Centering Prayer Group
Contact: Janet Dobbs & Kathleen Ciani
Scheduled Meetings: Monday 11:00 a.m. to Noon in the Family Center – September through May. Please fill out the form below if you would like more information on joining the Centering Prayer Ministry.
Check bulletin or Flocknote for more information.
For a printable schedule, please click on this link.
Mission Statement: The primary mission of the Centering Prayer Group is to spiritually enrich the individual and parish community through contemplative prayer. The prayer group helps all develop the methods of contemplative practices by preparing ourselves to cooperate with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES FOR OUR TIME
We live in a time of uncertainty and violence, a time of unrest, even in the Church. We are better off when we face challenging times together.
Today, as in all times, there continues to be a hunger in committed Christians to grow in a relationship to God. They want to learn how to respond more effectively to Jesus and to the message of his life and Gospel.
Centering Prayer
Centering Prayer can be described as "resting" in God, or a "loving gaze" upon Him. The ultimate goal of Centering Prayer is not only to experience God and be embraced by his love, but to empower us to see Him, love Him, and serve Him in our neighbor, thus, the whole human family. It helps us to recognize and respond to God's presence in the ordinary realities of our daily life and in the present day events of history and society.
Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina cultivates centering prayer, Lectio Divina, literally meaning "DIVINE READING" is an ancient practice of praying the Scriptures. During Lectio Divina, the practitioner listens to the text of the Bible with the "ear of the heart," as if he or she is in conversation with God, and God is suggesting the topics for discussion. Scripture wants to lead us beyond the written page, to the truth and mystery of Christ that can never be captured fully in the written word.
The Heart of Centering Prayer is Love
Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina are keys to opening ourselves to embrace God's love. St. John of the Cross says that only love will ultimately change the heart from within.
The grace of Pentecost affirms that the risen Jesus is among us as the glorified Christ. Christ lives in each of us, present everywhere and at all times. He is the living Master who continuously sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and to bear witness to His resurrection by empowering us to experience and manifest the fruits of the Holy Spirit and the beatitudes both in prayer and action.
Centering prayer is a method designed to facilitate the development of contemplative prayer by preparing our faculties to cooperate with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Meetings include a period of prayer and reflective reading, especially Scripture.
New participants are always welcome and will be introduced to the practice of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina. For participants testimonials, please see below:
“I have been with the Centering Prayer Group since 2002. The practice of CP and Lectio Divina has helped me to mature in my faith journey. A special part of my spiritual growth has been to share and learn with this wonderful group of participants started by Sister Kathleen. JD”
“As I consent to God’s presence in my life through the regular practice of CP, I continue to be healed both spiritually and emotionally. Through this practice, I have become much more aware of God’s unconditional love, wisdom, compassion and unfathomable mercy in the everyday moments of my life. I am so grateful that our parish provides the opportunity to gather as a group to practice together both CP and LD. LHS”
“There are some things I’ve learned through the practice of Centering Prayer: God is present to me 24 hours a day, but I must learn how to be present to God. Prayer is a relationship and beyond something I say or do. This relationship, this sharing in Divine life, brings me joy, serenity and freedom to become the person God created me to be. Being part of a prayer group has been very beneficial for my spiritual growth. KMC”