In the 1970s, when people were turning to India and Eastern religions to learn meditation techniques, a group of Catholic monastics gathered at St Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Masschusetts to reclaim the meditative practices of the ancient Christian mystics. From this meeting, Centering Prayer has come down from the monasteries to take its place in everyday life. Now a worldwide Christian and interfaith movement, Contemplative Outreach offers an invitation to rest in the heart of God and is a gift for these unsettling times.

The Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor will host the Rev. Armand Proulx, one of the early practitioners, to lead a Centering Prayer workshop Saturday, Sept. 16 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Proulx  has been walking beside Trappist monk, Father Thomas Keating, since the beginning of the Centering Prayer and Contemplative Outreach movements. In fact, Proulx was the one who named the practice "centering prayer" and was the first person to teach this meditative practice outside the monasteries. He has devoted himself to contemplative prayer and study through his years as regional director of the LaSalette Missionary Order, as a human resources consultant at Mass Mutual, as a husband and father and as a UCC minister.  He has conducted centering prayer workshops for over 40 years. 

During his time with us, Proulx will review the simple guidelines of Centering Prayer, offer some practical points, answer questions and explore how Centering Prayer contributes to peace in our turbulent times. Participants will challenge themselves to incorporate the fruits of this prayer into the ordinary stuff of their everyday lives. Can Centering Prayer be the heartbeat of centered living? The workshop will also include two 20-minute sessions of centering prayer.

A simple lunch of soup and bread will be provided.  Registration is requested for lunch planning purposes. Register through the church office at congochurchbbh@outlook.com or at (207) 633-4757. A $10 donation (sliding scale) is requested at the workshop.