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Chapter UpdatesAsia-Australia 1st Asia-Australia CO Regional Conference Held in Manila In February, seventeen representatives from Australia, Malaysia, and the Philippines met outside Metro Manila to share and collaborate on issues common to the practice of Centering Prayer. Madeline Soo, CO International Coordinator attended the first ever Asia-Australia CO Regional Conference. The meeting was in retreat format; Madeline explained the dynamic organism/organization of CO Ltd, as well as its vision/mission. She also emphasized the Board’s desire to serve the increasing needs of the growing international communities, as well as changes to the Introductory Workshop. Fr. Martin O’Lohglen, a missionary in the Philippines, was the main facilitator. Lita Salinas, Director of CO in the Philippines (COP), was the conference coordinator. Br. Peter Foo and Lawrence Wong represented Malaysia, and Sr. Sheila Normoyle, Janice Martin and Myrna Novosel from Sydney, Australia, represented the youngest group within the network of less than two years. The entire Board of Trustees for COP, the host country, were in attendance. Japan and Singapore were unable to send representatives due to scheduling confilicts, but they fully supported the conference. Some team leaders in different countries sent written comments and suggestions for inclusion in the meeting agenda.. All agreed to update each other in six months. Tess Colayco, COP International Contact Person, 011-632-817-9499 Colorado, Denver - Center for Contemplative Living The prayer goes on! 2004-05 is a benchmark year for our center. During the spring, our volunteer staff and I implemented our vision of 11 servant-leadership teams participating in center operations. We now have a volunteer coordinator, responsible for 60 full and part-time staff members. A growing number of volunteers are completing the formation program and taking on roles of administration, course instruction, group facilitation and outreach. This is our 18th year offering the basic Centering Prayer curriculum. We will offer four new classes and an Advent Day of Prayer. Brother Micah Schonberger, from St. Benedict’s Monastery was the featured speaker for our Fall Gathering in October, “Becoming a Healing Presence in a Chaotic World”. Susan Komis will present a weekend intensive, June 3-5, “John of the Cross: Search for Nothing (No-thing)”. Our 12th Annual Contemplative Conference is slated for March 12, 2005. Fr. Thomas Keating and Rabbi Rami Shapiro will continue our examination of other traditions which began after 9/11. Sr. Bernadette Teasdale, 303-698-7729 Dominican Republic Feelings of gratitude and joy are still vibrating in our hears as we remember that unforgettable weekend in September 02 when our retreat house opened its doors for the first time. In this safe and sacred place everything confabulates to reveal and unfold God’s Presence. Now we can share this gift of God with you. Starting next year, 2005, all Contemplative Extension individuals and communities will be able to enjoy this sacred and safe place. Our facilities offer 20 double rooms and suitable areas that make it possible for international events. We also invite you to attend the workshops and retreats that take place during the entire year. We are right in the midst of the poorest region in the country so, if you desire, you can visit for a day and be part of one of the families. This experience will give you the opportunity to open and be part of the desperate cry seldom heard - of the needy. Some of the retreats offered at Monte Sacro include: Centering Prayer Post and Intensive Retreats (3, 5, 8, and 10 days); Holistic Retreats to integrate body, mind, soul and spirit; and a “Come and See” Retreat to to be alone with yourself, God, and His Creation. Vicky Acra, 809-562-2214, lic.acra@verizon.net.do Florida, Tampa Bay It is with great joy we welcome the homecoming of The Living Flame program to the Tampa Bay area! This one-day-a-month, 7-month program is the inspiration of our first coordinator, Monica Freeman. The Living Flame began nearly 12 years ago and was first held at Azchaeus House in Bradenton, Florida. It was a wonderful time of spiritual growth, of bonding, for our West Coast of Florida community, and a great opportunity to meet presenters from across the country, as each presented on topics such as Lectio Divina, Refinement of Centering Prayer Practice, The Origin of the False Self, The False Self in Action, Divine Therapy, Night of the Sense and Welcoming Prayer. We traveled several years through Living Flame I, II, III and even IV! Some relationships formed at that time are still strong. And, now, The Living Flame is coming home after traveling to many other places such as St. Louis, Long Island, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Newark, Portland and Chicago. It began October 9th in our area and continues through May 7th, taking the month of March off for the annual United in Prayer Day. It is most gratifying that some are even coming back from that original group to experience once again this wonderful gift from God! Welcome home, Living Flame! Marge Rafftery, Coordinator, 727-345-7908 Georgia, Atlanta In October, Rev. Tom Ward, Chaplin at the Episcopal University of the South, conducted a one-day conference on Centering Prayer. Participants came from Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee and southern Carolina. Rev. Ward’s presentation is available at our website www.centerprayer.com/chapters/Atlanta.htm. on a CD series. The annual United Day of Prayer was held in three locations, North Georgia, Conyers and Marietta. In April, CO-A sponsored its first annual 3-day retreat in Conyers, with 22 people attending. We are considering holding a 5-day retreat. In June, several members represented CO-A at the Annual Eucharistic Congress in Atlanta with an information booth. Cathy Hightower designed a banner carried in the procession. Roberta Oster is Co-coordinator serving with Roseanne Havird until July 2005. At that time, Roseanne will step down and another co-coordinator will be named to serve with Roberta for her remaining two years, and the process will continue from there. This type of shared leadership, set up on an overlapping basis, was the result of the discernment process adopted by our Leadership Team. We are pleased with this plan and the process itself. Roberta attended the Servant-Leader Formation at St. Meinrad. Our co-coordinators held a meeting for our Prayer Group Facilitators in the north Georgia mountains, sharing the gifts/challenges of their groups. Roseanne and Roberta plan to conduct a Facilitator’s Workshop in 2005. Silent Saturday Mornings will be held at Glenn Memorial Church on Emory Campus every 3rd Saturday, September through November. In October, we hosted a major fund-raiser event “Celebrating 20 Years of C.O., Ltd” with Fr. Keating. We hope that you will join us for any and all of our events. Roseanne Havrid 678-796-9158 rmaryh@earthlink.net and Roberta Oster, 404-299-2670 Asia-Australia International Outreach Contemplative Outreach continues to grow in various parts of the world —widening the circle of contemplatives who strengthen that thread of connectedness, interdependence and inter being-in-God. An effort was made to communicate with the various Coordinators, Contact Persons and potential volunteers to establish connectednes and to assess needs. We appointed coordinators in Mexico, El Salvador, Trinidad and Toboga, Ireland, Canada, Nicaragua, Cuba, Italy, Australia, the US Virgin Islands and Brazil. Contemplative Outreach Philippines planned and generously hosted the first Asia-Pacific Regional Conference last February in Manila. Members look forward to another conference in 2006. In the Philippines outreach beyond the Manila area was made possible by the translation and delivery of the first Introductory Centering Prayer Workshop in Vernacular. In South Korea there has been extensive formation for leadership roles with 60 presenters and 40 Centering Prayer groups. In Myanmar, Centering Prayer was introduced to 69 priests, religious sisters and seminarians at the invitation of the archbishop of Taunggyi.. In November, a follow up session is planned for Taunggyi and an introductory program to be introduced in Yangon. In Canada, C.P. is spreading. Last June a leadership planning meeting was held in Winnipeg, hosted by Southern Ontario. In South Africa leadership training came to Johannesburg/Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town in October.. The West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago, provided Facilitator Training to help leadership support the four large CP groups in Port of Spain and San Fernando.. Madeline Soo, International Coordinator, MLSOO@wi.rr.com Louisiana, New Orleans We have begun to feel that Rosaryville Spirit Life Center in Ponchatoula, Louisiana is our 2nd home. Driving 45 minutes from New Orleans we enter our tree shaded home of silence. In the summer of 2004 Rosaryville welcomed us for our 5th annual 10-day retreat. In the coming year we look forward to a January workshop by Madeline Soo on “Centering Prayer and Emotional Sobriety” and in April 2005 the return of Fr. William Sheehan, this time to lead us in a workshop of “Spirituality and Sexuality in the Context of Centering Prayer”. Our daily practice remains the foundation of all we do; the support of our weekly prayer groups, our team members and our steering committee makes our planning a community venture. Vivien Michals, C.O. of New Orleans, 504-944-4000 Father Thomas Keating came to San Diego to visit the Mexican communitiesof Contemplative Outreach in March. We had an inspirational meeting, which included 18 workshops and 100 attendees, with representives from the following regions of Mexico; Acambaro, Morelia, Toluca, Merida, Ciudad de México, Cancun, Gaudalajar and San Diego. At the meeting we presented Fr. Thomas with a letter from Toluca’s Bishop for Contemplative Outreach and acquainted him with our website www.extensioncontemplativamexico.org. On August 28 we held a Magisteral Conference given by Fr. Thomas and were amazed and blessed to have 500 people present to receive the message. At the end of the conference everyone stood and gave Fr. Thomas a standing ovation. It was an incredible experience for all of us. Maria Judith Bernal, Méjico City, 55-2167-6728, Pelusa ju@hotmail.com Missouri, St. Louis Fall greetings from COSTL (CO of St. Louis)! We are grateful to report the following: Our Summer Intensive/Post Intensive Retreat was superb with the wonderful Fr. Justin Langille from San Diego being greatly received and appreciated by the participants. COSTL recently had an exceptional “Day of Prayer” on Lectio Divina with our very special guest: Abbot Mark Scott, OCSO from Assumption Abbey in Ava, Missouri. Our Fall Weekend Retreat this year will be on The Cloud of Unknowing with Retreat Master Renee Bennett. Renee plans an optional preparatory video series on The Cloud using the videos with Fr. William Meninger, OCSO. In December, we’ll present our “4th Annual” 12 Step/Centering Prayer Weekend Retreat. In the Spring of 2005, Susan Komis will lead us in a Centering Prayer Weekend Retreat on “The Welcoming Prayer”...too many blessings to count! We are looking forward to hosting Fr. Thomas Keating and CO, Ltd on September 16-18, 2005 for the 20th Anniversary Tour! We hope to gather many of the surrounding communities from the Midwest Cluster. Mark your calendars!! Matthew Flatley, Coordinator, 314-918-8288 New Jersey During 2003-2004, 50 people participated in Living Flame I in New Jersey. During 2004-2005, 35 people will participate in Living Flame II. The first New Jersey 12-Step Centering Prayer Retreat will be held at St. Mary’s Abbey in Morristown, New Jersey during the weekend of April 8-10, 2005. The 20th Anniversary Tour will visit New Jersey on October 23, 2005. Therese Saulnier, Coordinator, 201-436-8256. Asia-Australia New York, Long Island/Queens C.O. of Long Island/Queens is serving our community by the grace of God and are happily taking any road on which He leads us. Aside from Introductory Workshops, Silent Saturdays, June Weekend Retreat, Advent Evening of Prayer a one-day conference with Fr. Carl Arico, etc., we had an extremely successful Enrichment Day (60 people) where there was discussion concerning programs our community would like and requests for help with these programs, joining the coordinator team, etc. Susan Komis led the day and presented two workshops. The feedback from the community was that they would like to have more workshops, which are both spiritual and informative. Barbara Sullivan, 516-877-4930 New York, Walden - St. Andrews Retreat House Contemplative Outreach of Orange County sent four people to the Servant Leadership Training at St. Meinrad’s in July….a necessary foundation for developing the region. Our Centering Prayer group here at St. Andrew’s continues, and a new Contemplative Living Community began in September. March 2- 6 the first 5 day Welcoming Prayer Immersion Retreat will be held at St. Andrew’s Retreat House, and the 2nd 40 Day Live-In Experience will be offered October 6-November 14, 2005. Both our Nine Month Courses continue to nourish and support those serious about living a contemplative lifestyle; we now offer three six-day Intensive/Post Intensive Retreats a year as well as a 10-day Post Intensive. We are blessed to have Cynthia Bourgeault as one of the presenters on our 21 Day Centering Prayer Immersion Retreat June 4-24, 2005. 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, 845 778-2102, cathymc@frontiernet.net, www.centeringprayernys.org New York, Westchester At our June monthly Centering Prayer meeting, we saluted Tom Skinner for his many years of service as our coordinator. Tom retired on Easter Sunday. His faithful dedication and sincere leadership inspired us and invited and us to grow. With grateful hearts, we wish him years of many blessings! Our new co-coordinators are Stephanie Iachetta and Diane Harkin. Their desire to serve is filled with much energy and enthusiasm. For information about our upcoming events contact: Sr. Rose Vermette, 914-961-1559, vermettered@aol.com Oregon, Portland Oregon Contemplative Outreach (OCO) has been focusing on training more people to help in service work. We now have ten people who are qualified to serve our 3 to 10-day Intensive and Post-Intensive Retreats. We have also secured the locations for our retreats for the same schedule for years to come. Our retreats are well attended and draw more and more people from out of state. We also now have a person trained to present the Welcoming Prayer Workshop, and we will have two people attending the 12-Step Introductory Retreat formation. In addition, three people attended the Formation for Contemplative Outreach Service and have been added to our list of presenters. For the next year, a team of four volunteers will be working to develop programs and communications to support our nearly 60 group facilitators. Since this involves facilitators throughout the entire state of Oregon and southwest Washington, it presents a challenge! This fall we are offering a workshop on Soul Friending and a commuter retreat on St. Teresa of Avila, and , although these are open to all, we consider them enrichment opportunities for our facilators and their groups. We now have a contact in the Salem area and are happy to welcome Susan Turpin. We are also looking forward to hosting the “20th Anniversary Tour” in January, 2005. Gini Graham, Coordinator OCO, 503-645-3448 South Dakota, Rapid City Sister Maria Tasto will be giving the Lectio Divina weekend retreat on April 22-25 at St. Martin Monastery. We were delighted to learn that our program was chosen by lottery to send an Oblate to the World Congress in Rome, September 19-25, 2005. The United States was permitted to send 50 Oblate delagates, so we are grateful to have the “good luck” to be chosen. The program includes a visit to Monte Cassino, among other enriching presentation and experiences. Sr. Marmion and Fr. Mark McCormick gave a Centering Prayer Retreat to the women of Rapid City Diocese in October. This fall, Sr. Marmion will bring Fr. Meninger’s retreat on “Centering Prayer and the Enneagram” to a parish church, Our Lady of the Black Hills. Sr. Marmion Howe, srmarmion@aol.com, 605-343-2688 South Dakota, Rapid City Asia-Australia Texas, San Antonio Contemplative Outreach San Antonio (COSA) is delighted to host several new events, beginning with “Advent: Living the Mystery in Light, Life and Love”. Timothy Koock, using poetry, scripture and quantum mechanics, will explore these timeless themes, December 10-12. Fr. Carl Arico, our great friend, will lead us in the study of the 14th century contemplative masterpiece The Cloud of Unknowing, January 7-9, 2005. There are only a few spaces left in these two weekend retreats, so please call 830-816-8470 to register. Our COSA Prison/Jail ministry is expanding. Our newest prayer group calls itself the Recovering Angels, composed of women in recovery who are integrating Centering Prayer into the 12 Step practice. Silent Saturdays are up and running on the 2nd Saturday of each month beginning at 9:30 a.m. Unbelievably, construction will commence soon here on our beautiful grounds for the construction of a new retreat center featuring at least 30 rooms with private baths. More about this later. COSA continues to serve members of our community with workshops and retreats in Spanish, English and bilingually. Cleo Tamez, as our COSA Team office manager, is happy to answer you questions concerning our other activities at 210-286-4320. Timothy Koock, Contemplative Outreach Liaison, 830-997-9554 Wyoming, Alta Alta Retreat Center It is with "sadness and gladness" that I write to all our friends of the Alta Retreat Center. For the past 10 years we have been serving Contemplative Outreach with our programs and retreats. Unfortunately we have not prevailed in purchasing a new facility to accommodate our growing needs. For those of you who have supported us over the years we give deep and sincere gratitude. Our Board of Trustees is now creatively addressing the situation. First, however, we need to be fiscally responsible and retire the debt incurred by our various attempts (3 in all!) to purchase, build, and re-zone here in Alta. It has been an interesting experience of "failure by success." Our time has been full, rewarding and profoundly transforming. I am grateful to all the wonderful retreat participants, teachers, clergy and benefactors that have supported and sustained ARC through these years. When we sat around the altar for our closing Eucharist in August I had little idea it would literally be our "Last Supper"! I am deeply indebted to Contemplative Outreach and Fr. Thomas for their encouragement and love. As new events unfold I will certainly keep you all informed and you can visit our web at www.altaretreatcenter.org for up to the minute news. I will be leading an intensive retreat at the College of Preachers in Washington DC, March 13-19, and a Post Intensive at the College of Preachers, May 11-20. Many of you have regularly attended here in Alta and I would love to be with you in D.C. if that suits your calendar! Please continue to pray for us. Please drop me a line if you have a moment. In Christ's peace, Sandy Rev. Sandy Casey-Martus, 307-353-8100, info@altaretreatcenter.org 12 Step Outreach Contemplative Outreach offers a one-day introductory workshop and weekend workshops specifically intended for people in 12-step communities entitled “Centering Prayer and the 12 Steps” . The workshops highlight the connections between the spirituality of the 12 steps and the contemplative dimensions of the Gospel, and are designed as an invitation to 12-step people to participate in Contemplative Outreach Programs. The weekend workshop generally consists of:
A 12-Step outreach committee was established in the summer of 2002, and it has been developing this series of workshops that can be offered through the local chapters and presented in conjunction with trained presenters. The committee has also been developing a training program for presenters for this original material. Formation for Service Retreat A 5-day workshop/retreat has been scheduled for January 28-February 2nd, 2005 at Snowmass to train qualified people as presenters for the Introductory Centering Prayer and the 12 Steps workshop. There is limited space available and people who are interested should contact Donald Masters at the address below. Scheduled Retreats
To find other current scheduled workshops contact Contemplative Outreach (973-838-3384) or check www.contemplativeoutreach.org under the heading Centering Prayer and the 12 Steps. To schedule a workshop or to find out more about this program contact Donald Masters, donaldm@ix.netcom.com (303) 809-2480 or Madeline Soo at mlsoo@wi.rr.com (414) 961-2610. Asia-Australia
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