Centering Prayer: Weekend Immersion – Deepening the Contemplative Dimension of Life

This retreat will focus on Centering Prayer and the integration of consent in our lives. There will be communal Centering Prayer sessions each day. We will explore attentiveness to the wholeness of our being and open to the knowledge and presence resident in our bodies. Centering Prayer will open us to a deepening felt sense of presence. We will explore the calling to live into a higher mode of consciousness, one of abundance and liberation. This invocation comes with responsibility to remove the obstacles we have in us which arise from the addictive and reactive structures that restrict our growth.

We will meet for Centering Prayer sessions and brief presentations with each session. In addition to reflection and prayer, you will be invited to practice attention throughout the weekend. We assume that participants have a regular practice of Centering Prayer.

This retreat is a collaboration between the Contemplative Outreach Chicago and Connecticut Chapters. In the Chicago area, the retreat is in person at the La Salle Manor Retreat Center. Alan Krema, CO-Chicago, and Mike Smoolca, CO-Connecticut, will be the presenters with Frank Pendola as chant leader. The Connecticut area will hold their in-person retreat at Holy Family Retreat Center. The two in-person sites will be connected via Zoom conference. Alan Krema’s presentation will be virtual via Zoom to Holy Family Retreat Center and Mike Smoolca’s presentation will be virtual via Zoom to La Salle Manor. This registration form is for the Chicago area in-person participants or virtual attendees using Zoom.

In the Chicago area, the retreat will be held at the La Salle Manor Retreat Center, 12480 Galena Rd, Plano, Illinois. The retreat center is 55 miles southwest of Chicago.

The retreat offers three options:
1) Overnight lodger which includes room and board at the retreat center for 2 nights;
2) Commuter includes three meals and use of the retreat’s facilities during the retreat;
3) Virtual Attendee (via Zoom) participates remotely in the retreat via Zoom meeting.

Note all times are in Central Time Zone.