 Mike Smoolca, Chapter Coordinator, Contemplative Outreach of Connecticut
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Welcome to the Contemplative Outreach of Connecticut Chapter website!
Our Mission is to support, grow and share the Contemplative Outreach Prayer Practices as well as to foster and enhance the Christian Contemplative Community in the Connecticut area. Our Vision is to align with the latest practices and principles of Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. and to endorse a comprehensive view of the Keating legacy. Please see our Information Page for more details. We welcome you to our online presence! Please browse our site, sign up to be on our email list (below), register your Centering Prayer Group with us (below) and request an Introductory Workshop, other Program for your Parish or Group as well as additional information or assistance on our Contact Page (found under Resources). - Mike Smoolca, Contemplative Outreach of CT Chapter Coordinator. Meet our Chapter Coordinating Team. |
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Latest News11/22/2023:
Click here to view the CO-CT Winter 2024 Quarterly Update! Visit our Chapter's Centering Prayer Presenter Training page if you're interested in becoming a Commissioned Presenter of Centering Prayer. We are anticipating holding another class in the Spring of 2024. We've continue to update our Prayer Group listings! Upcoming area events of local interest: December 2023: Saturday, December 9, 2023: Finding Fullness through Simplicity with Mark Kutolowski, Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road West Hartford, CT 06107 and via Zoom January 2024: Saturday, January 27, 2024: BioSpiritual Focusing – Welcoming an Embodied Experience of Grace, with Donna O’Connor and Mike Smoolca, Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road West Hartford, CT 06107 and via Zoom February 2024: Saturday, February 3, 2024: Lectio Divina Introductory Workshop with Frank Pendola or Nancy Stimac, Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road West Hartford, CT 06107 and via Zoom Saturday, February 24, 2024: Merton and Me | A Living Trinity with Douglas Hertler, Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road West Hartford, CT 06107 (in-person only) March 2024: March 8 - 10, 2024: Around the Circle: A Contemplative Enneagram Soul Journey with Reverend Nhien Vuong, J.D., M.Div, Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road West Hartford, CT 06107 Saturday, March 16, 2024: Becoming An Everyday Contemplative with Judith Valente, Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road West Hartford, CT 06107 and via Zoom April 2024: April 12 - 14, 2024: Weaving a Nest for Stillness: A Contemplative Weekend Retreat, with Claire Rusowicz and Anne A. Simpkinson, Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road West Hartford, CT 06107 and via Zoom Please check our Current Events Page for additional events as they are added over time! The following local Prayer Groups are offering online meetings via Zoom: Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center (Public Chapel), 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT Mike Smoolca, msmoolca@hotmail.com, 860-798-8992 Thursday evenings 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Mary Gate of Heaven, Windsor Locks, CT Nancy Stimac, nstimac@comcast.net, 860-683-4490, Wednesday evenings Please contact the person listed to find out how to join. If you are a local group holding an online Centering Prayer meeting please let us know and we'll list you here. Contact us at: contact@co-ct.org If you'd like to move your Prayer Group to use Zoom the following link which also provides a way to getting to a National listing of online groups: https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/general-tips-using-zoom-staying-connected |
Thought for the WinterFollowing Mary's example, the fundamental practice for healing the wounds of the false-self system is to fulfill the duties of our job in life. This includes helping people who are counting on us. If prayer gets in the way there is some misunderstanding. Some devout persons think that if activities at home or at their job get in the way of praying, there is something wrong with their activities. On the contrary, there is something wrong in their prayer.
― Thomas Keating, The Mystery of Christ. |
Updates have been made to our list of Prayer Groups: http://www.co-ct.org/prayer-groups.html
We would like to list your Prayer Group on our page, please fill out the form on the previously linked page to provide us information about your group and we'll list so others will know how to find you.
Here's the link to Fr Thomas's tribute page on this site.
We would like to list your Prayer Group on our page, please fill out the form on the previously linked page to provide us information about your group and we'll list so others will know how to find you.
Here's the link to Fr Thomas's tribute page on this site.
If you have an interest in becoming more actively involved in serving the Contemplative Outreach of CT Chapter please contact Mike Smoolca at: msmoolca@hotmail.com
Contemplative Outreach of CT has developed a flyer as a way of concisely describing who we are. We invite you to download our new flyer coming soon and share it with your Prayer Group and others.
Contemplative Outreach of CT has developed a flyer as a way of concisely describing who we are. We invite you to download our new flyer coming soon and share it with your Prayer Group and others.
Contemplative Outreach of CT will continue to offer opportunities to acquire Contemplative Books at a remarkable price!
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We are currently consolidating our used book list and will publish our revised list once we've completed this.
The proceeds from the sales of these books support the ongoing work of the Contemplative Outreach of CT chapter! |
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The Christian Contemplative Experience at Holy Family Retreat Center is in it's eighth Retreat Season in 2023 - 2024!After years of offering Contemplative Programming and working closely with local Christian Contemplative Prayer Community Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT formally began to offer a structured program and community-building effort around Christian contemplative prayer during its 2016-17 retreat season. From introductory workshops to daylong immersions to weekend and longer intensives, the multi-tiered programming offers those curious about the topic and those more experienced many opportunities to meet, share and explore the contemplative tradition together. This program, known as the Christian Contemplative Experience (CCE) is entering it's sixth year at Holy Family.
CCE is informed by the principles, prayer practices and teachings of Contemplative Outreach, LTD, founded by Thomas Keating in 1984. It includes the methods of Lectio Divina, Centering Prayer and Welcoming Prayer, among others. CCE is also enriched by various classical and modern Christian Contemplative spiritual masters.. |
Beginning the fall of 2023, Holy Family is entering its eighth season offering the Christian Contemplative Experience (CCE), a structured series of workshops and retreats that support the Christian Contemplative Community. The Christian Contemplative Experience at Holy Family has a full set of programming as in past seasons. Since COVID, CCE offers much of its programming using a Hybrid Approach, allowing participant to attend in-person or over Zoom whichever approach works best for them.
Holy Family also invites you to participate in their Thursday evening Christian Contemplative Prayer group which is currently being offered alternatively in person and over Zoom. Please contact Mike Smoolca by email at cce@holyfamilyretreat.org for further information on these meetings.
The Christian Contemplative Community that has gathered at Holy Family is an important part of their programming which they hope enriches and strengthens individuals and the Community during this difficult time. Your involvement and support matter and help sustain and grow this important offering.
All are welcome to join the Contemplative Community at Holy Family in West Hartford. You're invited to learn more at: http://www.holyfamilyretreat.org/cce. We encourage our community to visit it often as we will make updates as circumstances necessitate
Holy Family also invites you to participate in their Thursday evening Christian Contemplative Prayer group which is currently being offered alternatively in person and over Zoom. Please contact Mike Smoolca by email at cce@holyfamilyretreat.org for further information on these meetings.
The Christian Contemplative Community that has gathered at Holy Family is an important part of their programming which they hope enriches and strengthens individuals and the Community during this difficult time. Your involvement and support matter and help sustain and grow this important offering.
All are welcome to join the Contemplative Community at Holy Family in West Hartford. You're invited to learn more at: http://www.holyfamilyretreat.org/cce. We encourage our community to visit it often as we will make updates as circumstances necessitate
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The Christian Contemplative Experience at Holy Family was pleased to welcome The Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault, one of the great contemplative guides of our times. along with other well-known Contemplative teachers for a retreat from November 8 – 14, 2019.
Here is link to the resources from the Retreat. |
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Register with us
If you're not already on the Contemplative Outreach of Connecticut email list or if your Centering Prayer group is not listed in our list of Prayer Groups please provide us with your information below.
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For Introductory Workshops, Programs and other requests please use our Contacts page.
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