CONSD offers local retreats, days of prayer, and formation events online and in-person. At the worldwide Contemplative Outreach Ltd. website, you can find the latest information on online and onsite retreats offered nationally and globally — see THIS LINK and click on the “Events” tab at the top right.
———–UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS———–
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———MORE UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE U.S.———
ONGOING: OPENING MINDS, OPENING HEARTS: A Podcast Series by Contemplative Outreach, Ltd., first launched in November 2022. With Colleen Thomas and Mark Dannenfelser. Seasons 1, 2, and now 3 of this podcast series are complete and available HERE or through your favorite podcast provider platforms. Interviewees include Carl McColman, Dr. Lerita Coleman Brown, Fr. Adam Bucko, Pastor Tia Norman, Fr. Greg Boyle, Carmen Acevedo Butcher, Heather Ruce, Dr. Rory McEntee, and others.
The Transformative Practice of Humility, with Colleen Thomas. “When there is no more sense of an “I” (ego), the great I AM takes over our lives. (Fr. Thomas Keating, Reflections on the Unknowable). What is humility? And how do we practice it? What role does humility play in Centering Prayer and transformation? With Fr. Thomas Keatings’ Reflections on the Unknowable and Philippians 2 as our guides, together we will explore the transformative practice of humility. Through Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, and faith-sharing, we will reflect on humility as a practice. This workshop will challenge common misconceptions about humility and expand our awareness of humility as a pathway to transforming union with God. Online, May 24, 9:00am to 12:00 noon Eastern Time. For more info and to register, please click HERE.
Living the Beatitudes in These Troubled Times: A Contemplative Practice Retreat in the Christian Wisdom Tradition, with Heather Ruce. Together we’ll explore Jesus’ teachings of the Beatitudes through the lens of Wisdom teachings and inspired by the work of Richard Rohr and Cynthia Bourgeault. This teaching will be surrounded with a rhythm of silence, chanting, centering prayer, conscious work, reflection, movement and sharing from the heart. Lunch is included and there is an optional community breakfast at 8:00am. In person, Saturday, May 24, 9:30am to 5:30pm Pacific Time, at St. Mark’s in the Valley Episcopal Church, Los Olivos, CA. For more information and to register, please click HERE.
Introductory Wisdom School: A Wisdom Way of Knowing. This Introductory Wisdom School lays the groundwork for understanding the vital role of Wisdom in today’s world. Led by Cynthia Bourgeault, participants will delve into the Christian Wisdom tradition, exploring two key spiritual streams: the ancient Benedictine monastic model of “Ora et Labora” and the Gurdjieff Work’s concept of three-centered knowing and presence. Cynthia will illuminate how Wisdom serves as a precise and transformative spiritual science, offering both theoretical insights and practical tools for embodying Yeshua’s teachings—the Way of the Heart. Through an integrated daily rhythm, this Wisdom School fosters an embodied “wisdom way of knowing,” incorporating periods of Great Silence, teaching sessions, Centering Prayer or silent meditation, mindful work, mindful movement, and contemplative free time. In person and on Zoom, May 25-30, at the Mercy Center in Burlingame, CA. For more info and to register, click HERE.
Creating Space for Change: Practical Exercises for Activating Your Nervous System’s Ability to Calm and Heal Itself, with Eric Peter. In these hourly zoom sessions, Eric will provide practical exercises for activating your nervous system’s ability to calm and heal itself. The objective of this class is to learn how to manage the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Daily instruction, Monday through Thursday for 4 weeks, will vary, but will cover: exercises that help calm your nervous system; exercises for promoting neutral observation; neurogenic tremor techniques, and Centering Prayer. You will learn an innovative series of exercises that assist the body in releasing deep muscular patterns of stress, tension and trauma. The exercises safely activate a natural reflex mechanism of shaking or vibrating that releases muscular tension, calming down the nervous system. The exercises are intended to be used as a self-help method that is easily learned, has immediate effects and can be integrated into a simple daily routine to help restore a sense of inner peace and relaxation. Online, June 2 to June 26. For more info and to register, please click HERE.
Spiritual Radicals: Interspiritual Wisdom from Franciscan and and Buddhist Spirituality, with Rt. Rev Br. Mark D’Alessio. The parallel teachings of Christ and the Buddha find a home in the spacious minds and inclusive hearts of Franciscan and Buddhist spirituality. During this contemplative day, we’ll explore how Christian saints Francis and Clare of Assisi, and Buddhist Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, invite you into the interspiritual sense that love and compassion, lifelong learning and growing, peace and social justice, and a belief that the transformation of the world begins with our own transformation, and is at the heart of all contemplative paths. Off This program will be offered both in-person and online via Zoom. Information on how to access the program on Zoom will be sent to participants in advance. This program will include a morning and an afternoon session of Centering Prayer. In person and online, June 7, 8:30am to 4:30pm Eastern Time at the Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center in West Hartford, CT. For more info and to register, please click HERE.
Ten-Day Contemplative Listening Retreat (“Post-Post”). This is a retreat for those who have attended multiple Intensive and post-intensive 8-10 day retreats and find themselves desiring yet longer sessions of Centering Prayer in community. We will begin our day at 6:00am with three 30- minute periods of Centering Prayer. Mid-morning and mid-afternoon there will be an additional session of three 30-minute periods of Centering Prayer. Once a day, we will watch a brief (about five minute) segment of the film “From the Mind To the Heart”, a conversation with Thomas Keating, which he created for this retreat. We will let the silence deepen in this retreat. There will be no scheduled soul friending, though staff will be available for a conversation if requested. There will be no reading at meals and no verbal prayer at the beginning of the Centering Prayer sessions. Lectio Divina and a contemplative Eucharist will be offered daily. In person at the Mercy Center in Auburn, CA. The retreat begins Tuesday, June 10 with registration from 2:00 to 4:00 Pacific Time, an opening session at 4:15pm, and dinner at 5:15pm. We end on Thursday, June 19 at 10:30am (lunch optional). For more info, click HERE or contact Susan Turpin at 541-324-1207; slturpin@me.com.
Eight-Day Intensive / Post-Intensive Retreat, with Sr. Chris Machado and staff. Enter into a more profound level of spiritual practice in an atmosphere of silence and community. The Eight-Day Intensive and concurrent Post-Intensive Retreat is designed to strengthen one’s discipline and practice of Centering Prayer. We will be in grand silence. The Intensive also provides a conceptual framework for prayer through the viewing of selected DVDs from Thomas Keating’s Spiritual Journey Series. This retreat is for those with some experience with Centering Prayer. Post-Intensive is for those who have previously made an Intensive Centering Prayer Retreat. Times of silence and periods of Centering Prayer are increased. In person at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino, CA, Sunday, June 29 at 4:30pm Pacific Time to Sunday, July 6 at 1:00pm. For more info, visit the Holy Spirit website HERE or call Sr. Chris at 818-285-3354.
Opening to the Universal Christ: The Interspiritual Invitation of Centering Prayer, with Keith Kristich. Howard Thurman wrote: “In the Presence of God there is neither male nor female, white nor black, Gentile nor Jew, Protestant nor Catholic, Hindu, Buddhist, nor Muslim, but a human spirit stripped to the literal substance of itself before God.” Are you looking for a break from the busyness of life to rest in stillness and to reconnect with yourself? Are you longing to step away from the distractions of everyday life and nourish your spiritual center? Join this summer’s retreat to get away from the norm and reconnect with your true self and God alive within you. This retreat focuses on Centering Prayer as a path back to the “original religious experience.” Centering Prayer with practice may brings us to the immediate experience of God, the Divine Mystery, lovingly present within. Contemplatives of all great traditions speak the same silent language, practicing silence in deep prayer and meditation. We explore how contemplation leads us toward greater unity among people with different belief systems and returns us to the original spiritual experience. In person, July 18 to July 21 at the Mercy Conference and Retreat Center in St. Louis, MO. For more info and to register, please click HERE.
Wisdom: Returning to Basics, with Fr. Bill Sheehan. Shortly before his death, Fr. Thomas encouraged us to return to the basics in relation to the contemplative dimension of the Gospel. For example, in his early writings, Fr. Thomas emphasized the importance of embracing the psychological paradigm as a way of fostering our spiritual growth and development. At a later point, he chose to emphasize the significance of God’s word as a way to bring us to a deeper place as we continue to embrace our spiritual journey. During our time together, we will reflect on both of these aspects as we embrace our spiritual path. Book resources: Invitation To Love, Divine Therapy, Manifesting God, Consent to God as God Is. We will be in silence for meals, breaks, and prayer time. Periods of Centering Prayer will be included in our time together. There will be discussion following each of Fr. Sheehan’s presentations. Spiritual companioning and massage will also be available. In person at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino, CA, Sunday July 20, 4:30pm Pacific Time to Sunday, July 27 at 1:00pm. For more info or to register, visit the Holy Spirit website HERE or call Sr. Chris at 818-285-3354.
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Scholarships to attend retreats and events are available from CONSD and from Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. Please email consdinfo@gmail.com to inquire.
For more information on CONSD events, call Linda Dollins at (760) 743-8297 or Mary Williams at (760) 822-3916.
For information on COSD (Contemplative Outreach of San Diego) events, see the COSD website, www.contemplativeoutreachsd.org