to Children,

Parents

& Teachers

in El Salvador

by Leila de Membreño 

We are teaching prayer and silence to children in a public school in El Salvador (5th to 9th grade), their teachers and parents. What a job and what a goal, but the Lord has His ways and in His name we can do wonders.

Last year we presented a prayer program to our parish priest. He said, “No way! If you want to teach at the school it will be religion class with our texts.” We argued we were not religion teachers, but it was: take it or leave it. 

We humbly got down on our knees, took the teachers training and worked all of 2004, with the 5th to 9th grades. No parents, no teachers. 2004 went by. What an experience ! Along came 2005. 

We went to our priest and asked if we would be allowed to teach. He said, "Yes, but you will teach them HOW TO PRAY ! The Lord had answered our prayers ! It was angels’ music to our ears! 

Our approved program included a workshop of Lectio Divina and another of Centering Prayer. The Lectio Divina Workshop was presented to the parents. We called it, “Prayer With the Word.” 

We were given two hours early on a Saturday morning because of working parents. My God! How could we squeeze a six-hour workshop into two hours? I was ready to phone Fr. Carl Arico for help, no matter where in the world he might be! We got it all down to an 8”x11” page. 

The four moments of Lectio and Mt.6-6, some other biblical quotes and the meditated Our Father. The morning of the workshop arrived. We had prepared handouts and refreshments for 350 parents. To our surprise 450 turned up, out of a total of 460. When I stood before them on the platform, tears welled up my eyes. I could hardly speak on the microphone, but said to them, “Do you believe in miracles? Do you believe when prayers are not answered immediately that the Lord does not hear them? Well, He always does—sometimes He takes His time to answer, but we must go on in faith, waiting for His time. For all of 2004 our contemplative groups have been praying to reach you with this workshop, so you can teach and help your children in praying and to pray together.” The four of us from the contemplative group stood on that platform, looking at their eager and smiling faces, with tears streaming down our own. At the end, the parents asked to have other prayer workshops. So, besides the program for the children, we now have two-hour workshops for parents. The children and their parents belong to a very low income level. Some are almost illiterate. We ask your prayers as we count on the Lord to enable us to show them through silence and prayer a more profound way to reach union with our Creator: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Para Informes en Español 
...Resources Translated in Spanish

The Spanish Corner

by Ilse Reissner

We plant the seed, and the Holy Spirit blesses it and makes the soil rich to produce strong plants that bear abundant fruit! It never ceases to amaze me! 

This is just a sampler

Nicaragua: Our coordinator in Nicaragua, Aida Maria Herdocia, received a request from the Cardinal in that country that went beyond our wildest expectations. He wanted the theme of the annual retreat for all clergy members in September to be on Centering Prayer and Contemplation this year! All participants are priests and seminarians, and they asked us to send two representatives to give the retreat. In the Latin American countries the clergy has a big say-so. To obtain their approval can sometimes be very difficult and no teaching can be introduced without it. So, Fr. G. Walker, who has been living and teaching Centering Prayer in Cuba for the last couple of years, and Dr. Adal Henriquez, a Board member, went the third week of September. They also made a stop in Costa Rica for a retreat on the week-end before, and another stop in Honduras for a retreat the week-end after. God bless them for their dedication.

Formation for Service Workshops: 
In El Salvador: Leila Membreño and Ilse Reissner were on staff for this workshop at the end of May in El Salvador. We had 9 participants, two from Puerto Rico, one from Costa Rica, one from Honduras and five from El Salvador, plus two from El Salvador trained as staff members. This increases the number of trained presenters in Central America and Puerto Rico, greatly needed.

In Mexico: This will be our second formation for service workshop in Mexico, and it will be conducted by Judith Bernal and Ilse Reissner, probably in the northern part of the country. Depending on the number of participants we may need another person on the staff. Also in Mexico, our local coordinators, Judith and her husband Julio, held a Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina retreat for 100 nuns in May.
   Isabel Castellanos, received her training to be on staff at the Formation for Service Workshop in Houston, Texas, that started on July 31st and ended August 5th. Gail Fitzpatrick-Hopler and Timothy Koock were the instructors on this workshop, where the Refined Essentials were used, and Isabel was added to the staff while on training. Isabel had her Formation training back in 2002, and has been giving many Introductory workshops in the Miami area. She is co-coordinator for South Florida, a member of the Board of Extension Contemplativa, and a nominee for the Board of Cont. Outreach.

Revised Essentials Workshop in Spanish: After the Annual Conference in Austin a Formation Workshop with the Refined Essentials was offered to all our Spanish certified presenters that came. There were approximately 35 people staying those extra 3 nights for this special training. Instructors were Vicky Acra from Santo Domingo, Isabel Castellanos from Miami, Fr. John Martin from Mexico, and Ilse Reissner from Orlando.

Videos and DVD’s now available: We have completed the project of reproducing the follow- up sessions where Dr. Hugo Mejia dubbed Fr. Keating’s presentations, so that our viewers can see Fr. Keating talking but are listening to his words translated into Spanish. 

A big and heartfelt “Thank You” to Hugo for this enormous labor of love in his busy schedule, which will help so many people to get started on the Spiritual Journey.