GROUPS & RETREATS
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.
FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH
10:00am - 12:00pm
12211 Memorial Drive
Houston, TX 77024
(inside Emmaus Spirituality Center)
Meeting includes Thomas Keating video, group discussion, and Centering Prayer sessions.
CONTACT: mpavlik48@gmail.com
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.
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
St. Cecilia Catholic Church | 11720 Joan of Arc, Houston, TX 77024 | Kim Martin or Deacon Sam Mancuso | Kim: kimmartin4554@sbcglobal.net or 713-253-6957; Dcn. Sam: 713-907-2197 | 1st & 3rd Wednesdays and Thursday evenings, 7:00-8:00 pm, Room 202 in the Community Center
|
St. Paul's United Methodist Church | 5501 Main St. @ Binz/Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77004 | Judy Leatherwood-Smith | 281-731-9530 | Sundays, 8-9 am, online via Zoom |
Chapelwood United Methodist Church, The Center for Christian Spirituality | The Anchor House, 11140 Greenbay, Houston, TX 77024
www.thecenterfcs.org | Nancy Sterling | nlsterling@aol.com | Sundays: 8:45am, Contemplative Eucharist, Chapelwood Chapel
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays: 9:00am on Zoom
Wednesdays & Fridays: 9:00am in-person, The Anchor House
Mondays: 5:00pm on Zoom |
St. Bernadette's Catholic Church | 15500 El Camino Real, Houston, TX 77062 | Deacon Kevin Woodline | 281-486-0337 | Tuesdays and Thursdays: 7:00am in the Church building |
St. Martha Catholic Church | 2302 Oak Shores Drive, Kingwood, TX 77339 | Susan Devy | 832-489-3939
sudavy@gmail.com | Sundays, 7:30-8:45 am, online via Zoom |
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church | 2450 River Oaks Blvd.
Houston, TX 77019-5898 | Melissa Grobmeyer | 281-660-3020
mkg@mkgart.com | Thursdays, 8:30 am-9:25 am (except July, Aug and holidays), both in person group in Sid Smith Chapel and Zoom group |
Christ Church Cathedral | 1117 Texas Avenue, Houston, TX 77002 | Carole Pentony | 713-504-5858 | Mondays, 11:15 am-noon, Mellinger Room, hybrid in person and audio |
Teleconference Centering Prayer Group | Conference Call | Paula Djabbarah | 281-703-3877 | Tuesdays, 10 am CST, via conference call. Please contact Paula for more info. |
Ruah Center at Villa De Matel | 6510 Lawndale, Houston, TX 77023 | Jeanette Easley | (713) 928-6053 | Visit www.ruahcenter.org. |