Contemplative Outreach News
Volume 23,  Number 1 · December 2007

Quick Links
Breathed by the Spirit By Fr. Thomas Keating ~ From the President  ~ New Resources ~ Outreach 
Reader's Reflections ~ Resource Faculty ~ The Spanish Corner ~ Regional Updates

Outreach

12-Step Outreach 

Formation for Contemplative Outreach Service included a 12-Step Dual track at both the Austin and Atlanta Formations. As a result of the positive feedback and encouragement received at the Austin Formation, a 12-Step Dual Track was offered at the formation held in Atlanta. Four participants from various 12-Step programs took part in the dual track at each location. Myrna Toohey and Roberta Oster served as staff persons for both the regular formation and the 12- Step track. In addition to following the schedule of the regular formation, the dual track participants met with Myrna and Roberta as a small group following the staff presentations and practicum sessions of the respective conferences. In the small group, the two staff persons modeled and/or guided the participants through a 12-Step version of the conferences, taking time to go through each conference, pointing out the differences in the two versions. Each participant received a notebook that contained the 12-Step version of Session One; Sample Handouts; Sample Formats for 11th Step Centering Prayer Groups and 11th Step Prayer & Meditation 12-Step Meetings. They were invited to ask questions, make comments, and offer feedback to the staff. 

Because the response has been positive, offering a 12-Step version of the Centering Prayer Practice as an option for future formations is being considered. In its present version, those who are interested in becoming presenters of the “Centering Prayer as the 11th Step Practice” are required to go through a formation and commissioning process. The dual track participants must meet the criteria for the regular Contemplative Outreach Formation and the criteria established by 12-Step Outreach. 

There will be a 12-Step Recovery Conference with Fr. Thomas Keating and Fr. Richard Rohr at the Albuquerque Hotel, Old Town, Albuquerque, NM - June 27-29, 2008. The focus of the Conference will be to offer instruction to improve our conscious contact through a daily practice of prayer and meditation, and to form communities to support us in this practice. The Conference is for people who are active in any twelve step program with the intention of improving their meditation practice and enlarging their spiritual life. 
Jenny Adamson, 12-Step Outreach @

Steering Committee for International Outreach 

A Steering Committee is a group who are responsible for providing guidance on an overall strategic direction. It does not take the place of a Service Team, but makes the larger portion of the organization aware of the general direction that needs to be followed as well as the information that has been gathered. This Steering Committee is made up of the following Contemplative Outreach members who have had some experience bringing Centering Prayer to other countries, and will act as Liaisons: Timothy Koock Virgin Islands, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh Gail Fitzpatrick-Hopler, Susan Komis South Africa Fr. Thomas Keating Brazil, UK Patrick Uhm, Madeline Soo, South & North Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Fr. Bill Fickel Taiwan, China Bonnie J. Shimizu Trinidad & Tobago, Philippines, Canada Patricia Johnson Ireland

Quick Links
Breathed by the Spirit By Fr. Thomas Keating ~ From the President  ~ New Resources ~ Outreach 
Reader's Reflections ~ Resource Faculty ~ The Spanish Corner ~ Regional Updates