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Contemplative
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Contemplative
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Outreach |
| November 2007 Newsletter (pdf, 982 kb) | ||||
Message from Coordinator of COSEW
Thank you to everyone associated with COSEW! I have felt your support through prayer, in your words of encouragement, and by your work for our spiritual network. I am so grateful for the leadership of Madeline Soo, Barbara Wuest, Barbara Prendergast, Sr. Kathryn Ann Kobelinski, and others that have brought us to this day.
The present leadership team and areas of focus are:
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Lois Blasinski - Outreach Ministries |
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Geraldine Busch - Resources and Contact with Prayer Groups |
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Debbie Harmon - Introductory Workshops |
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Sr. Kathryn Ann Kobelinski, SSND - Retreats and Finances |
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Ann Koerner CSA - Newsletter |
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Barbara Prendergast - Facilitator Formation |
Requests:
As you meet and greet and interact with others at work, or church, or in social settings, the topic of centering prayer might surface in conversation. Would YOU be willing to be a host person for a Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop? COSEW is looking to host workshops in secular settings (park clubhouse, libraries, etc) as well as churches. Please contact Debbie Harmon 414-581-3343, innermonk@sbcglobal.net
These days we hear many voices clamoring for our disposable income. As you sort out these pleas, consider a generous donation to COSEW and/or to the Contemplative Outreach international office. Our local organization heavily relies on monies from the introductory workshops. In the last year and a half very few workshops have been held. Our treasury is low! Kindly pick a month for your prayer group to collect funds through the "basket donation program" where each person gives according to their means. Send contributions to Sr. Kathryn Ann Kobelinski, 1910 W. Bolivar, Milwaukee, WI 53221.
Inspiration:
On April 21st the Chicago chapter of Contemplative Outreach hosted a day on "Contemplative Living" with Gail Fitzpatrick-Hopler. Ann Koerner, Sr. Kathryn Ann, and I attended the event. With practical application and humorous anecdotes, Gail shared her insights and her personal experience of being a contemplative in her everyday world with its many routines.
"The contemplative disposition requires us to pause, wait, and listen to the promptings of the Spirit."
May you continue to enjoy the warmth and beauty of the days and evenings of summer.
Judee Weber
COSEW Coordinator
Resource
Center
The Resource Center is Here to Serve You! Books for purchase To order or for a complete listing of what is available, Contact Geri Busch, Resource
Manager The Living Search for God by William Meninger, OCSO
New Edition Open Mind Open Heart by
Thomas Keating Please return Fr Anrico's VT on The Welcoming Prayer. Thank you ….and much more! |
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COSEW Newsletter Mailing address:
You are invited to support this ministry.
Donations can be given to your facilitator or sent to:
Submit Newsletter articles to Download Current Newsletter - November 2007 Editor: Ann Koerner, CSA |
Spiritual Direction…Faith Companions
To Spiritual Directors
COSEW is currently compiling a list of spiritual directors who are available to the Centering Prayer community for spiritual direction. If you are a spiritual director who is rooted in the practice of Centering Prayer, and you would like to be on this list, please contact Debbie Harmon at or at (414) 581-3343. Leave your name and address, where you will meet and contact information for directees.
To Persons Seeking Spiritual Direction
If you have been thinking about connecting with a spiritual director (also known as a spiritual guide or spiritual companion), there are several spiritual directors in Southeast Wisconsin who have dedicated themselves to an ongoing practice of Centering Prayer.
Contact Debbie Harmon at or at (414) 581-3343 if you would like a list of these directors. COSEW will provide the list to those inquiring, and will not make a specific recommendation for a particular director.
The Spiritual Directors
| Sister Bernita Marie Bittner,
SSND 1704 East Norwich Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53207 (414) 319-0508 Rev. Janis Blean-Kachigan Debbie Harmon, M.Div., M.A.P.C. Jean Hausmann, M.A. S Ann Koerner, CSA, MA Christian Spirituality Monica Meagher |
Barbara B. Prendergast St. Robert Catholic Parish 4019 North Farwell Avenue Shorewood, WI (414) 964-1268 Fr. David Shields, SJ Directors in training Gloria Dryer Peggy C. Kober *Please note: This list is for information purposes only. COSEW (Contemplative Outreach of Southeast Wisconsin) does not officially endorse the directors listed here. |
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Contact: Judee Weber 262-662-4445 Thank you |
Outreach Ministry at COSEW
In January, I accepted the position to coordinate the Outreach
Ministry for COSEW.
This ministry reaches out to the homeless,
the incarcerated,
people entrapped by alcohol and substance abuse, and
patients and staff in health care and mental health settings.
Goal
My goal is to introduce Centering Prayer to organizations
serving the above groups and then find individuals who feel called to lead one
of the groups. In the few months since I have accepted this call, several
individuals have stepped forward willing to lead groups. This has enabled us to
have discussions with the staff at several facilities:
St. Ben’s/Guesthouse
St.
Vincent de Paul Southside Meal Program in Milwaukee and
Love, Inc. in Burlington.
Special Needs Population
Gratitude
I personally have found Centering Prayer to be a life changing practice, and am most grateful to the leadership team and facilitators who answered the Spirit’s call to establish Centering Prayer groups in Southeast Wisconsin. Now I feel it is my turn to continue to sow new seeds.
Request for assistance
If you too are grateful and feel called to serve persons who are marginalized and vulnerable, please give some prayerful consideration to becoming involved in this ministry, either as a facilitator or as a member of the service team.
Contact me at (262) 895-7268 (evenings/weekends) or at
If you are in contact with other groups, organizations, agencies that may be interested in forming a group please contact me.
Whether you are able to assist directly or not, I ask you to join me in keeping this outreach ministry in your prayers, that we may honor the Spirit with our work.
Lois Blasinski
Member of the COSEW Leadership Team
Outreach Ministry
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The seeds on good ground are those who hear the word
in a spirit of openness, Luke 8: 15 |
Word Association for "Sit"
| Sometimes God speaks to us in unusual
ways. Often these ways are tailor-made to our own personality: this is
God's approach to getting our attention.
On March 17, 2007, I attended my first United-in-Prayer Day for Contemplative Outreach and found it to be very spiritually rewarding. I had my introductory course in Centering Prayer in September 2005 and have been faithfully practicing the prayer since then. I find, as Father Keating has said, that the "thoughts" persist. I continue to return to the sacred word, a symbol of my consent to God's presence and action within me. At the initial training I was amused by the term "sit" to indicate the time of prayer. While it does make sense to use this term since what we do is "sit", my previous associations with the word were in relation to my two unruly dogs. They did not consider "sit" to be something that they wanted to do for very long. They are easily distracted, a reality I also experienced when I practice a centering prayer "sit".
During the morning at the United in Prayer Day, Both Father Keating and Abbot Joseph Boyle spoke to the importance of listening and focusing our attention on God. At lunch I mentioned to Debbie Harmon my initial diversion at the term "sit" and my dog training associations with the word. She said (as had others) that she had not made that connection and was nice enough not to suggest that it was a peculiar thought. While I am not prone to visions, it happened that when I closed my eyes for our afternoon "sit", I saw a circle of various breeds of canines. I asked, "What breed am I?" I suddenly realized that I am a Border Collie - a very smart dog with a need to be intellectually challenged. I immediately recalled the demonstration I had seen of two Border Collies in Ireland. (Was it a coincidence that this was St. Patrick's Day?) In response to his whistles and hand signals, the dog trainer had his two dogs do a variety of amazing movements to herd sheep on a hillside pasture. Considerable practice was needed for each dog to learn to listen. Eventually, the dogs became very attentive to their master. Following this, I had a flash of insight! My role in life is to serve Jesus, the Shepherd, in tending his flock. Like the collies, God is teaching me how to hear his voice. I have been doing pastoral care, volunteering on
weekends for the past year and a half. I feel called to make this
volunteer work my main commitment when I retire from being a speech
pathologist. The vision closed with me as a small black and white dog faithfully listening for my Master's voice. I was then content to "sit" and listen.
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| Events |
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Prayer Groups | |
Outreach |
| November 2007 Newsletter (pdf, 982 kb) | ||||
Centering
Prayer Groups
Southeast Wisconsin Chapter
You are welcome to attend any of the prayer
groups below.
We suggest that you contact the facilitator before attending the gathering
Highlighted names are e-mail links
| Day | Prayer Group Location |
Date & Time | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sundays | St. John the Baptist Parish Center, Jefferson |
twice monthly (varies) 5:30 pm |
Jacqueline Titus 920-674-4539 |
| Tippecanoe Presbyterian Church, 125 W Saveland Ave. Bay View, Milwaukee |
2nd, 3rd, 4th 6:00 pm |
414-481-4680, |
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| Mondays | Summerfield Methodist Milwaukee |
5:30 pm June, July, Aug only; beginning in Sept on Thurs at 5:30pm |
414-272-2610 |
| Our Lady of Lourdes Milwaukee |
at 6:30 pm | Joan Copson 414-545-4316 |
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| SS. Cyril & Methodius rectory 822 New Jersey Ave., Sheboygan |
at 6:30 - 8:00 pm | 920-457-3895 |
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| Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist 331 N. Van Buren, Milwaukee |
at 6:45 pm | 414-332-8807 |
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| Casa Romero Milwaukee |
7:00 pm | Rosie Ayala 414-383-3449 |
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| Springdale Lutheran Church Mt. Horeb |
7:00 pm | Michelle Meyer 608-437-5647 |
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| St. Leonard Parish W 173 S 777 Westwood Dr., Muskego |
at 8:00 pm |
262-662-4445 |
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| Tuesdays | Froedtert Hospital Chapel Milwaukee |
11:30 am | Emil Harder 414-466-3337 |
| Lumen Christi Mequon |
1:00 pm | Gretchen Peterson 262-240-0087 |
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| St Alphonsus, Greendale |
1:00 pm | Geri Busch 414-281-4507 |
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| St. Mary's Waukesha |
6:30 pm | 262-524-8749 |
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| "CP as 11 Step Practice" Cathedral of St. John 331 N. Van Buren Milwaukee |
6:45 pm | 414-281-2066 or Carol Ann Meverden 414-332-4997 |
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| St. Paul's Racine |
6:30 pm | Rev. Frye 262-884-4571 |
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| St. Mary, Burlington |
6:30 pm | 262-245-1389 |
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| SS Peter & Paul Church 2490 N. Cramer Milwaukee |
7:00 pm | 414-962-2443 |
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| Wednesdays | Repairers of the Breach,
Homeless Shelter Milwaukee |
8:20 am | Mary Ann
Erdtmann 414-353-8740 |
| St. Robert Parish Center 2214 E. Capitol Dr., Shorewood/Milwaukee |
9:15 am | 414-964-1268 |
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| St. Monica's Whitefish Bay |
9:30 am | 414-332-1567 |
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| United Methodist Church Waukesha |
9:30 am | 262-896-0063 |
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| St. Rita's Group 4339 Douglas Ave. Racine |
6:30 pm | 262-639-9341 |
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| Holy Family Whitefish Bay |
6:50 pm | Tom Hooymann 414-962-7885 |
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| Holy Wisdom Monastery (formerly Saint Benedict Center) Madison |
7:00 pm 1st & 3rd |
Hatheway Brooks or |
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| Good Shepherd Church W 88 N 17658 Christman Rd. Rm 200 Menomonee Falls |
at 7:00 pm | 414-353-8740 |
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| St. Matthias Milwaukee |
7:00 pm | 414-543-3784 |
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| Thursdays | St. Leonard Parish W 173 S 777 Westwood Dr. Muskego |
at 9:00 am | 262-662-4445 |
| Tippecanoe Presbyterian Bay View, Milwaukee |
2:30 - 4 pm | Karen Hagan 414-481-4680 www.tippechurch.org |
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| Summerfield Methodist Milwaukee |
5:30 pm beginning in Sept. (in June, July, Aug on Mon at 5:30pm) |
414-272-2610 |
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| Unity West Highway 100 Milwaukee |
6:00 pm 1st & 3rd |
Paul Strecher 262-363-9498 |
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| Christ Presbyterian Church Madison |
6:30 pm 1st & 3rd |
608-233-9188 |
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| St John Vianney, Brookfield |
7:00 pm Every other week |
262-367-5857 |
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| St. Gregory the Great Milwaukee |
7:00 pm | 414-817-0209 |
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| St. Margaret Mary Parish Center 3970 N 92nd St., Milwaukee |
7:30 pm | Emil Harder 414-466-3337 |
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| Fridays | St. Margaret Mary Parish Center 3970 N 92nd St. Milwaukee |
9:15 am every other week |
Emil Harder 414-466-3337 |
| Tudor Oaks Retirement Community
Chapel Muskego |
2:00 pm | Rev. Steve Jones 414-525-6405 |
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| Saturdays | St. Luke Episcopal Madison |
9:00 am | Judy Zeller 608-222-6752 |
| St. Roman 1710 W. Bolivar Ave Milwaukee |
9:00 - 11:30 am Silent Saturday 1st Saturday of the month |
414-282-7310 |
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For the most current information, contact Barbara Prendergast (414) 964-1268;
| Events |
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Prayer Groups | |
Outreach |
| November 2007 Newsletter (pdf, 982 kb) | ||||
Silent Saturdays
First Saturday of Each Month
9:00-11:30 am
at St. Roman’s Parish. 1710 W. Bolivar Ave.Contact: Sr. Kathryn Ann: (414) 282-7310
YOU are welcome to join us whenever possible!
It is not necessary to call ahead. Just come and deepen your spiritual experience of centering prayer & Lectio by gathering the first Saturday of each month. We meet in the lower level gathering room of St. Roman's Parish Office building (entrance in the back - second door.)
You are renewed and on your way by 11:30!
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Retreats
"The Welcoming Prayer is my active prayer practice outside the time of centering prayer."
The fruit of this practice helps to diminish the influence of my own false-self system."
Bill Sheehan, OMI
Intensive-Advanced
Siena Center, Racine, WI
June 6-13, 2008
Contact: Monica Meagher
Intensive/Post Intensive
Portiuncula Retreat Center Frankfort IL
Oct 11-18, 2008
Contact: Sr. Benita Jasurda 630-725-6011
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CHICAGO CHAPTER SPONSORING LIVING FLAME PLUS
Seven Sessions of
Reviving, Reclaiming, and Reappropriating the Christian Contemplative TraditionEach session will be guided by a member of the leadership who has participated in Living Flame I and II in the Chicago Chapter.
Inquire about details to Margie Tomlinson
Visit the Chicago Chapter Webpage for more information.
Go into your inner room and close the door.
Contemplative Outreach Website Links:
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This
was very amusing to me. Other prayer companions did not seem to share
the same amusement when I mentioned it. However, they were kind enough
not to say that it was a weird word association and to suggest that I
try ink blots instead!