will experience two periods of practice.
Attend this via Zoom from your home or office — 10am – 12:30pm Eastern time zone.
To register, please contact Chris Grostic via email grostic@gmail.com or phone (734)-904-1806. Chris will send you the Zoom link a few days before the event.

Introduction to the Centering Prayer Silent Retreat
2021-01-22 08:00 - 2021-01-25 17:00 UTC | Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center, 916 Convent Road, AL, 35055, United States
Centering Prayer is a form of Christian prayer rooted in the ancient Christian contemplative tradition. Its purpose is to foster a deeper intimacy with Christ through the silence and stillness of contemplative prayer. This workshop/retreat is designed for those new to Centering Prayer. Private rooms and the ability to maintain silence are required. Retreat Directors: Contemplative Outreach Birmingham Staff. For registration and cost of the retreat, contact the Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center.

Introduction to Centering Prayer Workshop via Zoom
2021-01-20 17:00 - 2021-03-10 18:30 UTC | Internet – Online
A weekly, evening meeting program to provide the basics for people seeking a path to contemplative prayer. Centering Prayer is a receptive method of silent prayer to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, in which we experience God’s presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than consciousness itself. This method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship.
The first 2 meetings offer a presentation of 1. Prayer as Relationship, 2. The Method of Centering Prayer, 3. Thoughts and Use the Sacred Word, and 4. Deepening Our Relationship with God.
The remaining 5 meetings feature videos of Father Thomas Keating on Centering Prayer followed by discussion.
At the conclusion of the workshop, participants are encouraged to find a group in the Meditation Chapel to join to continue their journey.
Register by sending an email to cthompson427@comcast.net. The Zoom link information will be sent to registered participants prior to January 20, 2021.
Meeting times are Pacific Standard Time.
Maximum registration will be 30 people.

Contemplation and Loving the Source of Love - via Zoom
2021-01-16 10:00 - 11:30 UTC | Internet – Online
Join this free-gift offering and explore Centering Prayer and contemplation as a practice of opening to the loving awareness of God as the Source of Love.
What if God is not so much an “object” to love, but rather the Love with which we love all objects. God is the Love with which we love God!
Presented by Keith Kristich, commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer and certified teacher of meditation and the Enneagram.
When: Saturday, January 16th, 10:00-11:30am Eastern Time via Zoom
Click the link below to see all the details!

Centering Prayer Dual-Track Intensive Post-Intensive Retreat
2021-01-03 08:00 - 2021-01-11 17:00 UTC | St. Mary’s Sewanee: The Ayres Center for Spiritual Development, 770 St. Mary's Lane, TN, 37375, United States
This retreat is an opportunity for practitioners of Centering Prayer to deepen their contemplative journey in the contemporary world. It is a week-long experience of integrating contemplation and action through silence, solitude and community.
The retreat offers two tracks. The intensive track is recommended for people who have completed the introductory workshop and who have a regular practice of Centering Prayer. The post-intensive track is for those people who have previously made an eight-day intensive retreat. The post-intensive offers increased silence and additional periods of Centering Prayer. Both the intensive and post-intensive Centering Prayer retreat provide daily experiences of silence, solitude, walking, hiking, yoga, and spiritual companionship to foster an ever-deepening level of interior silence and awareness of the presence of God in everyday life.
Scholarship assistance is available for those with financial need. Please contact St. Mary’s Sewanee for more information at www.stmaryssewanee.org

Introduction to Centering Prayer Workshop
2021-01-02 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | St. Mary’s Sewanee: The Ayres Center for Spiritual Development, 770 St. Mary's Lane, TN, 37375, United States
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.
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.
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.
For more information go to www.stmaryssewanee.org

Half Day Centering Prayer Retreat: Lady Mary and the Indwelling Holy Spirit-- An Advent Engagement
2020-12-19 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Internet – Online
Hosted by Contemplative Outreach of Maryland and Washington (COMW)
Lady Mary and the Indwelling Holy Spirit:
An Advent Engagement
Led by Mary Altalo
Saturday, December 19, 2020
9:00am to Noon Eastern (Washington, D.C.) Time
Via Zoom

The purpose of these half-day retreats is to deepen our awareness of God’s transforming presence in our lives.
“The contemplative state, like the vocation of Mary, brings Christ into this world.”
– Father Thomas Keating
How many of us ever think of Our Lady as a Contemplative, or as a Mystic? Join with us as we explore the “Incarnational instant” as “Mary’s Personal Pentecost” which ushers in the “Christ Event” of birth, death and resurrection. Hear with new ears Mary’s given title as “fullness of grace”, the first and highest and most perfect fruit of the Holy Spirit, the Icon of the Holy Spirit, Holy Wisdom Sophia which serves as a repository of Beauty, Truth, the Good. Appreciate with us that Mary is an essential part of the revelation of who we are as individuals (persons) and as collectives (Church). By becoming as transparent as Mary in her Fiat, living solely for Christ, in full kenosis for the revelation of the fulfillment of humankind, we become the Bearers of the Presence. By assuming the contemplative stance of least resistance to the impingement of grace, we too become icons of the Holy Spirit, for it has no other.
So please join us in this Advent witness to the unfolding of the submerged reality of the kingdom celebrated for millennia in the Eucharistic Liturgy. It is here where we are called from all corners by the Adeste fidelis to “lift up our hearts” in contemplation, join together with all the angels and saints, and to usher in the glory of the Lord with our Holy, Holy Holy.
The morning will include three 30 minute periods of centering prayer and an interactive discussion. .
Register through the link below in the “Website” category.

11th Step Winterfest
2020-12-12 13:00 - 16:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Contemplative Outreach Northwest
11TH STEP WINTERFEST
Day of Fellowship and Enrichment
SATURDAY, 12 December, 2020, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Pacific Time
You are invited to join us online for a day of fellowship and enrichment, for those practicing Centering Prayer as an 11th Step practice, and for those in a 12-Step recovery program who are interested in knowing more about Centering Prayer as an 11th-Step practice.
Two periods of Centering Prayer, lectio divina using program literature, 12-Step contemplative speaker, and time for sharing experience, strength, and hope!
RSVP TO: Adina (206) 271-7560 or adinameyer@gmail.com

2020 Advent Retreat via Zoom
2020-12-12 10:00 - 14:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Contemplative Outreach of Puget Sound North is delighted to offer our eighth annual one-day virtual Advent retreat. It will offer you the opportunity to bring closure, healing and meaning to the challenges of this past year and help you access the promise and joy of the Christmas Holy Season and the New Year.
In our virtual retreat on Saturday, December 12th, you’ll be able to participate in a blend of Centering Prayer and the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, with the opportunity to share perspectives with other retreat participants through breakout rooms. Each has also set aside time for deepening the experience and practice of our faith. Ultimately, that’s a gift not only for ourselves but for those we encounter–even with social distancing! We’ll enrich our day with the practices of Visio and Musica Divina. Those will be practices you’ll be able to continue well after the retreat.
The retreat will begin at 10 am and conclude at 2 pm (Pacific time). Registration is $10 (scholarships are available by request), payable by check to COPSN at the address on the registration form below, or by a transfer via the Zelle service. If you wish to pay by such a transfer, simply email Jeff for details at the email below. And of course there will be a ‘break time’ for for lunch. The link for the virtual retreat will be forwarded December 11th (the day before the retreat) to all registered participants. We look forward to sharing the day with you!
Registration for the Contemplative Outreach of Puget Sound North Advent Retreat
Name_________________________________________________________
Email_________________________________________________________
Telephone Number______________________________________________
I wish to register for the Advent Retreat December 12th ($10) _____
If paying by Zelle transfer, contact the retreat master at jeffrenner3@comcast.net. If paying by check, please make checks payable to COPSN (Contemplative Outreach of Puget Sound North) and mail to:
COPSN
c/o Jeff Renner
19920 NE 30th Court
Sammamish, WA 98074
(425) 868-8888

Centering Prayer Retreat
2020-12-12 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | Church of Conscious Harmony, 7406 Newhall Lane, Austin, TX, 78746, United States
One-day Advent Centering Prayer Retreat at The Church of Conscious Harmony in Austin, TX.
Registration begins at 8:30 pm and the program begins at 9 am. The morning includes two 30-minute prayer periods, Lectio Divina, the option of a Fr. Keating video or prayer period in the afternoon, several periods of silence and solitude, and faith sharing.
Please bring your own lunch. There is a suggested love offering of $20. Please pre-register.

Advent Centering Prayer All-Day Retreat
2020-12-12 06:30 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Internet – Online
St. Mary’s Sewanee invites you to spend time in prayerful silence and contemplation during this day-long Advent Centering Prayer retreat led by the Rev. Tom Ward and Rebecca Paluzzi.
This event is modeled on the rhythm of the multi-day retreats that St. Mary’s Sewanee has offered for more than 20 years. In preparing this new retreat format, we have learned that technology is capable of bringing us together in ways that we could not have anticipated. During this day, you are encouraged to fast from listening to the news and using electronic devices so that you can make holy space to observe silence with the group and on your own.
The retreat will include:
Three periods of Centering Prayer;
–Morning and Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer;
–Lectio Divina in a group setting; and
–Generous breaks throughout the day for rest, reflection, and journaling.
For people new to Centering Prayer, we encourage you to participate in the Introduction to Centering Prayer Workshop to learn the basics of the practice.
This event takes place via Zoom; to participate, you must have internet access and a computer or tablet with an internet connection.

Contemplative Advent Retreat
2020-12-11 08:00 - 2020-12-14 17:00 UTC | St. Mary’s Sewanee: The Ayres Center for Spiritual Development, 770 St. Mary's Lane, TN, 37375, United States
This three-day workshop will focus on how Centering Prayer can heighten one’s understanding and appreciation for the season of Advent. The leader will be the Rev. Tom Ward, the retired university chaplain at the University of the South who now spends his days focusing on the contemplative dimension of the gospel, teaching Centering Prayer and leading retreats.
For more information, go to www.stmaryssewanee.org.

Lectio Divina Introductory Workshop for Advent
2020-12-05 08:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT, 6107, United States
The method of Lectio Divina, to pray sacred scripture, is introduced. Presenting a Christian tradition of prayer through reading, reflecting, responding and resting in the Word of God, one’s relationship with God is nourished and deepened. Scripture appropriate for the Advent season will be utilized in this workshop. Both individual and group experiences will be provided.
Both live and Zoom options will be offered.
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 and a member of the Contemplative Outreach National Service Team. 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. 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.
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 and supervisor who received his certificate from Fairfield University. He has been an internship partner at the Spiritual Life Center in West Hartford, CT.

Centering Prayer Retreat
2020-12-05 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | Holy Spirit Retreat Center, 4316 Lanai Road, Encino, CA, 91436, United States
Half-day Silent Saturday.
Gathering 8:30am – 9:00am.
Prayer begins at 9:00am to 12:00 noon
Free will offering

Centering Prayer Retreat
2020-12-04 08:00 - 2020-12-11 17:00 UTC | Cedar Brake Retreat Center, 5602 Texas 317, Belton, TX, 76513, United States
Centering Prayer 7-Day Advent Retreat Dec 4th – Dec 10th
Cedarbrake Renewal Center, Belton, TX.
This spacious retreat will include daily periods of Centering Prayer, liturgy and Eucharist, and time for solitude, and exploration of the grounds each day.
Attendees arrive between 4-6pm on Friday and leave before noon on Thursday. The cost of the retreat is $695 and a deposit is required to reserve your space. Please register by contacting CCH at 512-347-9673.

Advent Online Centering Prayer Retreat
2020-12-03 19:00 - 2020-12-07 11:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Mary Dwyer leads a 3-day home retreat via Zoom with Centering Prayer, conferences and soul friending. It begins Thursday evening and finishes Sunday morning.
For more information and to register, please visit the link below.

Advent Retreat: Incarnation as Practice – A Time of Rest, Renewal, Embodiment and Stillness
2020-12-03 19:00 - 2020-12-06 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Internet – Online
During this three-day retreat, we will practice Incarnation through intentional silence, solitude, listening, resting and stillness. This retreat is about spaciousness – giving ourselves over to extended, open time just to be with God in prayer, in nature, in walking, music, reading and the silent company of others on retreat. It is an invitation to lay down our ordinary life to experience the extraordinary right-now presence of God during this sacred time of the year.
The retreat will be facilitated by Pamela Begeman and will include periods of Centering Prayer, music as a vestibule to prayer, simple prayerful gestures, Lectio Divina, optional soul-friending and time for reflection and journaling.
Pamela is a commissioned presenter of both Centering Prayer and the Welcoming Prayer. She co-creates and facilitates many of the Contemplative Outreach world-wide online retreats, programs and publications.
Registration is required to receive the Zoom connections. Please see the link below.

Advent Weekend Intensive Retreat
2020-12-03 16:00 - 2020-12-06 16:00 UTC | Sacred Heart Jesuit Retreat Center, 4801 North Highway 67, Sedalia, CO, 80135, United States
Our weekend intensive retreat presents an ideal opportunity to experience the embrace of nature and the grace of silence. The weekend includes periods of Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, and time for solitude. This retreat is beneficial for those who have a consistent Centering Prayer practice. The retreat house is located in the foothills and surrounded by panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains. The beautiful grounds offer the perfect setting for solitude, reflection, and prayer.
Let us know if you need access to handicapped facilities or require a room on the first floor for medical necessity or inability to climb stairs. We will provide if at all possible.
Retreatants must be COVID-19 symptom-free for a minimum of two weeks prior to arrival. If you develop symptoms and need to cancel, we will gladly provide a refund. In addition, the retreat house is committed to keeping retreatants healthy and safe. To find out more information, go to the Sacred Heart Retreat Coronavirus Update Page.
Please see the website link provided for more information and to register.

Centering Prayer and Enneagram Retreat
2020-11-28 09:30 - 16:00 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 20 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
02: 50 pm break
03: 00 pm Session 5
04: 00 pm Concluding Prayer
Registration Link: https://hobs.houseofblessings.org/hobsretreat/256/4th-centering-prayer-and-enneagram-retreat/

Centering for Wisdom
2020-11-21 08:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT, 6107, United States
“The Centering for Wisdom™ Assessment (CWA) reveals where you tend to become distracted by attachments to the “false self.” In this workshop, you will learn to apply your CWA results to cultivate deeper discernment in daily life. As you let go into non-dual awareness the distinctions between “action” and “contemplation” begin to fade away. You become open to the dynamic guidance of the Spirit’s Wisdom in all things – guided by God’s love “in my resting and my rising” (Psalm 139).”
This includes both a Live and Zoom option.
Tom Bushlack, Ph.D., is Regional Director of Mission Integration with SSM Health in St. Louis, MO, where he lives with his wife Anna and their three children. He fell in love with the contemplative life as a student at St. John’s University and the College of St. Benedict (Collegeville, MN). Tom is a commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer and the 12-Step Introductory workshops. He also serves as a Trustee with the Trust for the Meditation Process.

“Blessed” Silent Saturday with Fr. Bill Sheehan, OMI
2020-11-21 08:00 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Shepherd of the Hills UMC Mission Viejo, CA Centering Prayer Ministry invites you to attend
Saturday, November 21, 2020 ✢ 9am – 12:30 pm Pacific Time
But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
– Jeremiah 17:7-8
Our online retreat includes; two sessions with Fr. Bill, Q and A, and three Centering Prayer sessions.
New to Centering Prayer? No experience required, simply the desire to “Be still and know that I am God” Ps 46:10.
Registration is limited and required.
Please register online at:
https://sothumc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/73/responses/new
$10.00 donation (For Fr. Bill’s Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate)
The Zoom link will be emailed to all registrants prior to November 21st.
Questions? jyamada@sothumc.org
