“Our basic core of goodness is our true Self. Its center of gravity is God. The acceptance of our basic goodness is a quantum leap in the spiritual journey.”
Keating, Thomas, Open Mind, Open Heart, “Guidelines for Christian Life, Growth and Transformation #2.”
Contemplative Outreach of Indianapolis is part of Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. Established in 1984 by Father Thomas Keating, a Trappist monk, Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. is a worldwide spiritual network made up of individuals and small faith communities committed to renewing the contemplative dimension of the Gospel in everyday life and to teaching the method of centering prayer.
In the late 1980s, the Benedict Inn Retreat & Conference Center in Beech Grove, IN, began holding Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina workshops and retreats. As people began learning about and including this silent prayer form in their daily lives, a collective desire for continued learning and fellowship grew. The Contemplative Outreach of Indianapolis chapter formed on January 13, 2007, when 35 people met with the leaders from Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. to discern their intention to form a contemplative community. Today the CO Indianapolis Chapter has an active leadership team identifying the needs and programming for on-going growth. As a chapter, we have facilitated:
- Two Living Flame series with national Contemplative Outreach teachers
- Several day retreats exploring St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, Thomas Merton, Meister Eckhart, and Thomas Kelly
- Multiple ways of praying, including the Welcoming Prayer, the Prayer of Forgiveness, Lectio Divina, Attention/Intention, and praying with poetry.
- Growth through viewing many enlightening books discussions and videos, including spiritual mysticism writers like Cynthia Bourgeault, Thomas Keating, James Finley, and Richard Rohr.
- ZOOM and hybrid Centering Prayer Circles twice a month since the beginning of the pandemic.
Contemplative Outreach of Indianapolis continues to celebrate our past and plan for our future, offering opportunities to nourish and support one another in our practice of Centering Prayer.
- Several active prayer groups continue to meet, pray, and learn to provide support for our practice.
- Centering Prayer Introductory Programs by our chapter-commissioned Centering Prayer Presenters are available on request.
- An Intensive Centering Prayer 5-day retreat for experienced Centering Prayer participants offers the opportunity to extend the practice of Centering Prayer into daily life.
- Bimonthly opportunities continue where we gather to pray, learn, and share together as a Contemplative Outreach chapter.
For more information, please contact Mary Beth Riner on the Leadership Team.