RETREATS & GROUPS
Resource Meetings
Resource Meetings are held almost every Saturday on the same Saturday of each month in the same location generally from 9-12 noon. Different Saturdays of the month are held in different geographical areas of Houston. They are community led and consist of 30 min. DVD features of Thomas Keating presentations drawn from over 30 hours of his work.
Discussions and fellowship are held around the DVD and there are two 20 minute prayer sessions. Everyone regardless of faith is welcome.
Retreats
Centering Prayer Contemplative Retreats are held in different retreat houses in the area and last from a weekend to 10+ days. They consist of 3-4 hours of group Centering Prayer sessions with 20-30 minute sits at a time. Each retreat consists of either grand silence, i.e. no talking or eye contact, or no talking except after dinner with spiritual readings during meals.
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The Ruah Center also offers 24-hour Centering Prayer experience using the method taught by Fr. Thomas Keating, OCSO, of Contemplative Outreach, Ltd.
Ongoing Contemplative Prayer Groups
While Centering Prayer is done privately most of the time, a weekly sharing of the experience in a small group (up to fifteen) has proven to be very supportive for those who are drawn to this format. The weekly meeting also serves as a means of continuing education and of accountability. Just knowing that one’s group is meeting together each week is an enormous encouragement to keep going, or an invitation to return to, the practice of centering prayer if circumstances such as illness, business, family problems, or urgent duties have prevented one from carrying out one’s commitment to daily practice for a time.
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By sharing the experience of centering prayer with others, one’s own discernment of the ups and downs of the practice is sharpened. The group serves as a source of encouragement and can normally solve problems that might arise regarding the method. The collective discernment of the group tends to be well balanced. (Adapted from Open Mind, Open Heart, 20th Anniversary Edition, p. 173) .
LOCATION | ADDRESS | CONTACT NAME | CONTACT PHONE | MEETING DATES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Storey Church- Lectio-Divina | 4910 Montrose Blvd. | Meeting ID: 817 8630 7122
Passcode: TSCPrayer | Online/Zoom each Thursday 8:00-9:00 am. | |
Emmaus Spirituality Center- Lectio-Divina | 12211 Memorial Dr. | 281-241-9678 | Online each Tuesday 10:30-11:30 am. | |
Eagle's Trace | 14703 Eagle Vista Drive, Houston, TX 77077 | Carolyn Rogas | 713-304-5749 | Wednesdays, 9:30am - 10:30am (Enter guest gate, park in guest lot, enter lobby and ask for Meditation Room) |
St. Cecilia Catholic Church | 11720 Joan of Arc, Houston, TX 77024 | Richard Rose | 713-682-1678 | Thursday evenings, 7:00pm - 8:00pm (Room 201 in the Community Center) |
St. Paul's United Methodist Church | 5501 Main St. @ Binz/Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77004 | Judy Leatherwood-Smith | 281-494-1193 | Thursday, noon - 12:30pm (Chapel) & Sundays, 8:30am - 9:00am (Jones Building) |
Chapelwood United Methodist Church | 11140 Greenbay, Houston, TX 77024 | Peter Johns | 713-365-2813 | Mondays, 9:00am (Bride's Room) |
St. Bernadette's Catholic Church | 15500 El Camino Real, Houston, TX 77062 | Chris Twardowski | 281-486-0337 ext. 317 | Wednesdays, 6:00pm (except holidays); Brandsma Building, Room B213 |
St. Martha Catholic Church | 2302 Oak Shores Drive, Kingwood, TX 77339 | Susan Devy | 832-489-3939 | Sundays, 7:30am - 9:30am; Sid Smith Prayer Room, L25 (downstairs in the Parish Life Center) |
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church | 2450 River Oaks Blvd.
Houston, TX 77019-5898 | Shirley Burger | 713-542-9118 | Thursdays, 8:30am - 9:25am (except holidays) |
Christ Church Cathedral | 1117 Texas Avenue, Houston, TX 77002 | Carole Pentony | 713-504-5858 | Mondays, 11:15am |
St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church | 6800 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX 77025 | Paula Djabbarah | 281-703-3877 | Tuesdays, 10:00am (Jamail Family Center) |
Ruah Center at Villa De Matel | 6510 Lawndale, Houston, TX 77023 | Jeanette Easley | (713) 928-6053 | Visit www.ruahcenter.org. |