Contemplative Outreach of Maryland and Washington (COMW)

Centering Prayer: Revisiting the Fundamentals

Half-day retreats to deepen awareness of God’s transforming presence in our lives.

"Invitation from God"

An interview with Thomas Keating—the third in this COMW retreat series



Saturday, April 17, 2021

9 a.m. ET to noon

Via Zoom

In our third half-day retreat in this series, we will hear Thomas Keating describe the spiritual journey as a process of transformation in which we move through the levels of our consciousness, releasing old traumas and spiraling towards the presence of the Divine in our inner selves. 

In Centering Prayer, we consent to and are sustained through the dark nights, the losses and the letting go of purification, through which we are gradually transformed. The gifts and fruits of the Spirit begin to rise up within us, manifesting in our way of being in the world. Through our consent to this pattern of dying and rising in the spiritual journey, we live out the pattern of Christ’s own death and Resurrection, i.e., the Paschal Mystery. As we are transformed, the Divine presence in us manifests as peace, joy, gratitude and freedom.

The invitation to embark on the spiritual journey is universal. In the final video of our series, Thomas explains the Parable of the Great Banquet as a representation of God’s gracious, open invitation to everyone in the human family to embark upon the spiritual journey of transformation in Christ.

Registration is Required

Suggested $15 goodwill offering per Half-Day Retreat

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email providing information

on how to make your goodwill offering and instructions

on how to join the Zoom retreat.

Click the button above to make a Goodwill Offering for the April 17th retreat via PayPal/credit card. Suggested Half-Day Retreat offering is $15 per retreat.

OR

Contribute by check made out to COMW and mailed to:

Kathleen Blank Riether, COMW Treasurer

5265 Winter View Dr., Alexandria, VA, 22312

NEXT COMW HALF-DAY RETREAT

Subject to change (As of 03/20/2021)

Saturday, May 22, 2021

Fr. Vincent Pizzuto, author of

Contemplating Christ, the Gospels

and the Interior Life -- details to follow.

CONSIDER JOINING

THE COMW COORDINATING TEAM!

Interested in joining the COMW Coordinating Team?

Contact COMW Chapter Coordinator Benedicte Vibe Christensen.

Please read the following Contemplative Outreach Ltd documents: Vision Statement and Theological principles of Contemplative Outreach. As stated in the Guidelines of Contemplative Outreach Service; the ministry of a chapter of Contemplative Outreach Ltd is "to support existing Centering Prayer groups, foster the formation of new Centering Prayer groups, and offer training for Group Facilitators and Presenters of the Introduction to Centering Prayer Workshop."



COMW CP GROUPS OFFERING CENTERING PRAYER VIA ZOOM & CALL-IN

Click here for a listing of Contemplative Outreach of Maryland and Washington (COMW) groups offering centering prayer via Zoom or conference call.

COMW October 24-29,

2021 Centering Prayer Retreat

Click here for details. This retreat is now full (posted 2/14/2021). Contact Kathleen Blank Riether to get on the wait list. Please contact Suzi Kindervatter for further information.

COMW Spring 2022 Overnight Facilitating Workshop (dates TBD)

Please refer to FACILITATOR TRAINING / ENRICHMENT information below. Please contact Marjorie Centofanti a for further information. Rescheduled from May 2021(posted 2/14/2021).

COMW FACILITATOR TRAINING/ENRICHMENT

In partnership with our national organization, Contemplative Outreach Ltd. (COL), COMW is now offering a hybrid path for Facilitator training /enrichment. It combines:

• COL’s new online training (February 26-27, 2021) registration now closed. You may download slides, and handouts and exercises from the training.
• A COMW mentoring period, for those in Maryland or D.C. who’ve also completed COL’s online training as required in The Facilitator’s Handbook
• COMW’S in-person, overnight Facilitating Workshop (Spring 2022) 

For details and registration information click here. Contact Marjorie Centofanti for further information.

CONTEMPLATIVE OUTREACH OF

NORTHERN VIRGINIA (CONOVA)

Second Saturday Morning of Centering Prayer. Visit CONOVA Website for details. Next one is April 10th. Click here for more information.

MARCH WEBINARS

led by L.J. Milone

The Gospel of Mark - A Contemplative Commentary. Sundays 3-4 pm, 8 sessions

March 7 - May 2 (except Easter April 4)

Click here for info and register in advance.

Contemplative Outreach Ltd March e-Bulletin Click here

Contemplative Outreach Ltd Quarterly Volunteer January e-Newsletter

"The Voice" Click here

Contemplative Outreach 12 Step Program Click here

Center for Christogenesis - Ilia Delio Click here



Contemplative Outreach of Maryland and Washington (COMW)

Centering Prayer is a receptive method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God's presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. 

This method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship. Centering Prayer emphasizes prayer as a personal relationship with God and as a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with Christ.

$5 $10 $15 $20 -- No amount is too small!

Thank You!