Newsletter Archive

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This issue begins with an invitation to the eight-day Intensive and Post-Intensive Retreats coming up soon in August at the Portiuncula Center; then we offer an advance opportunity to  regisiter – with an “early bird” discount – for our sixth annual One-Day Fall Workshop on November 4.

There’s an article by Chicago Coordinator Al Krema about the activities of our volunteer “circle of service,” with an invitation for you to get involved, and news about a new AA program in Chicago that is using Centering prayer as the “11^th step.”

We call your attention to a range of upcoming summer events, retreats, and conferences you may wish to attend, and suggest that you plan now if you are interested in taking part in a weeklong Wisdom School with Cynthia Bourgeault in North Carolina next March.  June Insights come from Samuel Johnson, Vladimir Nabokov, Henry David Thoreau, and Rumi.

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – June 2017

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Our late-May, pre-summer issue begins with an invitation to the Intensive and Post-Intensive Retreats coming up in August; then we share several participants’ personal reflections on the recent Cloud of Unknowing Retreat with Father William Meninger.

We invite you to consider participating in a range of upcoming summer events, retreats, and conferences,  and  offer a link to Contemplative Outreach’s June national newsletter, which includes a valuable summary of our organization’s revised and updated vision.  This month’s Insights come from Rami Shapiro, Ram Dass, Rachel Carson and Patti Smith.

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – May 2017

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This month, we begin by providing further information on the Intensive and Post-Intensive Retreats planned for August; then we share one participant’s reflections on the four completed workshops of the Living Wisdom program.

We alert you to upcoming events that focus on Christian Meditation, the Tree of Life, the Enneagram, and Centering Prayer.  There is an item about a new Thomas Keating video series and Insights from Neem Karoli Baba, Thomas Keating, Mahatma Ghandi, and David Richo.

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – April 2017

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This month, we start off with an item written by Chicago chapter coordinator Alan Krema, reflecting on the ancient Wisdom tradition, which is the focus of our ongoing Living Wisdom series of Saturday workshops.

Next, we provide updates on upcoming events, including May’s Cloud of Unknowing Retreat with Father William Meninger and the Eight-Day Intensive/Post-Intensive Retreat coming up this August.  We also highlight upcoming events at Healing Gardens in St. Charles and inform you about a range of other contemplative opportunities – local, regional, and nationwide.  This issue also includes a link to Parabola, an online and print magazine that may be of interest to you, and Insights from Alan Watts, Richard Rohr, Cynthia Bourgeault, and James Finley.

We’d be delighted to have your help in making Spirit Journal a valuable resource and forum for the members and friends of Contemplative Outreach – Chicago.  Please use the email address provided at the end to send in your ideas and insights.

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – February 2017

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Here’s hoping 2017 is off to a wonderful, peaceful start for you!  For Contemplative Outreach – Chicago, this promises to be our busiest year yet as we offer an expanded series of events and programs to support your spiritual journey.

This month’s lead article offers a brief glimpse of the life and work of Thomas Merton – the inspiration for next month’s Winter Weekend Retreat (February 24-26), which will be led once again by the Reverend Dr. Shawn Kafader. This year’s theme is Personal Reflections on the Spiritual Journey, exploring the classic stages of the spiritual journey as reformed by Thomas Merton.

This issue of Spirit Journal also offers a remembrance of Huston Smith, a link to information about a new online program from the national organization of Contemplative Outreach, previews of local and regional retreats and other contemplative events that are coming up later in 2017, and Insights from Thomas Merton, Huston Smith, Sri Anandamaya Ma, and Richard Rohr.

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – January 2017

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Merry Christmas and best wishes for a wonderful, peaceful New Year!

We begin this issue with a Christmas reflection written by Alan Krema, the coordinator of Contemplative Outreach-Chicago.  We then provide previews of five retreats and other contemplative events that are coming up in 2017 — any and all of them provide good opportunities to deepen your spiritual development in the coming year.  Lastly, we share Insights from Martin Scorcese, Thomas Keating, Mechtild of Magdeburg, and a little child many of us associate with this special season.

Please don’t forget to give us your input and ideas for future editions of Spirit Journal: use the e-mail address at the end to send your contributions and feedback.

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – December 2016