Prayer for Healing and Wholeness in Our Post-Election World
A silent, contemplative retreat with Claire Rusowicz and Anne Simpkinson
November 8 – 10, 2024
$465 single, $410 double
(includes an ensuite bathroom and all meals from Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast)
The Mercy For All Scholarship provides support for those experiencing financial challenges.
➔ Learn more and apply here.
“Responsibility for the world, not just for our individual well-being, moves us to contemplation” - Constance FitzGerald, ODC
About this Offering
No matter the outcome of this year’s election, our nation will face tremendous challenges following months of rancor and divisive, wounding campaign rhetoric. During this weekend of intentional silence and stillness, we will seek to create a spaciousness within in order to nurture the enduring vision and experiences of the Sacred. This silent retreat will include periods of Centering Prayer; contemplative practices; simple body exercises; contemplative conversation; and quiet time for reflection, reading, and walking the grounds. We will be encouraged by the words and poetry of contemporary contemplative visionaries including Constance FitzGerald, ODC, Teilhard de Chardin, Ilia Delio, Thomas Keating, and Cynthia Bourgeault, who echo the ancient prophets’ trust that contemplative prayer, “can bring within the realm of possibility … the paradigm shifts and transformation required to invent a new kind of earth community.” (C. FitzGerald). While this retreat is intended for those with a centering prayer or other contemplative prayer practices, a very brief review of Centering Prayer will be provided on Saturday morning.
About the Presenters
Claire Rusowicz is a spiritual and retreat director and spiritual director supervisor, with more than 25 years’ experience working with groups and individuals. Based in Connecticut and Massachusetts, she currently works in private practice and serves as a guest retreat director at centers in both states. Claire is also a member of the College of Directors at Fairfield University’s Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality in Connecticut.
Anne Simpkinson has been practicing Centering Prayer (CP) since 1996. She is a certified Introductory CP retreat leader and, while living in New York City, served as a CP facilitator at St. Bartholomew's and St. Ignatius Loyola churches and co-coordinator of Contemplative Outreach for three years. She currently facilitates contemplative prayer and writing retreats in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Together, they co-facilitate contemplative three- and four-day retreats in New England.