Contemplative Core Team member Carolyn Hebenstreit looks ahead to the upcoming Centering Prayer retreat hosted by Contemplative Outreach of St. Louis, and reflects on her own retreat experience: “The ideal disposition for the divine encounter is the gathering together of one’s whole being in silent and alert attentiveness.” Fr. Thomas Keating
Fr. Bill Sheehan, OMI is the facilitator for this 8-day retreat of silent prayer, August 4 to 11 at the Marianist Center off Hwy 109. Cost is $975. Partial scholarships are available.
This is an opportunity for those who have been practicing Centering Prayer for six months or more for deeper union with God through a communal sharing of silence and stillness.
I attended an intensive retreat last summer and found great comfort in the re-examination of my personal human condition. It reaffirmed that God loves me just where I am. I more fully understand that to follow Jesus I needed to readjust my idea of where to find happiness – I must repent – I must accept what I do not like, empty myself and allow God’s healing mercy to fill in the emptiness. The alternating periods of learning and silence allowed these ideas to flourish and grow in me. I believed dryness in my prayer was a bad thing. I learned that in the silence is where God speaks to me. If you have a question or would like more information, please call me 314.578.0062 I would be happy to share my experiences.
To register go to http://centeringprayerstl.org/8-day-centering-prayer-retreat-aug-2023/