Sold Out – Opening to the Heartbreak of the World: A Deepening Centering Prayer Retreat

Contemplative Outreach of Eastern Ontario/West Quebec Annual Spring Guided Silent Retreat

Thank you for your interest in this retreat, we are now sold out.

Dates: Thursday, May 15 – Saturday, May 17, 2025
(Registration information below)
Click here to see the Retreat Schedule

To love, to open the heart, to risk, to be in tears before beauty, to be in tears before wonder, to treat our neighbor as our self…  So that whatever may come, we’ve held the benchmark high for what the human species has in its heart and is evolving toward. ~ Cynthia Bourgeault

We are living in times of great trouble, confusing and uncertain. During this retreat we will open to this heartbreak through sharing in the silent contemplative practice of Centering Prayer along with other practices such as the Buddhist Mahayana tradition of Tonglen and variations of the Welcoming Prayer as taught by Contemplative Outreach.  Please join us for this time of sharing in the sacred heart of Divine Love, which knows deep suffering and pours out only love in
return.

Facilitator: Mary Jane Yates

Mary Jane is an experienced practitioner and commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer/Prayer of Consent. She has been a part of Contemplative Outreach for 12 years, serving as a prayer group facilitator, Introductory Workshop presenter and retreat leader. While a Canadian citizen she grew up in Nigeria, West Africa and has a passion for cross- cultural and diversity issues. She is devoted to contemplative life through her Centering Prayer practice and as a nature therapy guide. In 2019, she completed her training as a guide with the Association for Nature and Forest Therapy, and sees this work as a natural extension of her passions for both health promotion and contemplative practice.

The gift of Centering Prayer is one that can help our human family sit down and hold vigil with it all. Thomas Keating knew this when he spoke of the deepening interconnectedness that emerges as we practice the prayer. In this way, we contribute to the healing of the earth itself. Though we gather to practice the Centering Prayer way of silent prayer, other contemplative meditators are most welcome.

Registration Information (Retreat is now sold out)
Includes program fees, accommodations, and 6 meals (dinner Thursday – lunch Saturday)
A few Partial bursaries are available please contact Susan Kehoe, smkehoe@rogers.com