One way to share the fruits of your own prayer life and to support Contemplative Outreach’s vision is to become a commissioned presenter of the method of Centering Prayer.  

We invite you to express your interest in participating in this training below. By expressing your interested and preferences below, you will contacted as the details about this program develop.

This training is one component of becoming a Commissioned Presenter of Centering Prayer. 
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions On Becoming a Presenter of Centering Prayer

What are the suggested guidelines for learning to become a presenter?

1. Participation in a Contemplative Outreach sponsored Centering Prayer Introductory Program.
2. Faithful to a daily practice of Centering Prayer for at least three years.
3. Whenever possible, recommended by chapter Coordinator/Contact Person or someone from Contemplative Outreach.
4. Attendance at a 5-to-10-day Intensive Retreat or willingness to attend during the Presenter-in-Training period.
5. Knowledge of Open Mind Open Heart by Thomas Keating, and familiarity with Invitation to Love, Intimacy with God and the “Spiritual Journey” series.

Where and with whom will I do my formation?
Anyone who is a commissioned presenter may provide the formation either one-on-one, in a small group or remotely.  

How much does the formation to become a presenter cost?
The provider of the formation will determine the cost, based on materials needed, possible stipends for the person/persons involved and other considerations. Our suggested offering for this training will be between $250 - $300 / student. This amount may change based on the number of those interested in formation and the number of trainers involved.

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Our Spring 2023 Presenter Formation Class - 5/26-5/27/2023 and 6/2-6/3/2023

The folks in the photo (top to bottom, left to right) are:  Henry Schoenfield, Mike Smoolca (trainer), Bryson Waldo, Joseph Slane, Dawn Enderwood, Michael Duarte,George Van Kirk, Marie Rock, David Smith

Eight candidates from around the country, deeply steeped in their Centering Prayer practice were trained by, Mike Smoolca  Mike Smoolca is a Commissioned Presenter of Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina and Welcoming Prayer, long-time Centering Prayer group facilitator and the Contemplative Outreach of CT Coordinator. He is also coordinator for the Christian Contemplative Experience at Holy Family and the Northern CT Chapter of the International Thomas Merton Society. Mike is a practicing spiritual director, spiritual director supervisor and BioSpiritual Focusing companion and instructor. 
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The following provides some background of the Presenters-In-Training that are completing this training:

Michael Duarte, Massachusetts
Michael was first introduced to meditation by his doctors to help him recover from a serious injury.  After initially practicing deep breathing relaxation techniques, Michael undertook an 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction class by an instructor taught by Jon Kabat-Zinn of UMASS Medical School.  He has been meditating daily for over 12 years; for the first 7 years in the Eastern traditions of meditation – sitting, walking and forest bathing meditation and practicing loving kindness.  However, seeking to integrate meditation with his Catholic upbringing, Michael learned of Center Prayer over 5 years ago and has ever since been practicing Centering Prayer both individually and as part of a bi-monthly prayer group.  Michael is a semi-retired entrepreneur and engineer with an MBA from the Wharton School and an MS in Computer Science from UMASS-Dartmouth.

Rev. Dawn Enderwood, Oklahoma
Dawn grew up on the prairies of Kansas, where her father was a rancher. She attended the University of Kansas, receiving a BS in Journalism and then received a Master of Arts Communication Theory from Wichita State University. For many years she taught communication classes at Wichita State University and Friends University in Wichita, KS, and while in seminary at she taught at Concordia University in Austin, TX. Dawn attended seminary at the Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest in conjunction with the Episcopal Seminary in the Southwest. After moving to Edmond, she completed the Doctor of Ministry from Phillips Theological Seminary, and a specialization in interim ministry from Luther Seminary. Dawn retired from Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Edmond after serving there 18 years. Since then, she has served as interim vicar of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Oklahoma City OK, interim rector of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Norman, OK, and currently serving as the interim pastor at Salem Lutheran Church, Stillwater OK.

Marie Rock, Florida
Marie Rock has been practicing Centering Prayer for more than 10 years.  She currently participates in two online Centering Prayer Groups as well as an in person Centering Prayer Group at her parish, St. Pius X Catholic Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where she also serves as a Eucharistic Minister and Lector.
The many rich resources from Contemplative Outreach, The Cenecle and The Center for Action and Contemplation are instrumental in Marie’s continuing journey toward a more meaningful relationship with God and all creation. Marie is a retired Parks and Recreation Professional and is an active volunteer in numerous community organizations. With the grace of God, she hopes to share the beauty of this simple practice that has significantly changed her life.

Rev. Henry Schoenfield, Massachusetts
Henry is a certified professional coach, trained spiritual director, and ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. Having first been introduced to Centering Prayer in 1996 he has been a regular practitioner of Centering Prayer and other forms of mediation since. In his years of ordained ministry, he has served in parish and congregational ministry, hospital and hospice chaplaincy, clinical education of chaplain students and spiritual direction. He is a student of the Christian Wisdom path and holds Centering Prayer, the Welcoming Practice, and Lectio Divina as cornerstone practices of Wisdom work and the development of the Christian path.

Rev. Joseph Andrew Slane, Alabama
Joseph is a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church USA. In retirement he is active in The Episcopal Church.  Contemplative practices have been part of his life for decades, and particularly Centering Prayer in more recent years. Joseph and his wife Beverly lead the Centering Prayer Group at All Saints Episcopal and serve together on the Leadership Team for Contemplative Outreach Birmingham. Joseph seeks to savor life.  His favorite beverages are the sacramental ones: water and wine.  He desires to be a Presenter to share the good news of a practice he believes God uses to strengthen the church and extend the loving transformative kingdom of Jesus Christ in the world.

Dr. David Smith, Alabama
David was a Professor of Music at Birmingham-Southern College for 31 years and is now retired. He was active as well for many years as a performer in the Southeastern part of the United States. He is currently a member of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Homewood, Alabama (a suburb of Birmingham) where he sings in the choir, is a Lay Eucharistic Minister, and a Lay Eucharistic Visitor. He is finishing his third year in Education for Ministry, a four-year certificate program in theological education created and sponsored by The School of Theology at Sewanee, The University of the South. He has had a Centering Prayer practice for eight years.

George Van Kirk, Alabama
George was born into a military family in 1953 and grew up all over the world. He enlisted in the Navy right after high school, was stationed on the USA West Coast, and cruised the Pacific and Asia during his seven-year hitch. George worked as an engineer in the Huntsville, Alabama aerospace industry and retired from the Army Missile Laboratory in 2016. He married Patsy from Athens, Alabama in 1980. They are parents to three children, Melissa, George, and Rachel. When the Van Kirks retired, they moved to the Birmingham, Alabama area to be close to their families and grandchildren. George has always felt a call for deeper communion with God from a very early age as an acolyte serving Mass. His spiritual journey has included fellowship in many denominational church settings serving as an Elder, Deacon, and Sunday School teacher for many years. Lectio Divina has been a key component in his discipleship practices and over the past four years has grown to include the practice of centering prayer.

Bryson Waldo, Alabama
Bryson lives in Birmingham, Alabama and is a retired pediatrician.  He was first introduced to contemplative prayer 25 years ago at a parish retreat.  He explored and practiced various forms of contemplation including breath prayer, Christian Meditation and Lectio Divina over the ensuing years.  After a retreat with Tom Ward at St. Mary’s Sewanee 10 years ago, he began a regular practice of Centering Prayer and became a member of the Centering Prayers group at All Saints, Birmingham.  He has also attended retreats with Tom Ward focused on Lectio Divina, the Welcoming prayer and the Forgiveness prayer. He has mentored an Education for Ministry seminar for the past 12 years and incorporated the skills of contemplation with this group. Bryson has found the contemplative journey to be a powerful and transformative focus of his devotional and prayer life.  It has deepened his relationship to the indwelling presence of God and empowered his lay ministries in many ways.  He is excited to have an opportunity to share the gifts he has received through the presentation of Centering Prayer to others. 

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Our Spring 2022 Presenter Formation Class - 5/27-5/28/2022 and 6/3-6/4/2022

The folks in the photo (top to bottom, left to right) are:  Fran Mastro, Mike Smoolca (trainer), Hee Soon Kwon (Commissioned Presenter/mentor), Sharon Junn, Daniel Yi, Judith Griffith, Nayoung Kim, Ann Thomas

Six candidates from around the country, deeply steeped in their Centering Prayer practice were trained by, Mike Smoolca with assistance from Hee Soon Kwon. Mike Smoolca is a Commissioned Presenter of Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina and Welcoming Prayer, long-time Centering Prayer group facilitator and the Contemplative Outreach of CT Coordinator. He is also coordinator for the Christian Contemplative Experience at Holy Family and the Northern CT Chapter of the International Thomas Merton Society. Mike is a practicing spiritual director, spiritual director supervisor and BioSpiritual Focusing companion and instructor. Hee Soon Kwon is a commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina and Welcoming Prayer for Contemplative Outreach and is a mentor, for Nayoung Kim, one of Presenter's in training for this class. Hee Soon is offering the class her knowledge, experience and insights during this training.

The following provides some background of the Presenters-In-Training that are completing this training:

Judith Griffith, Pennsylvania 
Judith has been practicing Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina , and Welcoming Prayer for over ten years. She is a 2018 graduate of Shalem Institute of Spiritual Formations’ Transforming Community Program which focuses on leading contemplative prayer groups and retreats.  Her contemplative journey has not only taken her inwardly but also outwardly including over a dozen pilgrimages both domestically and worldwide. In her home parishes she has served as a CCD teacher, Eucharistic minister, small group facilitator, and retreat leader.  Judith is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. She graduated from LaRoche University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a MSHS degree. She has been engaged in the health care industry over 45 years. It is her hope to share Centering Prayers’ gifts that have assisted her greatly in her spiritual, personal and work life and relationships.
 
Rev. Sharon Junn, Georgia
Sharon is a Spiritual director, ordained pastor, cross-cultural worker, hospital chaplain, Enneagram teacher, Sharon desires to accompany people on their sacred journeys by nurturing the heart of each individual.  After serving at a church for over a decade, Sharon engaged in reconciling work as a cross-cultural worker in a security sensitive country.  In 2021, Sharon co-founded SumTeo (Breathingspace in Korean), Center for Relationship and Communication, with the aim of transforming the community.  She has been practicing Centering Prayer for 8 years.  Sharon seeks to see God in all things and all things in God through practicing Centering Prayer and hopes to share that blessing with others.   
 
Rev. Dr. Nayoung Kim, Georgia
Nayonug is an Enneagram teacher with an understanding of energy, a trained spiritual director, and an ordained pastor.  She completed her M.Div and studied spirituality in her master’s program at McCormick Theological Seminary and completed D.Min program at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. She has been working as a pastor working on Christian education ministry, pastoral counseling, and spiritual formation since 1998. Since Nayoung’s early years, she had questions, “who am I?”, “who is God?” She found the answers through the experience of encountering God in her prayers and then her spiritual journey had started. She has practiced many different types of prayers, and the Centering Prayer is one of her favorite prayers. She believes that the Centering Prayer leads us to awaken the presence of God within us.
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Fran Mastro, Connecticut
Fran retired after teaching 35 years which she thoroughly enjoyed. At St. Elizabeth Seton Church in Rocky Hill, CT, she has taken part in Contemplative Dialogue practice for the past 20 years. These last 4 years, Fran has practiced Welcoming Prayer, Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina at the Holy Family Monastery in West Hartford, CT, where she also sings in the choir. She’s found these methods to be very healing and positively energizing and love integrating them into her life. Her hope to share them with others on our Spiritual Journeys. Fran is a member of the Contemplative Outreach of CT Coordinating Team. and the North-Central CT Chapter of the International Thomas Merton Society.

Ann Thomas, Florida
Ann has been practicing Centering Prayer since 2014, attending workshops and retreats led by Father Bill Sheehan at Our Lady of Florida and Maru de Gueva in Amarillo Texas. She has been facilitating a Centering prayer group in Fort Lauderdale for 4 years and is the Co-Coordinator of Contemplative Outreach of SE Florida. Her Centering Prayer practice has allowed her to "go deeper" in her relationship with God and share the fruits of the prayer with others. She believes in the value of centering prayer groups meeting weekly and sharing from the heart with like-minded people who want to enrich their relationship with God. Ann had an opportunity to meet Father Thomas Keating in March of 2017 and spent an afternoon sharing with him in St. Benedict's Monastery. This was during a difficult time in her life and she felt it was a blessing that he agreed to meet with her. They continued corresponding through letters until he passed away in 2018. Ann has been a certified addictions professional for 16 years working with Broward County's drug court program, providing hope and guidance to those with addictions. A gift of her centering prayer practice is to be able to hold space for her clients, show them compassion and offer them hope that they can recover with the help of their own Higher Power.
Her hope is to share her enthusiasm for Centering Prayer by training to become a Centering Prayer presenter.
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Rev. Dr. Daniel Daeseop Yi, California
Daniel is an Affiliate Faculty member in Spirituality at San Francisco Theological Seminary/ University of Redland and is dedicated to understanding how humans can be their authentic selves and live their lives fully through contemplative practice. The wholistic transformation and growth through contemplative practice is interconnected with communal and social change. He has been practicing Centering Prayer since 2008. His main desire is to help people who are hungry for spirituality to find themselves and their vocations through spiritual direction (individual and group), supervision, various contemplative practices, spiritual classes, and retreats. 

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Our Spring 2021 Presenter Formation Class - 5/21-5/22/2021 and 5/28-5/29/2021

The folks in the photo (top to bottom, left to right) are:  Deacon Darrell Blackwell (trainer), Mike Smoolca (trainer), Carol Tolonen, Ruth Oakley, Rev. Dianne Easdon, Tricia Knight-Bellisle, Suzanne Roy

Five New England candidates deeply steeped in their Centering Prayer practice were trained by, Mike Smoolca and Deacon Darrell Blackwell. Mike Smoolca is a veteran Commissioned Presenter of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina, long-time Centering Prayer group facilitator and the Contemplative Outreach of CT Coordinator. He is also coordinator for the Christian Contemplative Experience at Holy Family and the Northern CT Chapter of the International Thomas Merton Society. Mike is a practicing spiritual director, spiritual director supervisor and BioSpiritual Focusing companion and instructor. Deacon Darrell  Blackwell is a commissioned presenter for Contemplative Outreach and coordinator for the newly formed Contemplative Outreach of Maine chapter. Darrell is a deacon in the Catholic Church, Diocese of Portland, ME and recently celebrated 25 years in diaconal ministry.

The following provides some background of the Presenters-In-Training that completed this training:

Tricia Knight-Bellisle, Rhode Island
Tricia Knight-Bellisle graduated from Duke University School of Law in 1979.
She is a student of Centering prayer and learned the technique from a student of Basil Pennington. She had the opportunity to meet Basil Pennington at St. Joseph’s Abbey and this experience confirmed for her the value of a contemplative practice. She practiced Zen meditation for eight years at the New Haven Zen Center and has participated in several Christian-Buddhist retreats. She is also a Reiki practitioner. Tricia in 1993 joined the Child Protection Unit of the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General, prosecuting child abuse and neglect cases. In May,2018, after retiring from the full time practice of law, she graduated from the Spiritual Director’s Internship training program at the Spiritual Life Center. Since 2018, Tricia has been a practicing spiritual direction and has facilitated a variety of spiritual groups.

Rev. Dianne Easdon, Connecticut
Rev. Dianne Easdon is a retired psychiatric nurse, substance abuse counselor, hospice chaplain and an ordained Congregational minister in the  United Church of Christ. She was introduced to Centering Prayer in 1998 at a retreat on Enders Island Mystic Connecticut. Following that she attended a conference with Fr. Thomas Keating to further advance her practice. Over the years Dianne has led and attended many contemplative retreats, conferences and workshops all in support of her Centering Prayer practice and ministry to others. The daily practice of centering prayer has allowed Dianne to be more fully present when ministering to all those she has cared for. 

Ruth Oakley, Maine
Ruth Oakley lives in Lewiston Maine and has been practicing Centering Prayer for four years. She belongs to the Contemplative Outreach of Maine Chapter. She worked for the Diocese of Portland in Faith Formation and the Missions Office until retiring in 2017. As a young teen, she was introduced to Thomas Merton’s influence beginning with Seven Story Mountain; eventually leading her to religious life temporarily and then to Providence College for a degree in Religious Studies and a masters in Theology/Spirituality. Her faith journey introduced her to many different ways of praying. She admits however, that the Centering Prayer practice feels like “home”. Ruth hopes to share her love of prayer, especially contemplative prayer, by training to become a Commissioned Centering Prayer Presenter.

Suzanne Roy, Maine
Suzanne Roy, lives in Auburn Maine. She is retired health educator with a Master in Adult Education. Suzanne has been practicing centering prayer for five years. She began her journey in the practice of centering prayer when she attended a World Community for Christian Meditation Conference, held in Sherbrooke Canada. The following year, she attended an Introduction to Christian Contemplative Prayer workshop in Kennebunk Maine. As a result, these two events created a deep desire in her to incorporate the practice of contemplative prayer into her prayer life. These past years of practicing centering prayer has deepened Suzanne’s relationship with the Persons of the Blessed Trinity as well as increased her desire to share the richness of contemplative prayer with other Christians. Suzanne co-facilitates centering prayer meetings at her parish church. Suzanne is eager to discover where contemplative action will lead her next!

Carol Tolonen, Connecticut
Carol comes to Centering Prayer with a background as a developmental psychologist and psychotherapist and as a lifelong seeker of answers to the questions “What is human nature?” and “What is our relationship to the Source of our being?” Her own rooting in the Christian contemplative tradition leads her to see Jesus as a teacher and model of awareness of our divine indwelling and through this, of the interconnectedness of all beings which enables us to grow in our capacity to love our neighbors as ourselves. She sees Centering Prayer as a foundational practice in facilitating growth in awareness of and intimacy with God and is eager to share the practice with seekers of all faiths and walks of life.

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Our Fall 2020 Presenter Formation Class - 11/6-11/17/2020 and 11/13-11/14/2020

The folks in the photo (top to bottom, left to right) are:  Frank Pendola, Mike Smoolca (trainer), John Pagano,  Denise Sleeper, Rev. Vern Wright, Suzanne Robinson

Five New England candidates deeply steeped in their Centering Prayer practice were trained by, Mike Smoolca, a veteran Commissioned Presenter of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina, long-time Centering Prayer group facilitator and the Contemplative Outreach of CT Coordinator. He is also coordinator for the Christian Contemplative Experience at Holy Family and the Northern CT Chapter of the International Thomas Merton Society. Mike is a practicing spiritual director, spiritual director supervisor and BioSpiritual Focusing companion and instructor. 

The following provides some background of the Presenters-In-Training that completed this training:

John Pagano, Connecticut
John Pagano has been practicing centering prayer for 6 years and enjoys attending workshops and prayer group meetings. He wishes to continue to expand his knowledge of centering prayer through becoming a Commissioned Presenter of Centering Prayer.  John works as an occupational therapist in an adolescent psychiatric hospital.  He has a Ph.D. in marriage and family studies and presents workshops internationally on working with youth who have complex behavioral challenges. 

Frank Pendola, Rhode Island
Frank is a retired teacher, husband, father and grandfather who currently serves as song leader in two local parishes in R.I. He began practicing Centering Prayer after a few years of attempting to start a "contemplative" practice. A friend recommended that he read something by Thomas Keating and he  was immediately drawn to Centering Prayer. Even though the closest group that he could find was at Holy Family in West Hartford, CT,  an hour and a half away, Frank gladly made the drive to attend  Centering Prayer meetings. That was about six years ago and the rest is history.

Suzanne Robinson,  Maine
At present,  Suzanne Robinson and her husband Davis  live in Kennebunkport, Maine.  She was first introduced to Centering Prayer in the year 2000 when a friend sent her a Christmas card with an enclosure about Centering Prayer Basic Retreat with Fr. Thomas in Snowmass. Colorado. The retreats were said to be “Full”, but she called and Pat Johnson answered, responding,  “We have just had a cancellation for the retreat that begins next week.”  Suzanne felt it was a sign to attend.   While in Snowmass she discovered that she was drawn to Centering Prayer, and so it has been ever since.  When the opportunity to train to become a Commissioned Center Prayer Presenter came to her attention this fall, Suzanne felt that it was a natural next step on her journey.
 
Denise Sleeper, New Hampshire
Denise Sleeper  lives in Laconia, New Hampshire. She retired from a twenty five plus year career working with people with developmental disabilities and acquired brain disorder when her husband was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease at age 47. Denise shared that it was a devastating journey that traveled like a tsunami through their lives. She began her Centering Prayer journey when she attended a silent retreat soon after her husband transitioned to a nursing home just two years after his diagnosis. Denise’s  hope for the future is “to help people to connect to their true source in a deep and personal way, which is  what ultimately will help people to ride the storms of life with confidence and grace and come to know God as He Is...Pure Love.”
 
Rev. F. Vernon Wright V,  Massachusetts
Reverend Wright is an ordained parish minister for the United Church of Christ in Scituate, MA. A husband and father of three children, Reverend Wright, currently serves the First Trinitarian Congregational Church in Scituate. His first entry into Centering Prayer began in 1998 while he was in seminary near Boston. He submits that contemplation opened his eyes to becoming a parish minister. Ordination followed in 2001 and his Centering Prayer practice began in earnest while serving a UCC church in Helena Montana. Since his return to MA in 2008 to serve the Second Congregational Church, UCC, Rev. Wright has continued to practice, stating that Centering Prayer is the keel to the sailboat of who he is. His hope is that by becoming an official Centering Prayer presenter, he will become better at sharing the grace this method has brought to his own life.

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