Summer 2006 Newsletter  Experiences of Interreligious Dialogue  From the President - Communication  
The Heart and Soul Reader's Reflections  The Spanish Corner CLP and Practice in Community
New Resources in the Bookstore 12 Step Outreach Chapter Updates

by Ilse Reissner

We continue growing and as we do we can see the fruits of our work in the Spanish communities. Fr. Keating and I visited Puerto Rico and Cuba recently. (I refer you to Pages 12 and 13 for more details.) Adalberto Henriquez was invited by Mercedes and Gerardo Hinojosa to offer an Introductory Workshop during the last weekend of March in Monterrey, Mexico. Several prayer groups are rapidly growing under the guidance of Mercedes and Gerardo; who in turn got their training first from Judith Bernal, and then during the Refined Essentials workshop we offered last September in Austin. In May, Maru Ladron de Guevara offered a 5-Day Intensive Retreat in Mexico, assisted by local staff members of Extensión Contemplativa Mexico.

We now have two new pioneers contributing with great enthusiasm to the growth of our Latin American communities. Fr. Bede Hornung, a Benedictine priest at the St. Joseph Abbey in Venezuela, and Sr. Cecilia Carmona, from Torreon, Mexico. Both attended our Formation Workshop in Mexico last November and are actively involved with their local communities.

We offered another Formation for Presenters Workshop in Miami in June, and people came from Monterrey; Venezuela; Puerto Rico, Honduras, Nicaragua and Orlando, FL. Our next Formation workshop will be in Costa Rica in 2007.

So we grow and extend our teaching as the Lord keeps opening doors for us everywhere. Our challenge is to train more presenters and to be able to send messengers to all these places that want to participate in this "treasure" of learning to "sit" in God's company twice a day, and develop an intimate relationship with the Ultimate Mystery that is God.

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
With Extensión Contemplativa and Contemplative Outreach Florida

Extensión Contemplativa and Contemplative Outreach in Florida are offering a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in April 2007. As with all the other wonderful trips they have offered in the past, Ilse Reissner will lead the tour.

 This tour will not only be to the Holy Land but to other holy places in Athens, the Greek islands, and Ephesus in Turkey, to learn more about Paul’s journeys. 

Departure will be on April 15 and return—for those that choose to come back to the United States after the Holy Land—will be on April 25. 

Return will be on April 30 for those who decide to join us for an optional cruise; visiting the Greek islands of Patmos, Rhodes, and Mykonos; as well as Ephesus in Turkey, and Corinth in Greece. 

The cost of the basic pilgrimage is $2,695 and another $670 for the optional extension to Greece and Turkey. 

For more information or to request a brochure, please contact Ilse Reissner at 407-767-7567, fax 407-767-6414, or email: ireissner@juno.com 

Update by Ilse Reissner | Pilgrimage to the Holy Land | Fr. Keating's Visit to Puerto Rico
A Translator's Impressions | For More Information | A Monk in Havana

Contemplativa Extensión

by Marilu Ason

On March 5, 2006, Fr. Thomas Keating and our dear Ilse Reissner, President of Extensión Contemplativa, arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico. There was great expectation and enthusiasm. People came from many places, including St. Croix, Santo Domingo, Miami and other cities in Puerto Rico. Four conferences were scheduled.

On Monday morning Fr. Felix Struik, OP, a well known theologian, gave Fr. Thomas a warm welcome at the Center for Theological Studies and many priests, religious, nuns and students attended.

In the afternoon, the Sacred Heart Catholic University opened its doors for the second conference, where Fr. Thomas shared his insights with members of the prayer groups in Puerto Rico.

On Tuesday, at the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico, he was greeted by Dr. Guillermo Ramírez, Academic Dean, and Dr. Sergio Ojeda, President of the seminary, followed by a conference and dialogue with Christian churches of different denominations. We shared and prayed together; one body, one heart, one soul.

The last conference was at the Church of St. Ignatius. Fr. Larry Searle, SJ and the parish council worked together for the success of this event.

More than 200 persons attended each meeting. People were very touched by Fr. Thomas’s words and wisdom. They have asked for introductory programs to learn more and the prayer groups have experienced a revival.

Juan Segarra Palmer was our translator, and he did an excellent job. (His impressions are in the box to the right.) 

A Translator’s Impressions 

We have a saying in Spanish, “al que no le gusta el caldo, le dan tres tazas.” I don’t know the equivalent in English, but it translates literally as “those that don’t like soup, get three cups.” Consecutive translation is not my cup of tea. I much prefer simultaneous because it doesn’t require any memory work, but I got my three cupfuls during the talks Father gave. There were times when I felt that my limitations were interfering with his freedom to express himself, but what do I know? The main feeling before, during, and after Fr. Keating’s visit is gratitude for the great privilege of translating for him. My second impression was of Father himself, so unassuming, so thoughtful, so witty, so much fun to listen to. Translating for him was like dance partners getting used to each other. He was very aware of my limitations, especially the limited capacity of my memory chip, and quickly adjusted to it, making my work easy. One thing seems certain: a lot of people came and listened intently. A lot of good seed was sown, spring is here, let’s see what the rain brings . . .   

Summer 2006 Newsletter  Experiences of Interreligious Dialogue  From the President - Communication  
The Heart and Soul Reader's Reflections  The Spanish Corner CLP and Practice in Community
New Resources in the Bookstore 12 Step Outreach Chapter Updates