Welcoming Prayer Immersion

April 6-10, Sunday 6 pm until Thursday 3 pm

The Five Day Immersion retreat offers an in-depth introduction, review, and immersion into the Welcoming Prayer practice. The retreat helps establish the prayer as part of our daily lives. Topics to be covered include 1) the human condition, 2) the method of the welcoming prayer practice, 3) the fruits of the prayer & extending the fruits into daily life. Retreatants may participate in discussion, questions and answer sessions, and private interviews with the staff. Silence will permeate this retreat and there will be daily periods of Centering Prayer.

THE WELCOMING PRAYER METHOD

Notice and sink into the feelings, emotions, thoughts, sensations, and commentaries in your body.
Welcome the divine indwelling in the feelings, emotions, thoughts, commentaries, or sensations in your body by saying "Welcome."
Let go by repeating the following sentences:
"I let go of the desire for security, affection, control."
"I let go of the desire to change this situation."
"...the ordinary events of daily life become our practice..
The routine of life is the path to holiness for lay folk.
Contemplative prayer is aimed at transforming daily life with its never-ending round of activities."
Fr. Thomas Keating, Open Mind, Open Heart, p. 125

Presenters:

Cathy McCarthy has been actively involved since 1985 in Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. From 1988 - 1996, Cathy was a member of Chrysalis House in Warwick, NY, a contemplative lay community, presenting the teachings of Fr. Thomas Keating, ocso on the Method of Centering Prayer and living a contemplative lifestyle in everyday life. In 1997, she founded and is an active member of the Contemplative Living Communities. Currently, she serves as the Coordinator for Contemplative Outreach of Orange County New York;




Gail Fitzpatrick-Hoper is President and CEO of Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. She is an international speaker and retreat director. She is a founding member of Contemplative Outreach and has worked closely with Fr. Thomas Keating for the past twenty-two years serving the mission of Contemplative Outreach world wide.




Residential Fee: $425        Deposit: $50

Email us at StMarysSewanee@bellsouth.net for a brochure