St. Mary's Sewanee will host a Welcoming Prayer Immersion on April 26-30, 2009. Gail Fitzpatrick-Hopler, President and CEO of Contemplative Outreach, Ltd., will lead the retreat. Registration begins at 4 PM on April 26 and ends at 3 PM on the 30th. Cost for the retreat is $450. Commuter cost is $274.
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
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.
SUMMARY & CONTACT INFORMATION
Event: Welcoming Prayer Immersion
Location: St. Mary's Sewanee, Sewanee, TN
Presenter: Gail Fitzpatrick-Hopler
Date: Sunday, April 26-30, 2009
Time: 6:00 PM April 26- 3:00 PM April 30
Cost: $450; Commuters: $274
More Information: St. Mary's Sewanee: (931) 598-5342; www.stmaryssewanee.org or Contemplative Outreach of Middle Tennessee: (615) 373-0613; www.centeringprayermidtn.com
