Welcome
The fundamental purpose of centering prayer…is to contribute to bringing the knowledge and experience of God’s love into the general consciousness of the human family. …Contemplative prayer is a process of interior transformation, a conversion initiated by God and leading, if we consent, to divine union. …[It] is a fundamental constituent of human nature and hence available to every human being. It is accessed by letting go of our own idea of ourselves, turning our will over to God, and resting in the Divine Indwelling that is already present within us and waiting to reveal itself to us.
Thomas Keating, Open Mind, Open Heart
Contemplative Outreach of Westchester is truly glad you found our page. As one of the many chapters of Contemplative Outreach, LTD, we hope to support your centering prayer practice. Look around for resources to help you along your spiritual journey. We practice Centering Prayer and hope you will join us.
…Members of the Westchester NY Chapter of Contemplative Outreach
Announcements
6-Day Intensive and Post-Intensive Centering Prayer Retreat. May 4-9, 2025
Nothing deepens your centering prayer practice better than by attending a longer retreat. Fr. Bill Sheehan, OMI and Susan Turpin will direct a 6-day two-track retreat from May 4-9, 2025 at Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center in West Hartford CT. The intensive track of the retreat will watch and discuss video talks from Fr. Thomas Keating’s The Spiritual Journey. Instead of videos, the post-intensive track includes an additional hour of Centering Prayer each day. You choose the track that works best for you. Lectio Divina will be offered daily, as well as optional soul-friending with the staff. Silence is maintained throughout the retreat. Find details and registration at this link.
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Join a Monthly Virtual Mini-Intensive Retreat. First Saturdays, 8 am to 9:15 am. Sponsored by Contemplative Outreach of New Jersey. Two 25-minute prayer times separated by time for an optional meditative walk, followed by Lectio Divina with Guidelines for Christian Living by Father Thomas Keating. Registration is not required. The link to join is the same for each session. Dial by your location:
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York).
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Practices for Contemplative Living Part 2. Monthly: Oct. 19, Nov. 16, Dec. 21, Jan. 18 (Zoom), Feb. 15 (Zoom), Mar. 15, Apr 26 from 9am to 2 pm. Sponsored by Contemplative Outreach of New Jersey. With the exception of January and February which meet on Zoom, each session is an in-person program at St. Walburga Monastery, 851 North Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ. This program is based on the book by Julie Saad, Contemplative Life: Discovering Our Path into the Heart of God. Registration and details at this link.
Upcoming Events
Our Zoom programs typically are offered on the second Saturday of the month from 10:00am to noon. Registration is not required for our monthly Zoom events. Please contact us to request a link for an upcoming event.
October 12, 2024 Please note: This program runs from 10:00-11:30am
A Life Surrendered to Love video of Fr Thomas Keating OCSO
November 9, 2024
Difficult Conversations and Divided Communities: Meeting the Challenges of Our Time with a Contemplative Heart presented by Carl McColman
December 14, 2024
Welcoming the Light in Times of Darkness, an in-person day of prayer from 9am to 3:30 pm at The Center at Mariandale, presented by Sr. Peggy Murphy, OP. Details and registration here. We hope to record this program so those who cannot attend in person can watch after the event.
Featured Resources
Contemplative Outreach, LTD, recently celebrated its 40th year of service with a conference at Emory University, Atlanta, GA. Unedited versions of the proceedings can be found at this link.
Recording of Fr. Bill’s Sheehan’s presentation on Teachings & Principles of St. Ignatius
Programs and events sponsored by Contemplative Outreach of New Jersey
Podcast: Opening Minds, Opening Hearts