February 2026

What's your why?

Dear friend,

Our past couple eBulletins have given center stage to embracing life’s “messes” -- of which there always seem to be plenty! And, for many of us, Centering Prayer helps immensely.

But finding refuge from storms is not the only reason people choose to engage this practice, and it might not even be the top reason given by volunteers for sharing it inside prisons and jails.

Our most recent Centering Inside newsletter (vol 2, no 2) invited readers inside the walls to share their stories about the practice; you can read some below about what draws a few friends. Now, we're also extending that invitation to you -– what is it that keeps you practicing Centering prayer, attending groups or events, reading this eBulletin, and/or sharing this practice with others? Tell us here.

This same edition of Centering Inside told of the first 20 years of Centering Prayer inside the walls; the one we’re now putting together (vol 3, no 1) will focus on the next decade or so – starting with Ray Leonardini's going into Folsom in search of a group with whom to practice, and unpacking the bountiful fruit born of his having done so. Prison Contemplative Fellowship likely wouldn’t exist today had Ray not followed that inclination.

As our team gathers notes and works on concisely telling this foundational story, there’s a sentence – and a word – that keeps surfacing in my thoughts. The sentence was written by Janice Boyd, creator of the sketch that became PCF's original logo.

You can read here Janice's story of how the image came to her as a symbol of what was happening in the group at Folsom. The sentence that stays with me is: “I didn’t plan to keep attending, but the aliveness of the group kept me returning.”

That’s a great way to put at least one part of my way: aliveness.

Does "aliveness" have to do with your why? Or what word(s) would you choose?

We look forward to hearing from you and having more "whys" to share in future eBulletins.

Chandra (Executive Director)

on behalf of the Prison Contemplative Fellowship (dba Praestolari) team

From Holding On to Letting Go: Michael on Centering Prayer and Change

(24 minutes)

In this conversation, we sit down with Michael, a member of the Outside the Walls community, for a heartfelt reflection on presence, prayer, and inner transformation.


Michael speaks with honesty and humility about how Centering Prayer has shaped his life, inviting him into a practice of letting go, listening, and learning to live from a place of increasing trust and acceptance. Through the silence, he has found inner freedom, a fresh perspective, and a deeper understanding of who he truly is.

Thank you, Michael, for your vulnerability and courage in sharing parts of your journey, as well as for your ongoing consent to being transformed!


📖 Visit our blog to read more reflections and stories from our community. 
 
What a blessing it is to be able to share these powerful examples of transformation quietly unfolding -- through stillness, community, and grace. They are welcome reminders that contemplative practice has the potential to change our lives in profound ways.

So, what's your why?

You may have seen in our January eBulletin that we’ve been connecting more with members of our community -- those who have experienced incarceration and are now part of our Outside the Walls (OTW) group, those who volunteer their time bringing Centering Prayer into locked facilities, and those who continue to share their stories with us through letters and postcards from inside the walls.

No matter where people reside, we continually discover a common thread that connects us all: the desire to consent to being transformed -- to grow in intimacy with the Divine, and thus also with others.

As our mission states, we are building contemplative community that transcends walls. The testimonials below offer real-life reflections on why we practice Centering Prayer and how it supports us on our journey... sitting together in the Silence, where no walls exist.

From Inside the Walls

From Volunteers

Meet JoAnn

(3 1/2 minutes)

Meet Cate

(4 minutes)

From our Outside the Walls community

From you

Our Mission


Prison Contemplative Fellowship/Praestolari builds contemplative community that transcends walls. Journeying together as people affected by incarceration, we share Centering Prayer meditation and foster connections to support healing and transformation, both personal and communal.

We support contemplative practice inside and beyond prison walls by:

• Making Centering Prayer resources widely accessible
• Strengthening communication and connection across the walls
• Accompanying practitioners as they return home from incarceration
• Co-sponsoring annual retreats with COPOST

Support our Mission

We place great value on all actions and intentions that align with our mission and help grow/support the community.

Resources & Materials



Our goal is to share contemplative resources as broadly as possible. We send a variety of materials inside locked facilities—responding to direct requests from incarcerated individuals, supporting volunteers and chaplains who accompany Centering Prayer groups, and sharing resources through our partnership with the Human Kindness Foundation. See some of our most requested materials below.

If you would like to receive books or DVDs, please contact us at hello@uspcf.org. Let us know if you are currently sharing Centering Prayer inside—or if you’re interested in learning how to get started.

Help us reach more people

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube, or visit our blog for reflections and updates. 

Your participation helps this work travel farther and reach those who may need it. When something resonates, engaging—by liking, commenting, or sharing—is one of the most meaningful ways to support this work.