Centering Prayer Weekend Retreats
-
What is Centering Prayer?Centering Prayer is a receptive method of Christian silent prayer that deepens our relationship with God, the Indwelling Presence … a prayer in which we can experience God’s presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. Centering Prayer practice uses the methods taught by Fr. Thomas Keating, OCSO, or Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. It is compatible with other methods of wordless meditation intended to lead one into contemplation. In Centering Prayer, we rest silently in the presence of God. See this simple guide from Contemplative Outreach. Ltd. to get started.
-
Online Group Centering SessionsEvery tuesday & Thursday
We invite you to join our online prayer group twice a week for Centering Prayer and wordless meditation on Tuesdays evenings or Thursdays mornings. All are welcome! Simply find a comfortable and quiet spot, open Zoom, and enter the following link numbers Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. Zoom Link#: 831 5433 0062 Thursdays at 10 a.m. Zoom Link#: 816 0439 2982
-
-
Upcoming Weekends2025 weekends
- March 7-8
- April 11-12
- May 9-10
- June 13-14
- July 11-12
- August 8-9
- September 12-13
- October 10-11
- November 14-15
-
Centering Prayer Weekends
Join us every month for a weekend given to the practice of presence, to surrender to the Divine Being – in the company of a contemplative community and the natural beauty of the Villa De Matel grounds.
Centering Prayer Weekends begin on Fridays at 6:00 pm and end on Saturdays at 4:00 pm. Simply bring your bible and journal.
Our Centering Prayer Weekends are intended for individuals who already have a dedicated centering practice.
“We stop making effort and just take everything as it comes. And then you’re in the present moment. That’s the only place God is. So, if you’re there too, then all you have to do is accept what’s happening, or do what God wants you to do about what’s happening, which will be infused and … guided … regardless of how many faults you have. …So, what’s the point of living? As far as I can see, it’s only a day at a time to give God a chance to take over our very complicated human situation completely … And whatever we do is in the service of that project, so we don’t have to think about it if you’re in the present moment.” -Thomas Keating, excerpt from “That We May Be One”
-
What to Expect During Your Visit
Guests stay in simple dormitory-style, single rooms with shared restroom facilities. Three meals are served: Breakfast at 8:00 am, Dinner at 12:00 pm, and a light Supper at 5:00 pm. Guests have access to Ruah's many prayer spaces as well as the outdoor grounds of the Villa de Matel.
-
Retreat Costs"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."We are suggesting a $75 a night per person. This Centering Prayer Weekend retreat is a one-night stay (24 hrs) retreat.
- 2 Corinthians 9-7
We accept cash, check, debit and credit card transactions at the Ruah Center. Checks can be mailed and made out to: Ruah Spirituality Center 6510 Lawndale St., Houston, Texas 77023.
You may also make an online donation through our Sisters of Charity Square Account with the link that follows. -
Intro to Centering Prayer Workshops - DATE PENDING -
(for beginners)Might God’s Spirit be inviting you into a deeper, more meditative prayer practice? Our introductory workshops are designed for those who are beginners in the practice of Centering Prayer or for those who want a refresher.
Have you already developed a personal discipline of prayer? Lately when you settle down to pray, do you simply find yourself tired of the sound of your own voice? Do you sense an increasing attraction to a place of interior silence?
All participants must register on our link below. Our staff will reach out to registered participants as the workshop date approaches.
The Lord is good to those who wait for him,To the soul who seeks him.It is good that one should wait quietlyFor the salvation of the Lord.Our next Introductory Centering Prayer Workshop is on (DATE PENDING) from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Lamentations 3:25-26
