by Mary Jane Yates, Alberta, Canada I have heard from those who knew him that Fr. Thomas was fond of using the word “experiment” when it came to discerning how best to fulfill CO’s vision of sharing the practice of Centering Prayer and its contemplative vision as widely as possible. Such ‘experiments’ in teaching and practice were important especially in the early days of CO, before the Introductory Workshop and format for intensive retreats was developed.  And perhaps as we reach our 40th year in a world that has changed and continues to change so quickly, new ways of sharing the ..read more

  by Teresie Viera Hašanová, CO Czechia-Slovakia I think there was no better way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Contemplative Outreach community and honour Fr. Thomas Keating´s birthday (March 7) than to introduce the method of Centering Prayer to more than 60 newcomers, exactly on United in Prayer Saturday 2024. Most of them joined 127 participants on our Czech-Slovak Zoom hour, to pray and to watch the video “A Life Surrendered to Love.” I must say they were really lucky to have such a great experience of being a part of the whole Contemplative Outreach community on ..read more

  Q: For my sacred word is it okay to use the four words QUE QUE SERA QUORA? This has helped me get through many confusing stresses and uncertainty. I need help; sometime I lose my faith and get overwhelmed. A: You can use whatever sacred word you choose; the shorter the better. It is a symbol of your renewed consent to the presence and action of the Divine Indwelling, and is offered just as that; confident that the Divine accompanies you in absolutely everything. I’m fond of James Finley’s words: “If we are absolutely grounded in the absolute love of God that protects us from n ..read more

  by Bob Brown Thousand Oaks, California, USA For the past 73 years, I’ve been a participant in the human condition, both as recipient and contributor. In 1997, a woman addressed a church gathering in Santa Barbara, California, and spoke of Fr. Thomas Keating and Centering Prayer. I said to myself, “This is what I’ve been looking for.” I bought Open Mind, Open Heart. Looking back, that was the day, by God’s grace, I intentionally added my footsteps to those of so many others on the spiritual journey. A number of years later, I contacted Contemplative Outreach, asking for a recommendation ..read more

  by the Contemplative Outreach Board As members of the Contemplative Outreach Board, we are volunteers who offer our time and service in an effort to support and advocate for the vision of Contemplative Outreach. We oversee the business aspects and financial integrity of the nonprofit status of Contemplative Outreach. In these services, we are guided by the Theological Principles and Guidelines for Service (scroll down the page) that Fr. Thomas laid out for our organism, summarized in the opening statement: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all ..read more

  by Martina Weber Echzell, Germany Six years ago I read a lot about the Welcoming Prayer and tried to integrate it into my then beginning Centering Prayer practice. It was a dark night of the soul period in my life: deep depression, a form of dementia that had come overnight triggered by a medication against my bipolar condition, and strong suicidal impulses. It just felt dishonest to pray “I let go of my desire for survival and security“ because I only had an overwhelming and pervading desire for non-survival, for my life to be discontinued. Still I accepted the advice of the contact pe ..read more

by Susan Kenney Sacramento, California, USA It is a prayer shawl, created in 23 hours. Each hour new threads are added. Each of different color and texture. Each with its own culture and language. We begin our weaving in the Philippines, holding the world’s  pain in reverent silence.  This silence is gentle. This silence is forgiving. We pray that we too might be gentle and forgiving in a world often harsh and accusatory. Thanks to the wonder of technology, we share the next hour with the young contemplatives who remind us that it is the most unlikely people who are invited to a cont ..read more

  Q: This question is in reference to the proper procedure for a group doing Centering Prayer. Our leader starts out by going around the circle and checking in with each person, how they are doing. Then we have a short psalm reading and then we do our first 20-minute sit, followed by a 2 minute meditative walk around the chapel, then we do a second 20 minute sit. At the end of that we say the Our Father and then members are free to offer their intentions for prayer as in intercessory prayer. During this time things can get political, praying for all the troubles of the world, as well as o ..read more

  When I saw the notice for the course “Utmost Charity: A Call to Deeper Love,” although I had many previous commitments on my calendar, I was immediately drawn to it. Feeling that this strong pull might be the Holy Spirit guiding me, I signed up. This course was transformative and it has helped me see that my whole life is a prayer. I was then invited to share a bit about this with the Contemplative Outreach community. Some background: I began practicing Centering Prayer during my discernment in the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross sometime in the summer of 2020. One of my spo ..read more

  Q: I have been in recovery for 19 years from 35 long painful years of addictions and have meditated for as long. I have followed nondual teaching of resting in being. I have always been anxious and had a sense of unease deep inside; it has lessened over the years but always under the surface something i cannot resolve. I am so grateful to have found Centering Prayer and love Thomas Keating’s truth of Divine Therapy and believe that it is working within me, but since having to choose a sacred word the tension and pain has become more acute and I prefer to rest in the breath. I can see fr ..read more