Contemplative Outreach, Ltd.

Half-Day Centering Prayer/Welcoming Prayer retreat via Zoom from Hawaiʻi
2021-11-20 09:00 - 11:30 UTC | Internet – Online
A particular blessing for busy, active people, we are invited to pause and just be in the presence of God. All are welcome to this mini silent retreat. While Centering Prayer is the basis of our teaching, all meditation paths are welcome and honored. Books on the Spiritual Journey will be available for purchase and loan. No registration required. Join us every third Saturday of every month!
Click on the following link to join the Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/92185854158?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 921 8585 4158, Password: [REDACTED]
Join by phone: +1 669 900 6833
Third Saturday of Every Month
All times are Hawaiʻi Standard times ( UTC -10)
9:00 — 9:15 Welcome and introductions
9:15 — 9:45 Centering Prayer
9:45 — 9:55 Meditation walk (break)
9: 55 — 10:25 Centering Prayer
10:25 —10:45 Guided Welcoming Prayer
10:45 —11:15 Centering Prayer
11:15 —11:30 Prayers for community Closing
Next event December 18, 2021

Mystical Experiences: Uncommon & Common
2021-11-18 18:30 - 20:30 UTC | Center for Contemplative Living in Elm Grove WI, 890 Elm Grove Road, The Village Court, WI, 53122, United States
Thursday, Nov 18, 2021 from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
In Person at the Center for Contemplative Living, Elm Grove, WI. or VIA ZOOM
Register for $10 or for FREE and Zoom link will be emailed with your registration confirmation. Please see the link below to register.
Mystic Series: Join Debbie Harmon as she explores different facets of these mysterious divine encounters at the Center for Contemplative Living or via Zoom video-conferencing. What is Mysticism? What are the different types of mystical experiences? What purpose do mystical experiences serve? Who has mystical experiences and how do they come about? How might mystical experiences enrich the contemplative’s journey? This event is a reprise of the 2019 opening of our Mysticism series, so if you missed it the first time, here is your chance to experience it! The evening will begin with a 25-minute Centering Prayer sit, followed by the presentation and time for Q&A. Please register by November 15, 2021.
Instructor: Debbie Harmon has practiced Centering Prayer for 30 years. Since the mid-1990s, she has been significantly involved with Contemplative Outreach in the Midwest, spoken on a variety of spiritual topics, and been a commissioned presenter of the Introductory Centering Prayer Workshop. Debbie is a spiritual director and holds a Master of Divinity and Master’s in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University Chicago.

The Dynamic Center of Being: Awakening to Unity through Centering Prayer with David Frenette via Zoom
2021-11-14 11:00 - 13:00 UTC | Internet – Online
11am – 1pm Pacific Time (noon Mountain; 1pm Central; 2pm Eastern; 7pm London (BST); UTC 19:00)
Free; suggested donation $35 USD
Many of us struggle these days with fear, outrage and uncertainty in the face of personal and global change, loss and collapse. All these struggles share a single root: a sense of separation — from ourselves, from one another, and from God. And yet we know in our heart of hearts, and have experienced in deep contemplative practice, that everything is unified in God, the timeless reality in which we live and move and have our being.
This online workshop will explore Centering Prayer as a way to align us and our actions with unity, according to Jesus’ teachings. David will share stories, teachings and guided meditations to renew our experience of unity, opening us to presence, connection and love, the source of contemplative service in the world. We will also have time for small group sharing, and a period of Centering Prayer.
About David Frenette:
David Frenette, author of The Path of Centering Prayer: Deepening Your Experience of God (Sounds True 2012), is a contemplative spiritual director, mentor for other spiritual directors, and spiritual writer. He co-created and co-led a contemplative retreat community where he lived as a monk for 10 years. He has an MA in transpersonal counseling psychology, has been a trustee of Contemplative Outreach (the international Centering Prayer organization), an adjunct faculty member at Naropa University, a founding member of Integral Spirituality, and a teacher at leading retreat centers across the country. From 1983 until his death in 2018, David’s spiritual father was the Trappist monk and founder of Centering Prayer, Father Thomas Keating. Read more about David here.
You may register here:

Living Flame One Day Retreat
A chance to taste the Living Flame program, register using the below form and you will receive the Zoom Meeting link now and we'll also send you a reminder by email nearer the day of the retreat which will take place *25th October 2025, 11am - 4pm Eastern Time*.

This event is free of charge; but making a joyful donation is invited - the donation link will be shown on the registration confirmation page.
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Deepening Spiritual Practice through Three-Centered Awareness - Online
2021-11-13 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Presented by Phileena Heuertz of the Gravity Center
Sponsored by Contemplative Outreach Chicago
Three-centered awareness is crucial for experiencing Divine Presence; mind, heart, and body coming online and cooperating together. But too often, we experience shut-down in one or more of these centers. This limits our capacity for opening to Presence and receiving the integration and wholeness for which we long.
Are you curious about the deeper, subtle, life-changing dynamics of contemplative prayer? Do you feel stuck in your practice and desire to progress? Are you wondering how to more regularly bring the gifts of your sitting practice into your daily experiences of life and relationships?
If so, join Phileena Heuertz for this 3 hour online contemplative experience. During our time together, Phileena will offer a mix of foundational teaching, guided group contemplation, and three-centered awareness practice.
Note: All times are in Central Time Zone.

Standing on the Brink with Parker Palmer via Zoom
2021-11-13 10:00 - 12:30 UTC | Internet – Online
The 12th Annual Contemplative Conference of the School for Contemplative Living.
A livestream conversation with Parker Palmer at the intersection of contemplation, compassion, and courage, which includes a period of Centering Prayer, a period of lectio divina, and breakout room discussions.
Please register using the link below.

Praying with Jesus - Online
2021-11-06 09:00 - 16:00 UTC | Internet – Online
The Mercy Center Centering Prayer Program presents:
Praying with Jesus
ONLINE Saturday November 6, 2021
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM USA Pacific Time
The prayer that is commonly known as The Lord’s Prayer is one that many of us know by heart. But there is more power and depth to this prayer when it is approached from its Aramaic roots. This day of prayer will draw upon the work of Neil Douglas-Klotz to help us experience a deeper power in the words of Jesus — words that draw us into the heart of Jesus, the heart of all creation.
Please register using the link below.
Retreat Leader: Henry Schoenfield, MDiv is a spiritual director, UCC pastor, and certified professional coach. As a spiritual seeker, he draws from different spiritual traditions while being firmly rooted in the Contemplative Christian path. He loves working with individuals and groups as they discover more deeply how God is loving them and leading them to live out God’s love in the world.

Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop
2021-11-06 08:30 - 12:30 UTC | 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.

Fall Triduum Wisdom Retreat - ONLINE
2021-10-31 16:30 - 2021-11-02 18:00 UTC | Internet – Online
The Mercy Center Centering Prayer Program presents:
Fall Triduum Wisdom Retreat
ONLINE 3 Evenings
Sunday October 31st, Monday November 1st and Tuesday November 2nd, 2021 4:30-6:00 pm, USA Pacific Time
“In the quiet, brown time of the year, these fall Triduum days are an invitation to do the profound inner work: to face our shadows and deep fears (death being for most people the scariest of all), to taste that in ourselves which already lies beyond death, drink at its fountain, then to move back into our lives again, both humbled and steadied in that which lies beyond both light and dark, beyond both life and death. What better tilling of the inner soil for the mystery of the Incarnation, which lies just ahead?” — Cynthia Bourgeault
We often focus on spring’s Paschal Triduum, from dusk on Holy Thursday through dusk on Easter Sunday, as a chance to move inward and journey with Christ through our own passage of death to life, the process at the heart of the Christian wisdom tradition of dying before you die. It has become a sacred three days to enter the heart of this mystery. But there is another sacred Triduum available for us to focus on this invitation and it lies in the fall between Halloween, All Saints, and All Souls.
This wisdom retreat is for anyone who desires to allow these three days in the dark and soft stillness of autumn to make space for profound inner work, enabling us to continue through winter with a renewed connection to our divine resilience. Through the practices of silence, inner listening, lectio divina, welcoming, body prayer, chant, and reflection we will explore the themes of:
• welcoming our shadows
• connecting to the mystical communion of Saints and ancestors
• mourning what has been lost
• accessing a deeper source of strength and courage to move from in our lives
For those of you who are drawn, we will come together to engage this holy work not only for ourselves but as an offering to the world.
Please register using the link below.
Retreat Leader: 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.

Introduction to Centering Prayer as an 11th-Step Practice for those in 12-Step Programs
2021-10-30 10:00 - 14:00 UTC | Internet – Online
The primary purpose of the 12-Step outreach team of Contemplative Outreach Northwest is to deepen our practice of the 11th step: “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.” We try to pass on the simple method of Centering Prayer to others in recovery.
Centering Prayer is a type of prayer that has been used over the centuries, but it is different from what we may think of as prayer. It is simply moving deep within ourselves, in silence, saying nothing, asking for nothing, just being and allowing our Higher Power to be with us. For those who are working a recovery program, parallels can be found between the transformation that Centering Prayer brings and the process of growth facilitated as we work the 12 Steps. We believe that, when applied as a daily supplement to the 12 Steps, Centering Prayer opens us to the deepest dimension of spirituality.
This half-day Zoom workshop will introduce people in recovery to the practice of Centering Prayer, with time to learn and practice the method, ask questions, and learn about local and national resources for continuing and deepening your practice.
On Zoom
Free of charge
Hosted by St. Placid Priory Spirituality Center, Olympia, WA.
INFORMATION –> click HERE.
REGISTER NOW –> click HERE.

At the Edge of Waiting: Centering Prayer and Celtic Spirituality - Online
2021-10-30 | Internet – Online
Presented by Carl McColman
Join us for an online retreat day where we will explore the connections between Celtic wisdom and contemplative spirituality! Celtic Christianity — the poetic and earth-positive spirituality of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales — has long been appreciated as one of the most beautiful expressions of faith in the western world. The Celts had a mystical sense of God’s abiding presence that was expressed through the venerations of holy wells and other sacred sites, stories of remarkable saints who lived in deep harmony with nature, and profound spirituality with roots in the ancient wisdom of the desert mothers and fathers. Our time together will celebrate Celtic spirituality in the light of the practice of Centering Prayer — which also has roots in the desert and remains a profound doorway into the ordinary mystical life. We will pay special attention to the Irish understanding of contemplation, which will bring us to a deeper appreciation of the silent beauty of Centering Prayer.
Carl McColman is the author of numerous contemplative books, including “An Invitation to Celtic Wisdom,” “The Big Book of Christian Mysticism,” and “Eternal Heart.” Carl co-facilitates a Centering Prayer group in Decatur, Georgia, and is a commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer Introductory Workshops.

Divine Therapy Workshop - via Zoom
2021-10-26 18:30 - 20:30 UTC | Internet – Online
Divine Therapy is a six-week course that takes a more advanced look at the process of spiritual transformation. Fr. Keating integrates into his teachings St. John of the Cross’s Dark Night of the Soul, also called the Night of Sense, which describes a feeling of God’s absence in our lives or the “Biblical desert.” From there, Fr. Keating moves into the Night of Spirit, drawing on St. Theresa of Avila’s paradigm for spiritual transformation. He also shares his unique take on the Beatitudes, explaining how they speak to the potential for dismantling the false-self system and healing our emotional programs for happiness.
This course is based on talks given by Fr. Thomas Keating on issues that surface after Centering Prayer has been practiced over an extended period of time. Topics include Night of Sense, Night of Spirit, What Contemplation is Not, and Contemplation and Action. The class includes a twenty-minute period of centering prayer, viewing the videotape and time for discussion.
Courses 1 Basic Centering Prayer and 2 Human Condition are prerequisites.
Times listed are Mountain Time. Please register using the link below. Two different time options are available for the six-week course.

Human Condition - Via Zoom
2021-10-26 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | Internet – Online
This six-week course will begin introducing you to Fr. Keating’s core material of the Spiritual Journey Series and the process of healing our human condition. In these videotaped lectures, he offers an evolutionary model for human development, describes the pre-rational energy centers, and introduces us to the concept of the false self with its afflictive emotions. You will learn how, through the practice of Centering Prayer, the Divine Therapist begins the process of dismantling our false self, thereby healing our emotional wounds of a lifetime.
Course I, Basic Centering Prayer, is a prerequisite.
Times listed are Mountain Time and two different time options are available for this six-week course. Please register using the link below.

The Cloud of Unknowing 5-day Retreat
2021-10-25 17:00 - 2021-10-30 17:00 UTC | Bethany Retreat Center, 1031 Germania Rd, Frenchville, PA, 16836, United States
Join us for a deep contemplative journey into The Cloud of Unknowing. This 14th-century work is the basis for the method and practice of Centering Prayer. During this 5-day retreat, with the writings of The Cloud of Unknowing as our guide, Doug Laplante will lead an exploration into five key elements of the spiritual journey: spiritual growth, humility, dealing with thoughts, intention, and unity. This retreat is designed for participants with a well-established Centering Prayer practice. Through a combination of prayer and contemplative dialogue we will delve deeply into the teachings of “The Cloud…” that have changed countless lives and lead directly to a deepening relationship with God.
Please see the link below for more information and to register.

Celebrating The Life of Thomas Keating - via Zoom
2021-10-24 21:00 - 23:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Join Contemplative Outreach Philippines in an online event to mark the third anniversary of Fr. Thomas’ passing.
A talk will be given by Fr. Carl Arico (9pm to 10pm Eastern Time on Sunday; 9am to 10am Manila time on Monday morning), followed by a memorial mass (10pm to 11pm Eastern Time on Sunday; 10am to 11am Manila time on Monday morning).
No need to register; simply use the Zoom code below:
846 6699 8523
passcode: [REDACTED]
All are welcome!

7-Day Silent Directed Retreat
2021-10-24 19:00 - 2021-10-31 10:00 UTC | Francis House of Prayer, 84 Walnford Road, Allentown, NJ, 08501, United States
Receive the healing and transforming grace of seven days with God, savoring the silence and prayer that open your whole being to God’s Word and Presence. Daily liturgy, spiritual direction and optional Centering Prayer periods are included.
For more information, click on the link below.

Six-Day Centering Prayer Retreat: Intensive & Post-Intensive
2021-10-24 14:00 - 2021-10-29 16:00 UTC | Claggett Conference Center, 3035 Buckeystown Pike, Buckeystown, MD, 21717, United States
The retreat will provide an opportunity to deepen one’s practice of Centering Prayer in an atmosphere of profound silence and community support. All participants observe silence from the opening to the closing of the retreat. The retreat leaders are Susan Rush and Nick Cole.
The retreat will be held at the Claggett Retreat Center in Adamston, MD. The Center is nestled in the rolling hills of Frederick County on 268 wooded acres with a working farm and fantastic views, yet only an hour’s drive from three international airports. Lodging will be in the Christiane Inn; a range of dietary needs can be accommodated. (For details and directions, visit: https://www.claggettcenter.org.)
The retreat begins with dinner on Sunday, October 24, 2021 and closes Friday after lunch, October 29, 2021. The fee of $690 includes the retreat, meals and overnight accommodations in a single room with full bath. Some double rooms are available for $625 per person, if you already have a roommate.
A $125.00 non-refundable deposit is required with registration. Full payment is due September 12, 2021. A limited number of partial scholarships are available. You may register online or by mail. Click on website link below for retreat details and registration.

The Humanity of Thomas Merton
2021-10-23 09:00 - 16:30 UTC | Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT, 6107, United States
Though Thomas Merton lived as a contemplative monk studying, writing, and praying, he remained vulnerable in his humanity, making him most accessible to us. Seen through the lens of grace, Merton’s teaching can help us learn to reach for God through our imperfections. During our time together, we will focus on developing a relationship with Merton’s spirituality that might deepen our own.
Periods of Centering Prayer will be offered in the morning and afternoon.

Guard of the Heart via Zoom
2021-10-23 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Internet – Online
“One practice to bring the effects of contemplative prayer into daily life is traditionally known as “Guard of the Heart.” This consists of letting go of every emotional disturbance as it arises and before we start thinking about it. This method is more sophisticated than dismantling the emotional programs for happiness because it deals with the whole of life. It expresses our ongoing intention to be with God in the present moment and sustains it.”
– Fr. Thomas Keating, 2017
Saturday, October 23, 2021
9:00 am – 12:00 pm Mountain Time
This class will teach the practice of “Guard of the Heart” (Also referred to as “Watchfulness” or “Presence Practice”) and how it compliments our Centering Prayer, and the practices of the Welcoming Prayer and the Active Prayer Phrase. We will learn the three ways any afflictive thought or emotional disturbance can be instantly released as it arises. Join us for this enriching and deepening complementary practice.
Please see the link below to register.

Visio/Lectio Divina
2021-10-20 17:00 - 2021-10-23 11:00 UTC | Bethany Retreat Center, 1031 Germania Rd, Frenchville, PA, 16836, United States
Mary Kay Laplante, of Bethany Retreat Center, and Beth Graboski, of Contemplative Outreach, will
offer a workshop/retreat combining the ancient practices of Visio Divina and Lectio Divina. Visio
Divina (Divine Seeing) is a way of drawing closer to God through meditation on visual objects. It is an
intentional way of praying with images. Mary Kay will offer an informative lecture and practicum using
her beautifully hand-painted religious icons as images to be contemplated in this prayer form.
Beth Graboski will introduce you to the ancient practice of praying with Scripture known as Lectio
Divina (Divine Reading), one of the great treasures of the Christian tradition of prayer. Lectio Divina
reveals the four senses of Scripture-the literal, the allegorical, the moral/behavioral and the unitive in
a Spirit-led, transformative experience of relationship with the Divine. Come and let the Spirit speak to
your heart as you “see” and “hear” scripture revealed through these ancient prayer forms.
Please see the link below for more information and to register.

Introduction to Centering Prayer with Sr. Anna-Camille via Zoom
2021-10-16 09:00 - 14:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Sourced from the depths of Christian contemplative tradition, Centering Prayer has emerged as a life-changing practice for those who embrace it. Learn the method or renew your practice of this ancient way of silent prayer. Our 9:00 AM -2:PM format offers a relaxed way to hear the basics, practice, and ask questions.
For information and registration: https://stplacid.org/programs-rg/1849/zoom-introduction-to-centering-prayer/
Hosted by St. Placid Priory Spirituality Center, Olympia, Washington (USA). Times noted are in Pacific Time Zone.

The Divine Feminine and the Transformation of Consciousness
2021-10-15 10:00 - 2021-10-17 12:00 UTC | Mercy Center Burlingame, 2300 Adeline Drive, Burlingame, CA, 94010, United States
HYBRID RETREAT October 15-17, 2021 Starts 10 am Friday and ends 12 pm Sunday
$300 Online / $350 on site at Mercy Center in Burlingame, CA
In the practice of Centering Prayer we open ourselves to God in the unknown places of ourselves, to the unloading of the unconscious mind, each time we give our consent to the presence and action of the Holy Spirit. This willingness to say “yes” to the darkness, “the cloud of unknowing”, prepares us to receive self-knowledge, to see reality more clearly for ourselves and for others in the light of awakening to truth.
In our Christian heritage we venerate Mary, the God-bearer, who enters the unknown to bring forth life giving fruit for the world. She sometimes appears as swarthy or coal black as an invitation to welcome our shadow so that we too may bring forth our gifts for the benefit of the cosmos and realize our wholeness – that we are both darkness and light. Embracing the dark feminine in ourselves roots us in our true nature and generates wellbeing for ourselves and our planet.
Retreat Leaders:

Rev. Amber Sturgess is an Episcopal Priest, spiritual director, and a seeker on the contemplative path. She enjoys teaching contemplative practices that deepen our spiritual awareness. Amber currently serves as Rector of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Carmel.
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.
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.
How will the hybrid retreat work?
You are invited to join us from your own home OR AT MERCY CENTER in Burlingame as we practice integrating prayer with our life, 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 for further integration.
Program Features
• Live Online Centering Prayer Sessions – Join via Zoom (at Mercy Center or at home) at scheduled times or practice on your own.
• Live Online Teaching Sessions by Rev. Amber Sturgess. Join us live via Zoom (at Mercy Center or at home) or view recordings at a later time.
• Live Online or in-person Small Groups – for experiential processing (not recorded).
You can participate in one of three ways:
1) From home online. The retreat is designed so that you can choose as much or as little of it as fits in your life, on any given day.
2) In person at Mercy Center, participating online from your laptop in your own room and enjoying the beauty and peace of the grounds. There will be opportunity for some participation in live groups on site, or you can participate entirely online.
Everything will be on Zoom so we’ll all be sharing the retreat no matter where we are. We trust that God’s love surrounds all of it, all of us, exactly as we are.
COVID Protocol is still in place at Mercy Center, and everyone entering the building must be fully vaccinated, and wear masks in all common areas indoors except when eating. For this reason, it is important to also include the following in your packing:
1) A record of having been vaccinated
2) At least one mask
3) Hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer is provided by the Center, but it helps if you will also bring your own.
For more information about Mercy Center’s COVID protocols, please click on the link below.
Guest Protocol – Mercy Center Burlingame (mercy-center.org)
Please register at www.mercy-center.org or telephone 650-340-7474

9-Day Advanced Intensive and Post-Intensive Retreat
2021-10-13 17:00 - 2021-10-21 13:00 (America/Denver) | Mercy Center Auburn, 535 Sacramento Street, Auburn, CA, 95603, United States
At the time of the retreat, we will adapt to circumstances as needed. We are prepared to offer this retreat either online or residentially at the Mercy Center. In either case, you will have the option to stay at the Mercy Center.
Pre-requisite: Prior attendance at an 8-10 day Intensive I Retreat (offered in March)
OR Read the following three books by Thomas Keating:
Open Mind Open Heart
The Human Condition
Invitation to Love
This retreat offers two tracks simultaneously: Advanced Intensive II and Post Intensive. You choose the track that works best for you. For everyone, there will be three sets of two-30 minute periods of Centering Prayer daily. Advanced Intensive II will watch video talks from Fr. Thomas Keating’s Spiritual Journey, focusing on “Divine Love: The Heart of the Christian Spiritual Journey”. The Post Intensive has no videos and an additional hour of Centering Prayer each day.
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.

Rabbi Rami Shapiro – 8 Points of Agreement and First, Stop Playing God – via Zoom
2021-10-09 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Rabbi Rami Shapiro enjoyed a close relationship with Fr. Thomas Keating and was invited to participate, starting in 1984, in the Snowmass Interreligious Dialogue that was published in The Common Heart. What a blessing for all of us that Rami will share the “8 Points of Agreement” that emerged from those amazing conversations!
In Addition – Twelve-Step Spirituality is for everyone because everyone suffers from the foundational addiction of humankind: playing God. In this talk, Rabbi Rami will use elements of the Twelve Steps as well as insights common to all mystical traditions, including Thomas Keating, to explore the notion of playing God and the liberating realization that God is playing us. This presentation will include a 20-minute Centering Prayer session.
Rabbi Rami Shapiro, PhD is an award–winning author of over thirty–six books on religion, spirituality, and recovery. Rami co–directs the One River Foundation, is a Contributing Editor with Spirituality and Health magazine, hosts two podcasts— Essential Conversations with Rabbi Rami, and Conversations on the Edge—and a weekly Zoom “talk show” called Roadside Assistance at the Corner of Tohu va-Vohu (Wild and Chaos). He is an initiate of the Ramakrishna Order of Vedanta Hinduism, a 32° Scottish Rite Mason (KCCH) and the 2020 recipient of the Huston Smith Award for Excellence in Inter-Spiritual Education.
Times Listed are Mountain Time (Denver Colorado)
Click the link below to register.

Centering Prayer as an 11th-Step Practice: Zoom OR In-Person
2021-10-09 08:00 - 12:30 UTC | East Side Alano Club, Madison, WI., 1017 Northport Drive, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
For those in 12-step recovery:
Contemplative Outreach of Madison will present Centering Prayer as an 11th-Step Practice Introductory Workshop
and a presentation on The Human Condition based on the teaching of Thomas Keating. Offered both by Zoom OR in-person.
Centering Prayer as an 11th Step Practice
Introductory Workshop by Zoom OR In Person
Saturday, October 9, 2021
8:00 am to12:30 pm Central Time
PLUS four continuing prayer sessions by ZOOM ONLY on:
Saturdays 9:00-10:00 am Central Time
October 16, 23, 30, and November 6, 2021
Free; donations gratefully accepted ($20 suggested).
To register, see link below and please choose either In-person or Zoom options.
Registration is due by October 1st.
Zoom information will be sent by email a few days prior to the workshop.
FOR MORE INFORMATION please email: centeringprayermadison@gmail.com.

Centering Prayer: Weekend Immersion - Deepening the Contemplative Dimension of Life
2021-10-08 18:00 - 2021-10-10 12:00 UTC | La Salle Manor Retreat Center, 12480 Galena Rd, Plano, IL, 60545, United States
This retreat will focus on Centering Prayer and the integration of consent in our lives. There will be communal Centering Prayer sessions each day. We will explore attentiveness to the wholeness of our being and open to the knowledge and presence resident in our bodies. Centering Prayer will open us to a deepening felt sense of presence. We will explore the calling to live into a higher mode of consciousness, one of abundance and liberation. This invocation comes with responsibility to remove the obstacles we have in us which arise from the addictive and reactive structures that restrict our growth.
We will meet for Centering Prayer sessions and brief presentations with each session. In addition to reflection and prayer, you will be invited to practice attention throughout the weekend. We assume that participants have a regular practice of Centering Prayer.
This retreat is a collaboration between the Contemplative Outreach Chicago and Connecticut Chapters. In the Chicago area, the retreat is in person at the La Salle Manor Retreat Center. Alan Krema, CO-Chicago, and Mike Smoolca, CO-Connecticut, will be the presenters with Frank Pendola as chant leader. The Connecticut area will hold their in-person retreat at Holy Family Retreat Center. The two in-person sites will be connected via Zoom conference. Alan Krema’s presentation will be virtual via Zoom to Holy Family Retreat Center and Mike Smoolca’s presentation will be virtual via Zoom to La Salle Manor. This registration form is for the Chicago area in-person participants or virtual attendees using Zoom.
In the Chicago area, the retreat will be held at the La Salle Manor Retreat Center, 12480 Galena Rd, Plano, Illinois. The retreat center is 55 miles southwest of Chicago.
The retreat offers three options:
1) Overnight lodger which includes room and board at the retreat center for 2 nights;
2) Commuter includes three meals and use of the retreat’s facilities during the retreat;
3) Virtual Attendee (via Zoom) participates remotely in the retreat via Zoom meeting.
Note all times are in Central Time Zone.

Harvesting Grace: A Fall Contemplative Retreat
2021-10-08 17:30 UTC | Wisdom House, 229 East Litchfield Road, Litchfield, CT, 6759, United States
This contemplative retreat invites you to engage with the Sacred in nature, encounter God as the Creating and Sustaining Spirit of all. It will be a time to rest in body and “rest in the grace of the world.” Anchored in Centering Prayer, the weekend will offer scheduled options to participate in terra divina (sacred earth), a labyrinth walk (weather permitting) and a communal prayer service on Saturday evening. However, there will also be much open time to explore the grounds, read, journal, or simply enjoy the beauty of the Litchfield hills and autumn woodlands. No Centering Prayer experience is required. This weekend is for both beginners and long-time practitioners.
Please see the link below to register.

Harvesting Grace: A Fall Contemplative Retreat
2021-10-08 17:00 - 2021-10-10 17:00 UTC | Wisdom House, 229 East Litchfield Road, Litchfield, CT, 6759, United States
This contemplative retreat invites you to engage with the Sacred in nature and encounter God as the Creating and Sustaining Spirit of all. It will be a time to rest in body and “rest in the grace of the world.” The weekend will offer scheduled sessions including three Centering Prayer sessions, terra divina (sacred earth), labyrinth walk (weather permitting) and a communal prayer service on Saturday evening. However, there will also be much open time to explore the grounds, read, journal, or simply enjoy the beauty of the Litchfield hills and autumn woodlands. No Centering Prayer experience is required. This weekend is for both beginners and long-time practitioners.
Please see the link below to register. Cost with meals include ranges from $160 (commuter option) – $290 (private suite)

Contemplative Immersion Retreat
2021-10-08 15:30 - 2021-10-10 13:00 UTC | Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT, 6107, United States
This retreat will focus on Centering Prayer and the integration of consent in our lives. We will explore being attentive to the wholeness of our being and the knowledge and presence resident in our bodies. We will explore the calling to live in a higher mode of consciousness, one of abundance and liberation. This invocation comes with responsibility to remove the obstacles we have in us which arise from the addictive and reactive structures that restrict our growth.
This program will be offered in-person at Holy Family simultaneously with a group also on retreat in-person in Chicago. The two groups will have a personal presence at both locations and will also share teaching, periods of Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina and Chanting between both locations online throughout the weekend.

Mystic Series: Celtic Spirituality - via Zoom
2021-10-07 18:30 - 20:30 UTC | Internet – Online
“Celtic Spirituality – A Way to God for our Times”
Thursday, October 7, 2021 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm ZOOM ONLY
In recent years, Celtic spirituality has grown greatly in popularity because of the ways it makes connections between our everyday lives and the world around us, and speaks to the needs of our present day. In this presentation we will explore some of the basic elements of this ancient way through writings, music. video clips, and some of the stories of saints, heroes and heroines with which it is rich. Jim Gill will be our presenter, and there will be a 25 minute period of Centering Prayer at the beginning of the class, and a 10 minute break halfway through the class. Class will be held VIA ZOOM ONLY. Register for $10 or Free of Charge; Zoom Link will be emailed with registration.
Please register using the link below.
Instructor: Jim Gill holds a master’s degree from the Institute in Creation Centered Spirituality (Mundelein College-Chicago) and trained as a spiritual guide through Siena Retreat Center’s Spiritual Guidance Training Program. He ministered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA) area parishes for over three decades in Adult, Family and Child formation. Most recently he was a staff member at Siena Retreat Center, and began a free-lance ministry in retirement from full-time work in July of 2020. Jim is an Associate of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.

3rd Welcoming Prayer Zoom Retreat
2021-10-02 09:30 - 13:30 UTC | Internet – Online
Living Christlike through the busy schedule of life, and all that life surprises us with. (At the bottom of this page a Zoom registration link is provided.)
Welcoming Prayer, a beautiful form of everyday contemplative prayer, is accessible to all now. Anyone who was introduced to Welcoming Prayer has learned a new way of connecting with God through everyday events of life, rather than worry about not finding enough time to sit in Centering Prayer or contemplation.
Welcoming Prayer can enhance your contemplative life and Centering Prayer. It can redirect your energy and make your spiritual life meaningful and practical. Here below are what you will receive in a 3-hour Zoom retreat.
Introduction to Welcoming Prayer
Human Condition
Prayer and Practice
Divine Therapy
WP and Movement 1
WP and Movement 2
WP and Movement 3
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 regular 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.
Please register using the link below where it says “Event Website”
https://withribbon.com/s/191328
