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IN MEMORIAM
As we honor the second anniversary of the passing of Fr. Thomas today, October 25th, we recall a reflective message he prepared following the tragedy at the World Trade Center in New York City, September 11, 2001.This reflection can be applied to the challenges we are facing together throughout the world during this pandemic. Let us prayerfully read his message with the ear of our heart.  
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"I was in New York on September 11th ... Some wounds are so deep that there can be no immediate relief,  no consolation; there may even be an ocean of grief extending in every direction and apparently endless.  In some way, all suffering is in God. Thus, our pain is God's pain and that means that in due time it will become life-giving and healing in the very measure of its intensity.  Listening to the Spirit in silent prayer is key to knowing what to do. Action is most effective when it comes from that place. The spiritual network of Contemplative Outreach is in communion with all who are suffering around the world. We pray for the healing of the whole human family, especially for the victims of the disaster [this pandemic] and their loved ones. In Christ's love, Thomas."
A message from Marie Howard
Coordinator of Volunteers
 
Friends,

Welcome to our last issue of The Voice for 2020.  The Voice is a quarterly e-newsletter; the next issue will be sent at the end of January 2021.  

This year has brought new challenges with the Covid pandemic affecting our global community, but with challenges come opportunities for growth. The Contemplative Outreach staff and Governing Board were amazed to see how quickly so many of you stepped up and found new ways to share Centering Prayer and its supportive programs via new technology. Many of you had no previous experience with Zoom but were willing to learn and offer online programs and events to your prayer communities throughout the world. As Fr. Thomas reminds us in his Message, "listening to the Spirit in silent prayer is the key" to our knowing how to respond when faced with challenges in our lives. From that space we gain the confidence to know that God is with us at all times guiding us, that we are all with God and with one another. We are truly united in our daily practice of Centering Prayer and in our continued commitment to serve Contemplative Outreach, providing comfort and healing to those in need in new ways.


Blessings,
Marie Howard, Coordinator of Volunteers

You can contact me at 973.838.3384 ext. 5. or mrhfamlife@aol.com
New Resources from the Centering Prayer Group Facilitator Support Team
Left to right from the top: Bob Mischke, Eileen McCaffrey Schuman, Linda Smith, Pattye Spezia, Michele Jankanish, Jim Bailey, Nestor de Armas.

The Team is pleased to announce the publication of a brochure setting out the resources available to support facilitators of Centering Prayer groups and their members. Resources include the Facilitator Handbook and facilitator formation workshops that foster and deepen the process of transformation. A series of videos are ready-made for self-study and use in groups. The brochure also describes further support that is available from the team. A handy and attractive bookmark has links to resources and sets out Faith Sharing Guidelines ready for use in your groups.
If you have any questions contact the office:  
office@coutreach.org
New Procedures

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How to Complete the Commissioning Process for New Centering Prayer Presenters: 

As of November 2019 we have a simplified process for becoming a commissioned presenter of the Centering Prayer Introductory Program:

➢ When someone completes the Presenter-in-Training Phase of the Presenter Formation, the chapter coordinator needs to log into the Contemplative Outreach website, and under "Programs" go to "Training".
➢ On the left column on that page click on “Request for Commissioning Recognition”.
➢ The chapter coordinator will need to complete the form and submit it when completed. This form is only visible to coodinators, contact persons and members of the Presenter Formation Service Team.
➢ If there are any problems with the process please direct questions and concerns to Margaret Swavely at mbswavely@gmail.com or one of the Presenter Formation Service Team members. 
➢ The Contemplative Outreach office receives the completed form and enters the information in the data base. A commissioning letter is then prepared and mailed to the new commissioned presenter.  
➢ A detailed description of the commissioning process can be found on page 14-15 of the Planning Guidelines for Hosting the Presenter Formation for Centering Prayer, Nov 2019.

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How to Post Events on the Contemplative Outreach Online Calendar:
 
Login with your credentials on https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/
Under Events. go to "Create an Event"
Fill out all the fields: title, description, etc. Make sure to include the times of your events in the description, along with the city and appropriate time zone, e.g., 9am Eastern (New York) Time.
"Event Time & Date" section: the time fields only indicate the start and end time of the event – not the daily start and end times.
 Submit the event
Once you submit your event it will reviewed before being posted on the calendar to ensure accuracy and fit for our global community. This may take a few days.
 
To download the "Submit a New Event" step by step instructions:
Under "General Files", find and download "Instructions for Posting Events to Online Calendar"
New "Young" Group
40's and Under Contemplative Prayer Group
A bi-weekly Centering Prayer Group on Zoom

An initiative of Contemplative Outreach
hosted by Keith Kristich and Colleen Thomas


 
The 40's and Under Contemplative Prayer Group is a space for young contemplatives
to gather and practice with community support.

 
Who we are:
Keith is a commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer as well as a certified teacher of meditation and the Enneagram. Keith works with people in small group, retreat, and one-on-one settings, helping people slow down and reconnect with their deep self. You can find more about Keith's work at www.keithkristich.com/
 
Colleen is a certified Spiritual Director trained in the monastic art of spiritual discernment and retreat leadership, with an MA in Theology from Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, CA. She is founder and curator of Soul Care LA an urban “monastery” offering spiritual companionship for enterprising artists, entertainers and entertainment professionals. To find out more, visit her website www.soulcarela.com
 
More information here

The Great Reality Deep Within
A virtual retreat held August 14-16, 2020
By  the12-Step Outreach Service Team


 

As we say in 12-Step, we do the footwork and turn the results over to God. The retreat far exceeded our expectations and that of many of the participants. Some comments:

“The people, the sharing, the conference, the panel discussion, the prayer and the music! Exquisite, sublime, funny, so freakinhonest …”

“Your witness of affirming each other and deep desire to share the good news
of the practice was a gift …”

I found in strengthening and enlightening …”

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With determination and some apprehension, 12-Step Outreach hosted The Great Reality Deep Within virtual retreat the weekend of August 14-16, 2020.  We leaned into the pandemic by venturing into unknown territory for us! We offered the retreat free of charge and provided an opportunity for donations. To our surprise, more than 800 individuals registered from 16 countries and 41 states in the U.S., and an average of 350-385 individuals tuned in. We were also blessed with an outpouring of generous donations. Read more>

A Lectio Divina Immersion Retreat Experience
From a virtual retreat led August 7-8, 2020
By the Lectio Divina Service Team


 
A Lectio Divina Immersion Retreat was conducted August 7-8th on Zoom by the Lectio Divina Service Team. As many as 178 people participated from 12 different countries around the world. Twenty-nine new presenters are in the process of being trained and are seeking opportunities to present. Below is a reflection from one participant that highlights some of the benefits from a Lectio Divina retreat or workshop. If your group is interested in hosting a retreat or workshop, whether online or in person, please contact Mike Potter at r.mike.potter@gmail.com for more information.
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"In the morning hours, I awoke to join with 159 other folks, not only the United States, but from around the world. The countries of Ireland, Iceland, Canada, Denmark and Paris, France as well as others, to share in Centering Prayer. Words escape me but it was a very special experience." Read more>
 
New Resources

 

NEW YOUTUBE VIDEOS:
Christian Contemplative Heritage Series Now on YouTube:
It was recorded in 1994 to affirm the solid Christian tradition of contemplative spirituality and to counteract criticism of Centering Prayer from Catholic sources such as the EWTN cable TV network.
 
Most of these recordings have not been available for about 15 years (since when people used to buy them on VHS). The series has extensive talks by Fr. William Meninger and Fr. Basil Pennington, in addition to Fr. Thomas Keating. Most of the talks given by Fr. Thomas became the Prologue to the Spiritual Journey series. 
  • Playlist of the entire series, with links to each individual video is here.
  • Playlist just of Fr. Meninger's talks on "The Cloud of Unknowing" is here.
 
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NEW BROCHURE:
The 12-Step Outreach Service team is grateful to members of ECI (Extension Contemplativa Internacional) for their help in the translation and design of the 12-Step brochure into Spanish. The brochure is now available to download here on the Contemplative Outreach website, and also on the 12-Step Outreach website: cp12stepoutreach.org.

You can also order copies from the Contemplative Outreach Book store in packets of 50. Special thanks to Maru Ladron de Guevara and Myrna Castro from ECI for their help on this project.
Register for "The Voice" Here - Anyone can subscribe
Please email Donna Cole-Struck at office@coutreach.org
with any changes to your email or mailing address.
Thank you.
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