Contemplative Outreach News
Volume 20 , Number 1 · Spring/Summer 2005

The Wedding Feast at Cana || From the President || Contemplative Life Program
20th Anniversary Fundraising Tour || Reader's Reflections || In The News
The Spanish Corner || Chapter Updates || Contemplative Outreach News Home

Chapter Updates

British Columbia, Canada

Contemplative Outreach of Greater Vancouver began in the fall of 2004 after a visioning weekend facilitated by Madeline Soo and Susan Komis. A leadership team of six has begun to serve an already active area with a dozen Centering Prayer groups. We have been presenting Introductory Workshops, and reaching out to facilitators with CO resources, like the Spiritual Journey videotapes. In February, we offered our first event, the Welcoming Prayer Workshop, and in April, our weekend Centering Prayer Retreat, facilitated by Ruth and Mark Dundon. We have been greatly assisted by our cluster members across the line in Oregon and Washington, and by CO International, for which we are grateful. Anita Boyd, 604-590-8080, avboyd@shaw.ca 

California, Burlingame

Centering Prayer has taken root as one of the core offerings at Mercy Center in Burlingame California. Well known as a place where contemplative practice and the works of Mercy nourish and enhance each other, the Center is committed to providing regular opportunities for centering prayer retreats and introductory workshops. The Formation Training is now being offered as well–the next training will take place February 19-24, 2006. 
Catherine Regan, Program Coordinator at 650-373-4528 or cregan@mercyburl.org 

California, San Diego

The new year has brought change and transition to Contemplative Outreach San Diego (COSD). After ten years of totally dedicated untiring service, our coordinator, Fr. Justin Langille, has decided to step “up” to a position on the International Board. After attending the Coordinator Servant Leadership Formation at St. Meinrad Archabbey in July 2004, Chris and Sue Hagen felt called to put their names forward to be co-coordinators. We assumed our new roles January 1, 2005 and have been joyfully and humbly busy ever since! We planned four spiritually enriching events during Lent. Thirty-six contemplatives attended a 3-Day Retreat and a moving Ecumenical Taize Prayer Service was held the following week. Just prior to Easter many of us participated in a meditative Labyrinth Walk, and experienced a deep connectedness with all of you during our 14th Annual United in Prayer Day. In April, Fr. Justin presented an intriguing workshop, “Unmasking the False Self in Compassion”. During the summer we will recommission our presenters and facilitators who have been trained in the new refinements. September will bring Susan Komis to San Diego for a day-and-a-half workshop on St. Teresa’s Interior Castle. Our annual festive fundraiser, the Friend’s Dinner, will be held in October. On November 20th we will have a Gathering for all chapter members and the public, and both Fr. Keating and Fr. Arico will speak. COSD is grateful for the numerous spiritual opportunities we are able to provide and we look forward to many more events in 2006. 
Sue and Chris Hagen, Co-coordinators, 706-745-8860, sue.hagen@sbcglobal.net 

California, San Fernando Valley

It is with great joy and expectation that we await the reopening of Holy Spirit Retreat Center October 1, 2005 in Encino. The Center has 24 new bedrooms, four conference rooms, a remodeled ecumenical chapel, kitchen, dining room, new office space, and a hermitage - all of which will be available for our Contemplative Outreach programs in Los Angeles. These past two years our 1-Day programs were held at Sophia House and our Intensive Retreats at Mt. St. Mary’s in Los Angeles. We are grateful for Living Flame I and II, which is a great community builder. We will conclude in June with a retreat weekend with Susan Komis. We highly recommend the Living Flame to you and your chapter. Now we look forward to “coming home” to our beautiful, new Center this fall. We hope you can visit us there. 
Linda Snow, Coordinator, 818-986-9080, srlinda@adelphia.net

California, San Gabriel

The San Gabriel region of Contemplative Outreach is active in providing opportunities for people to practice Centering Prayer. Over the course of this year, Church of Our Saviour Episcopal Church has hosted monthly Quiet Days that include Lectio Divina and two Centering Prayer sits followed by the eucharist. Also, in the fall, certified presenter Jon Neff spoke at an Introduction to Centering Prayer Day for ten people. Out of that meeting formed a Centering Prayer group that watched the Thomas Keating follow-up videos. Currently, the same group continues to meet on Wednesday nights at Church of Our Saviour. In the spring, Church of Our Saviour will host an additional Introduction to Centering Prayer Day. 
Catherine Gregg, 626-282-5147, cgregg@churchofoursaviour.org 

Colorado, Boulder

Contemplative Outreach of Boulder County closed out the year with a 7-week Introduction to Centering Prayer course and two retreats. Our Fall Retreat, “Come Rest With the Lord,” included Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina. For our Advent Retreat, Sr. Scholastica England, O.S.B. focused on the prayer of the contemplative in anticipation of the coming of the Lord. Our spring activities included two Introductory courses, one at St. Mary Magdelene Episcopal Church in Boulder and the other in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Longmont. We are fortunate to have two teams of trained presenters in our chapter. Our Lenten Retreat, “Contemplative Prayer as an Immersion Experience” with Fr. Terry Ryan, C.S.P., was a wonderful preparation for Easter. At a mini-retreat Fr. Terry spoke at the St. Thomas Aquinas University parish about contemplative prayer. In June, we once again welcome Fr. Steve Connor, C.S.P. to join us for our annual 8-Day Post Intensive Retreat, which is always a special time for us all. 
Barbara Hayden, Co-Coordinator, 303-494-2845, mg329Hayden@aol.com 

Colorado, Denver

Fall is an exciting time at our Center for Contemplative Living. It is a time of coming together and new beginnings. After a welcomed summer break, our staff and volunteers gather to renew our commitment to our Centering Prayer practices and to serve at the Center. Our Introductory Workshop on September 17 kicks off our “school year.” In addition to The Spiritual Journey Series, we will offer a series of one-night spirituality seminars. September 2005 marks our first offering of the Nine Month Course Part II and the seventh session of Part One. Our second annual Fall Gathering happens in October. December 2 to 4 we will gather at the Sacred Heart Jesuit Retreat House in Sedalia, CO for our traditional Advent retreat. Throughout the fall, Centering Prayer Immersion Experiences, Days of Prayer, and a network of support groups provide opportunities for us to pray in community. These programs reflect the many ways our servant leadership teams meet the needs of those who turn to us for direction and support on their spiritual journeys. As Fr. Thomas says, it is in the arena of daily life that spiritual progress takes place. Each day we welcome the guidance of the Holy Spirit in prayer in action, as we discover the treasures of ordinary events and bask in ever-present Grace. 
Sr. Bernadette Teasdale, 303-698-7729, srb@contemplativeoutreach-co.org 

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic Contemplative Outreach Chapter was blessed with a 5-Day Welcoming Prayer Immersion Retreat offered by Cathy McCarthy in March. Twenty-three facilitators were able live this experience. We practiced in our daily lives how to open to "what is" at the moment. Cathy shared with us that we had freedom to consent or not to consent to our thoughts. The facilitators expressed how strongly this Welcoming Prayer has impacted their lives. It is an excellent tool to add to their practices of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina. We also reviewed the use of the Forgiveness Prayer. We feel so blessed to be able to have enjoyed the wisdom Cathy has to offer. We could sense so profoundly that every word that she taught us came from her rich personal life experiences and her serious commitment to Centering Prayer. She truly transmitted beautifully God's unconditional love for us. Thank you Cathy!! ... .from all your Dominican godchildren. 
809-548-6480, oracentrante@verizon.net.do 

My name is Brother Elia Beaver from the Brotherhood of Jesus (Jesus-Bruderschaft) living in our community in Latrun. We’ve lived here for over 30 years on the property of the Trappist Abbey. Our community is ecumenical—myself an Anglican, and most of the others (brothers, sisters, and families) who come for the Evangelical Church in Germany and Switzerland, i.e., Lutheran and Reformed traditions. We have Roman Catholic members, as well as others from the Free Churches. We recently held an Introductory Workshop on February 26th. It was indeed a good beginning for CO in this part of the world. We are quite thankful for the response. My co-presenter and I have been serving together on the retreat team in Latrun for a few years. The follow-up sessions were held in two different locations. We were 12 (including myself) coming from various backgrounds; Swiss, Finnish, Israeli, Norwegian, German, English and American. The action of the Holy Spirit was evident in drawing people to this type of prayer … in helping us with the presentation … and in the positive interest in Follow-up groups. We will keep CO informed of the progress and the next Workshop.

Ghana, West Africa

The International Contemplative Outreach meeting in Toronto in 2004 gave Contemplative Outreach a great boost in Ghana. Two things happened. Sr. Therese Jacobs was given permission to present the Essentials of the Centering Prayer Method and a grant was given by one of the members of C.O. to help spread this prayer practice in Ghana. Since October 2004, over 80 people have been introduced to this prayer form. In addition to the many Introductory retreats and workshops, Days of Renewal have also been well received. An Introductory and Day of Renewal have been held for a group of cloistered Carmelite Sisters from the Philippines in Tamale. At the first Day of Renewal, five attendees; from Nigeria, Ghana, Germany and the US were invited to form a leadership group for C.O. in Ghana. One of the members who receives the C.O. newsletter shared information regarding the Contemplative Life Program with us. The first booklet arrived in February. We found it inviting and inspiring. The group has grown in confidence, commitment, friendship and awareness of the power of God to accomplish what at times seems impossible. Many thanks to the international office of Contemplative Outreach for all the support and encouragement and to our generous donor. 
Sr. Theresa Jacob, B.V.M.

Georgia, Atlanta

Fr. Keating, along with the fundraising team of Fr. Arico, Gail Fitzpatrick-Hopler, and Marie Howard will visit Atlanta for the general public on Sunday, October 16. Contact Roberta Oster at robertaoster@bell-south.net for more information. Our first 5-Day Intensive/Post Intensive Retreat will be held at the Trappist Monastery of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit, in Conyers from September 23 to 27. Contact Vernon and Mary Joyce Dixon at vandmjdixon@alltel.net. CO-Atlanta provided a series of Saturday Mornings of Prayer for five consecutive months in the beginning of 2005. Luther Lewis is the contact person and various Christian denominations hosted the events i.e. Methodist, Catholic, Christ Covenant MCC, and the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. We find the day gives us an opportunity to meet people who want a short introduction into the method prior to their attending a workshop. Roberta Oster attended the formation training for “Centering Prayer as an 11th Step Practice” in Snowmass. Cynthia Bourgeault presented an Advanced Workshop on Centering Prayer in late January at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. We highly recommend her as an excellent communicator of the benefits of Centering Prayer in our daily lives. Recently, the Atlanta Journal & Constitution newspaper ran an article on Centering Prayer in their Saturday morning section “Faith and Values”. This has brought us new invitations to present the prayer practice in various Christian denominations. We’re grateful for the reporter’s dedication in presenting the information and look forward to meeting the opportunities it has opened to us to spread Centering Prayer.
Roberta Oster, 404-299-2670, robertaoster@bellsouth.net 

Illinois, Chicago

The Chicago Chapter was pleased to have enrolled 30 persons in the Living Flame I program. We are still deciding if we should do Living Flame again next year so we will have a large group for Living Flame II the following year. With two new presenters of the Lectio Divina Introductory Program, we held one workshop supervised by Sr. Maria Tasto, and a second workshop with the six follow-through sessions in April and May of 2005. We are pleased to have expanded our leadership team by adding a person responsible for the CO Chicago bookstore. 
Margie Tomlinson, 847-391-0997, matomlinson@comcast.net 

Kansas, Wichita

The Greater Wichita Area is enjoying consistent growth in meeting attendance and new groups have formed. Introductory Workshops have been presented in both Topeka and Wichita. The Chanute area meetings continue strong. The Topeka meetings are notably multi-faith and in the Wichita area we are very pleased that the workshops presented to members of 12-Step recovery programs, in particular Alcoholics Anonymous, have spawned much interest and participants continue to grow in number and hunger for more. 
Patricia Mannion, 316-941-9742, pamannion@aol.com 

Louisiana, New Orleans

We are looking forward to our 10-Day Centering Prayer Retreat, July 22-31, at Rosaryville in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. This is only an hour’s drive from New Orleans, but it seems a universe removed when we are there. The video tapes of “The Spiritual Journey” are shown to all who are with us for the first time to make their 10-Day Intensive Centering Prayer Retreat. For the retreatants who are returning for a second (or a third or fourth year, in some cases) we offer an Advanced Intensive Retreat, with fewer and different videos and more silence. From experience, I can say both formats present a great gift to anyone seriously on the Spiritual Journey.
Vivien Michals, 504-944-4000, vived2@cox.net 

Missouri, St. Louis

Our new year began with the installation of a solid Leadership Team on January 2nd at the Annual Epiphany Celebration featuring our first ever Taizé Prayer Service. While we’re still new at this form of sung prayer, the evening was beautiful and well received. Another first came on February 4 with our ongoing Spiritual Formation Series held at the Vedanta Society of St. Louis, where a group of our community members heard Swami Chetanananda speak on “As Many Faiths, So Many Paths”. His calm demeanor and wit truly enhanced his wisdom teachings. Although we’re busy getting ready for the 20th Anniversary Tour this coming September and Annual Conference in the fall of 2006, we continue to offer many Introductory Workshop programs, retreats, and opportunities for ongoing spiritual formation. Many are looking forward to the summer Intensive/Post Intensive Retreat with Fr. Bill Fickel and our fall weekend retreat on “Discernment” with Sr. Marilyn Wussler, as well as the 12-Step Retreat Weekend in November this year. We’re so blessed and thankful for the many wonderful volunteer servant leaders who have stepped forward to make all of the events possible. 
Marsha Hatfield-Baker and Jim McElroy, Co-Coordinators, 314-918-8288.

New Mexico

Contemplative Outreach of New Mexico is pleased to report that more and more Centering Prayer groups are forming around the state. We will be hosting the second Contemplative Outreach pilot retreat. Praying from the Heart - Praying with the Body Retreat July 21 to the 29th. This retreat will be held at the Sangre de Cristo Center in the mountains outside of Santa Fe. The Praying from the Heart - Praying with the Body Retreat has been very well received by seasoned Centering Prayer practitioners. The annual meeting of CO, Ltd. will be a retreat this year and we hope to share some of the Praying from the Heart - Praying with the Body with those in attendance in Austin. (See more information elsewhere in the newsletter.) 
Susan Rush, 505-466-4527, susrush@aol.com 

New York, Walden - St. Andrew’s Retreat House

Our Centering Prayer group here at St. Andrew’s continues, and a new Contemplative Living Community began in September. The 2nd Five-Day Welcoming-Prayer Immersion Retreat will be held at St. Andrew’s Retreat House August 31 - September 4, 2005, and the 2nd 40-Day Live-In Experience will be offered October 6 - November 14, 2005. Both of our Nine Month Courses continue to nourish and support those serious about living a contemplative lifestyle; we now offer two 6-Day Intensive/Post Intensive Retreats a year, as well as a 10-Day Post Intensive. We were blessed to have Cynthia Bourgeault provide a 6-Day retreat based on her new book, Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening. We continue to be grateful to the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity who provide the hospitality at St. Andrew’s and support the ongoing retreats and programs. What would we do without them!!!!! Much love and thanks to all who come to St. Andrew’s and support us in known and unknown ways. 
Cathy McCarthy, 845-778-2101, cathymc@frontiernet.net, www.centeringprayernys.org 

New York, Westchester

In addition to Weekend Centering Prayer and Welcoming Prayer Retreats, a Forgiveness Prayer Workshop, Introductory Workshops, and a Facilitator’s Workshop; Contemplative Outreach of Westchester provides innovative programs to spark interest and renewal. In 2005, Fr. John Quinn of St. Patrick’s Church in Armonk, celebrated a Contemplative Mass after the one described in the Appendix of The Mystery of Christ. Saturday Prayer Days have taken on a new face. Traditionally, Saturday Prayer Days (now the third Saturday of the month) provide an opportunity to pray together and to meet members of other prayer groups. The time together usually includes two 30-minute Centering Prayer periods and Lectio Divina with faith sharing. In February, 2005, in addition to the usual Saturday Prayer Day format, Steve Standiford presented “Centering Prayer and the Unloading Process.” In May 2005, local yoga teacher, Joan Gibbons, offered the Experience of Prayerful Yoga as entry into Centering Prayer. Chapter members completed Formation for Service. They are Sr. Rose Vermett: Welcoming Prayer Practice; Mary Ann Neiger: Presenter of Essential Formation; and Stephanie Iachetta: Servant Leadership Formation. Senior members mentor those in their prayer group who subscribe to the Contemplative Living Program. We participate in and support the Basket Program, as well. Through faithful prayer and by the grace of God our Leadership Team continues to mature. We remind each other of the Contemplative Outreach logo “patient waiting” and that everything happens according to God’s plan, in God’s time - not in our time. For information about our upcoming events, check our link on the national website.
Stephanie Iachetta, 914-921-3264,  miachetta@aol.com  (this email address blocks unknown mail so call first for clearance)

Oregon started off the new year with a big bang! The 20th Anniversary Fundraiser was held at the end of January and was a resounding success. Over $30,000 was raised by the efforts of the 70 to 80 volunteers who worked on it. Our thanks goes to them and to Fr. Keating and Marie Howard who helped make the events such a pleasant and meaningful experience. The Couples Retreat in February, led by Fr. Carl Arico and Ruth and Mark Dundon, was also a success, with seven couples participating. Fr. Carl reports that, “the theme was a pilot project to minister to couples who are in a contemplative marriage - this means that they are faithful to Centering Prayer each day and Lectio Divina. One of my dreams is to discern what are the characteristics of a contemplative marriage and to make retreats available to couples throughout the country. Our task is to refine the retreat experience and to meet again next year, February 24 to 26, 2006. The couples who took part described it as “really wonderful.” 
Shirley Krueger, shirleysnjm@comcast.net 

Tennessee, Mid & East

We are fortunate to have a new Executive Director at St. Mary’s Sewanee (formerly St. Mary’s Retreat and Conference Center), Fr. Doug Schwert. Fr. Doug has served as a parish priest and has been Executive Director of Incarnation Center in Connecticut prior to his arrival in Sewanee. With his help, St. Mary’s Sewanee will be able to expand the number of contemplative retreats offered in a year. This fall, St. Mary’s will begin offering 1-Day Retreats each month for those who would like to set aside a day each month to pray in community. We continue to offer “Quiet Saturdays” one day a month in Nashville and Chattanooga. We are also hoping to offer ongoing facilitator support for our 33 support groups in Middle and East Tennessee. 
Carol Wray, 615-373-0613, carolwray@aol.com 

After being coordinator of our chapter for three years, Norma Moore and her husband have moved to Vancouver, Washington, where they will live in retirement. A celebration of the ministry of Norma among us was held at our quarterly Facilitators meeting on February 12 at Living Waters House in Brownsville. A prayer of thanksgiving with all the participants joining in marked the appreciation of all Norma did in helping a new chapter emerge. Also, Mike Potter, a local attorney from Memphis, took over the reigns as coordinator. He and Norma have been working together for this transition since last summer. Joining Mike, and continuing their involvement in COWT, are Sr. Joann Mascari, OP, and Dr. Bill Clemmons, who, as a team, have been offering workshops and follow-ups since the fall of 2000. Joining them will be; Dr. Elizabeth Vaughn-Neely, on the faculty of Union University in Jackson, serving as contact person for Jackson; and Eileen Olewinski, currently a senior auditor with FedEx, who will become Treasurer for the Chapter; and 12 to 15 facilitators. Currently ongoing meetings are being held in Presbyterian, Catholic, Methodist and Episcopal churches in both Jackson and Memphis. Plans are being made to offer monthly meetings for facilitators in both Jackson and Memphis. Interest in becoming certified presenters of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina was expressed by several facilitators. On May 6 and 7 the chapter held a Visioning Session, led by Susan Komis, to give guidance for the future. A group of campus ministers from across the southeastern United States gathered at Rhodes College. Mike Potter and Bill Clemmons gave them an orientation to Centering Prayer, including two 20-minute sessions. The chapter has also worked with the Memphis School of Servant Leadership in offering workshops on both Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina. The three on the Memphis team; Mike Potter, Sr. Joann, and Bill Clemmons, were asked by the Episcopal Bishop of West Tennessee to give the Diocesan Clergy Retreat in May. We look forward to the coming year and the beginning of new work in West Tennessee. 
William Clemmon, wclemmon@midsouth.rr.com 

Texas, San Antonio

On May 1, COSA concluded our review and practicum of The Newly Refined Essentials to an Introductory Centering Prayer Practice. Over the last several months we have teamed with our neighbors at HOTCO in Austin and have scheduled five half-day workshops for our presenters to advance their training in the essentials. Their enthusiasm has been very high, together with an appreciation for the beauty and flow of the refined essentials. Besides a prison and jail ministry, bilingual retreats and workshops, Silent Second Saturdays, COSA will soon offer Introductory Workshops to Centering Prayer in the 12-Step Program. This will be led by our Myrna Twoohey, who recently completed her training at Snowmass. During Lent, our Leadership Team; Sr. Mary Agnes, Cleo Tamez, and Timoth Kook, presented an Introductory to Center Prayer Workshop on Monday nights at Our Lady of Perpetual help to nearly 200 parishioners, with great encouragement from their pastor. Check out our new website, www.contemplativeoutreachsa.org for further COSA activities. 
Timothy Koock, Contemplative Outreach Liaison, 830-997-9554

Wisconsin, Southeast

Contemplative Outreach of Southeast Wisconsin (COSEW) has recently formed a new "outreach service team" which is planning, coordinating, and facilitating Centering Prayer groups and programs for five communities of "disenfranchised" individuals. The first community served is men and women inmates in a number of correctional facilities in Milwaukee and nearby cities. A number of them have weekly Centering Prayer groups. An Introductory Workshop was conducted on February 19, 2005 at Waupun Correctional Institute, a large prison in Southeast Wisconsin, where a number of inmates are already practicing Centering Prayer. 

There is also an outreach to homeless people. A Centering Prayer group, held Wednesday mornings, at a day shelter for homeless men and women, has been in existence for a few years. There is discussion of starting another group at a downtown church in Milwaukee that serves the needs of homeless individuals through its meal program. 

COSEW is also offering Centering Prayer among people recovering from addictions and substance abuse. A regular "Centering Prayer as 11th Step" Group has been in existence for a number of years and plans are under way to expand these groups and offer Introductory Workshops designed specifically for recovering individuals.

COSEW held a conference in November, 2004 exploring how contemplative prayer, particularly Centering Prayer, might be practiced by people living with serious and persistent mental illness. A nationally known speaker in the area of spirituality and mental health recovery was brought in to augment the beginnings of this outreach. Meditation groups for people living with mental illness are being held numerous times per week in a large residential facility and at the VA in Milwaukee. A number of individuals who meditate in these groups practice Centering Prayer. A Presbyterian Church has invited COSEW to sponsor a Centering Prayer Group in the near future specifically for individuals with mental illness. 

Finally, a large hospital/health care organization has started working with COSEW to possibly begin an introductory series on Centering Prayer in its integrative medicine department for its employees and eventually, for its patients and their family members, in the near future. We are in the process of recruiting and training volunteers who feel called to serve these different communities and are developing new materials and approaches for working with some of them. We would invite your prayers for the success of our outreach efforts. 
Ron Mendyke, Leadership Team Member, COSEW

The Wedding Feast at Cana || From the President || Contemplative Life Program
20th Anniversary Fundraising Tour || Reader's Reflections || In The News
The Spanish Corner || Chapter Updates || Contemplative Outreach News Home