Notre Dame Spirituality Center, Ipswich, MA: Centering Prayer

Notre Dame Spirituality Center, Ipswich, MA: Centering Prayer

Pillars & Foundations documents an exploration of communities, as well as faith through religious institutions. My intent is to share experiences, and spread the positivity that I observe. 


How I Stumbled Upon Notre Dame Spirituality Center

Over the past year some of you may know that I've engaged in this journey exploring different churches, denominations, and faiths. Through this I've attended courses on Buddhist Meditation at the Tibetan Buddhist, Kurukulla Center in Medford, Massachusetts. I've also on occasion attended Zen based meditation through Reading Unitarian Universalist Church. Most recently prior to this I attended a Centering Prayer group at Melrose Highlands Congregational Church. From reading Seven Storey Mountain and Thoughts in Solitude, by Thomas Merton, to Thich Nhat Hanh's Living Buddha Living Christ, and Peace in Every Step, I've been quite curious about mindfulness, meditation, as well as contemplative Christian tradition. I've been searching for some local Centering Prayer related activities and was pleasantly surprised to find a monthly group at Notre Dame nearby. Having been raised in the Catholic Faith, I was unfamiliar with these practices related to my own roots, and was eager to learn more.

What the Center Offers

Notre Dame offers not only workshops like the one I attended, but multi-day overnight retreats on their campus set in the serene rural setting of Ipswich, Massachusetts. Some of the workshops are free with donations welcome, such as Centering Prayer, being offered Saturdays, Jan 19, Feb 16, Mar 9, Apr 13, May 18, and June 8, from 9:30 am. It is requested that prospective attendees register through the website. Other activities such as the Celtic Day of Prayer, taking place on Saint Patrick's Day, have modest fees. 


The Center

The spirituality center is part of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Convent in Ipswich Massachusetts. Various locations of this congregation of Sisters was founded by Sister Julie Brilliart, dating back to 1804. Saint Julie was canonized in 1969. The congregation has a 200 plus year history fighting for social justice, and helping those in need. 


Centering Prayer Workshop

Centering Prayer is a type of quiet, contemplative, Christian reflection based in historical Contemplative Christian tradition. One of its most prominent founders Fr. Thomas Keating, who only recently passed away, described it as being "more heartfulness rather than mindfulness. It is rooted in the Christian tradition, which emphasizes the relationship with Christ which is its source." The hour and a half session I attended was led by Sister Ellen Keane, who warmly welcomed a sizable group. Some of the attendees seemed like regulars, others such as myself attended for the first time.


The activity was divided into two parts. Initially there were introductions, and the activities were briefly explained in advance. The first portion was "Centering Prayer," lasting 20 minutes, inviting participants to focus on their sacred word of choice. Following this was a brief break where participants mingled. I traded notes myself on good books to read with another person in the workshop. The last section was a variant of an activity known as Lectio Divina. Simple in structure this consists of reading, meditating, praying and contemplation. A modification of this activity called Audio Divina was engaged in. A piece of classical music (Morning Mood by Edvard Grieg) was played, Sister Ellen mentioned this could be any piece, and even one with words/lyrics. The piece is played three times. The first time participants are called to follow and savor feelings and images rising up. During the second hearing, participants should reflect, they should become more deeply aware of what the music evokes. The third hearing requires a response, a contemplation of how God is speaking through the music. A couple of handouts were passed around on Audio Divina, one such handout states "For many of us, music is often a transcendent experience, lifting us above the worries and distractions of daily life. Consider using music as a doorway into prayer and cultivating your ability to listen with the ear of your heart."



Bell tower, the backside of the building was still in shadow as it was early enough in the morning where the sun was not high in the sky

Conclusion

Notre Dame's Centering Prayer workshop was deeply enjoyable and I look forward to returning and perhaps exploring other offerings of the organization.

Text and photographs by George Parks
Sources are embedded in links


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