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 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, Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault, Carmen Acevedo Butcher, Heather Ruce, Dr. Rory McEntee, and others.
Living Flame I Program, with Contemplative Outreach’s Living Flame Service Team. The Living Flame is a seven-day in-depth spiritual formation program presented over seven months by commissioned presenters of Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. It’s designed to heighten the awareness of the dynamics of Centering Prayer in the context of the spiritual journey. Registration and participation in the program is a commitment to all seven sessions. Topics for the Living Flame Program are noted in the Living Flame brochure. Each retreat-like day is facilitated in a five-hour scheduled format which includes: two periods of Centering Prayer; two presentations with Q&A; small group sharing; silent breaks and time for a meal. Living Flame 1 is open to everyone who has had a consistent daily Centering Prayer practice for a year or more and who has reflectively read Open Mind, Open Heart by Thomas Keating. This will support a more engaged participation and assimilation of the program content. Additional suggested resources are Keating’s Invitation to Love and Intimacy With God. The first retreat day: January 10 @ 11:00 am – 4:00 pm Eastern Time and then each month on 2026 these dates for the next six months: Jan. 10, Feb. 14, Mar. 14, Apr. 11, May 9, June 13, July 11 Time: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM EST (-5 UTC). For more info and to register, please click HERE.
Twelfth Step Spirituality: Weekly Meeting via Zoom. 12StepSpirituality.org hosts a weekly zoom meeting (11th Step) using the practices of Centering Prayer and Welcoming Prayer. The meeting starts with Welcoming Prayer, a speaker sharing briefly on how Centering Prayer has impacted their life, a 20-minute sit of Centering Prayer (with teaching Centering Prayer to newcomers as needed), small group breakouts, and the practice of Grateful Heart. Online on Saturdays, 9:30am to 10:45am Central Time. For more info and for the Zoom link, click HERE.
Living the Questions with Rainer Marie Rilke, with Mark S. Burrows. In one of his Sonnets to Orpheus, Rilke invites us to “desire the change!” Transformation was one of his central themes. But how do we find the courage to do this? This retreat invites us to explore his invitation to “live the questions,” and indeed to “live everything” as the path toward that end. We’ll explore his invitation to live into “the Open,” and discover our lives as belonging to “the Whole.” Come to practice doing what Rilke called the “heart-work” of life. This event includes sessions of Centering Prayer. In person and on Zoom, April 11, 8:30am to 4:30pm Eastern Time, at Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center in Hartford, CT. For more info and to register, please click HERE.
LOCAL EVENT: Five- Day Intensive Retreat at Prince of Peace Abbey, with Brian Curry. This five-day Intensive Retreat provides an opportunity to deepen the practice of Centering Prayer in an atmosphere of silence and community support. this retreat follows Contemplative Outreach’s guidelines for an intensive retreat, including five 30-minute Centering Prayer periods on most days and video teachings from Fr. Thomas Keating’s Spiritual Journey series. An established practice of Centering Prayer for at least six months is recommended but not a pre-requisite to attend. In person, April 13 to April 17 at Prince of Peace Abbey in Oceanside, CA. Retreat is currently full: Waitlist availability only. For more information, please click HERE.
Introduction to the Welcoming Prayer, with Contemplative Outreach of Colorado, Eric Peter and Kit Snyder. Martha, Martha, you are worried and anxious about many things … but one thing is needful.” (Luke 10:42). The Mary and Martha story is an example of the focus we can bring to everyday life activities. As the Welcoming Prayer 40-day practice booklet reminds us: “To assist this process, we need complementary practices. Centering Prayer teaches us consenting in stillness; the Welcoming Prayer practice teaches us consenting in activity.” “The Welcoming Prayer practice is a way of letting go into the present moment in the ordinary routines of daily life. It is used when your needs for security, affection and control are frustrated or gratified and cause emotional reactions. It is a way of turning everything over to God …” Thomas Keating, Open Mind, Open Heart. We hope to see you at our workshop. May you be open to including the Welcoming Prayer in your invitation to the Holy Spirit to extend the walls of your inner room to all of life. On Zoom, April 18, 9:00am to 12:00 noon Mountain Time. For more info and to register, click HERE.
Introduction to Centering Prayer. Join us for a time of stillness, reflection, and deepening in the practice of Centering Prayer. Whether you’re new to contemplative prayer or seeking to refresh your prayer life, this workshop will offer guidance, practice, and fellowship. The workshop will be led by the Rev. Darryl W. Kozak, Regional Assistant to the Bishop for the Inland Region, and a Commissioned Presenter of Centering Prayer for Contemplative Outreach. What to Expect: Presentations introducing the method of Centering Prayer, guided times of prayer and silence in community, opportunities for questions and reflection. In person, April 25, 1:00 to 5:00pm Pacific Time at Trinity Lutheran Church in Victorville, CA. Registration deadline is April 22. For more info and to register, click HERE.
Spring Silent Saturday. In this season of new life and promise, it is good to take a quiet morning for Centering Prayer and silence. The day is open to beginners as well as those experienced in contemplative prayer or silent meditation. The day provides time for communal prayers with contemplative walks, and time for private journaling, reflection, and an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful grounds of Holy Spirit Retreat Center. All are welcome. A brief introduction to Centering Prayer will be offered for those new to the practice. In person, May 9, 9:00am to 12:00 noon Pacific Time at Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino, CA. For more information contact Sr. Chris at centeringprayer@hsrcenter.com or (818) 815-4480.
Silent Retreat, with Carlos Obando, OSB. Do you long for a few days of emotional and spiritual tranquility? Are you looking for a few moments of silence in your life? Do you need to be alone with the Lord through meditation and contemplation? If this is what your heart desires, we invite you to our silent retreat in the small oasis offered by the Benedictine Community of the Abbey of Saint Andrew, located in Valyermo. Remember that this silent retreat is an opportunity to pause along the way, to take some time to reflect, meditate, and internalize profound truths that cannot be clearly contemplated in the midst of noise and everyday life. In person, May 11 -14 at St. Andrew’s Abbey in Valyermo, CA. For more info and to register, click HERE.
Praying with Creation: Encountering God in a Theophanic Universe with Mark Kutulowski. The Ancient Church understood the natural world as an expression of God’s creative love. On this day of enrichment, we’ll explore a Trinitarian vision of Creation as ‘theophanic’, or ‘God-revealing’. We’ll engage with prayer practices to enter into the love relationship between Creator and Creation, including practices of Immanence, Ascent Transcendence, and Descent. Participants will learn resources for reimagining their relationship with the natural world, and developing daily and weekly habits to increase their contact with God in Creation. This event includes sessions of Centering Prayer. In person and on Zoom, May 16, 8:30am to 4:30pm Eastern Time at Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center in West Hartford, CT. For more info and to register, click HERE.
Intensive/Post-Intensive Centering Prayer Retreat, with Sr. Chris Machado. 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 the prayer through the viewing of selected DVDs from Thomas Keating’s Spiritual Journey Series. Post-Intensive is for those who have previously made an Intensive Centering Prayer Retreat. Times of silence and periods of Centering Prayer are increased. Pre-requisites: Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop and a weekend-long Centering Prayer retreat. In person, June 21-28 at Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino, CA. For more information: Please call Sr. Chris at 818-815-4480.
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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