Recent retreats offered by Contemplative Outreach-San Antonio are highlighted below. COSA welcomes suggestions of topics to be presented in future retreats.
Submit topic ideas HERE
March 4, 2023
Day of Prayer
Which Way to Happiness? ‘Metanoia” and the Divine Therapy
January 5-8, 2023
Transformation through Everyday Epiphany
A Silent Centering Prayer Retreat
with Pamela Begeman
October 8, 2022
Fall Day of Prayer
Dying to New Life: Journey Through Aging
“This was deeply meaningful for me to reconnect with a Fr. Arico Retreat as he reviewed
important ideas from Fr. Keating and keeps us moving forward on the journey.”
” Fr. Arico has a lot of wisdom and I appreciated his vulnerability.”
March 26, 2022
Discernment:
Deep Listening and The Presence of God
with Mary Anne Best
“Mary Ann had her own quiet contemplative dynamism that comes from her deep authenticity
and holiness”
“Mary Anne did an awesome job. Thank you so much for having her there and I thank her for her gift and sharing it with the group.”
December 2 – 5, 2021
Advent Retreat:
Incarnation as Practice
facilitated by Pamela Begeman
“Perfection…the music, art, and lectio / prayer offerings exemplified Pamela’s attention to Spirit.”
“Pamela’s generosity of time, insights, collected stories to tell, and spiritual insights was very helpful.”
October 23, 2021
Prayer in Secret – Day of Prayer
with Rev. Bill Sheehan, OMI
Oblate School of Theology
“Fr Sheehan was very concise and presented many helpful suggestions to enhance prayer practice.”
“Fr. Bill was wonderful and a wealth of knowledge! He was so kind and welcoming…”
“What an inspirational motivator for continuing to practice Centering Prayer! The presentation by Fr. Bill was from his heart and flowed with such magnanimity!”
“Fr. Bill presented a beautiful reflection on the topic. He was clear and thoughtful.”
September 25, 2021
Morning of Prayer:
Healing of the Pandemic
with Robin-Ann Dominguez
The morning of prayer included periods of Centering Prayer and prayerful intentions of losses and challenges resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic. Our prayers for healing the world of this pandemic remained our intention as we entered the silence during the periods of Centering Prayer.
“[I] appreciated the time spent with this intention.”
“[The] content was full of information I hadn’t thought of, very appropriate.”
March 20, 2021
Day of Prayer:
The Four Consents
with Mary Anne Best
“Mary Anne [Best] offered an excellent presentation of her material, thoughts and reflections that are important any time of the year and particularly as we approach the time of Holy Week.”
“Mary Ann [Best]…is always very effective in her communications and personable in her style. I always come away feeling transformed.”
December 3 – 6, 2020
2020 Advent Retreat
with Pamela Begeman
“I will be looking for next year’s retreat with Pamela Begeman and register ASAP. I wish she would lead more retreats in the future.”
“Everything, from the “Gentle Reminder” email to the cadence of Pamela’s voice as a constant pacemaker was appreciated. You all did an outstanding job from beginning to end in creating a safe and sacred space.”
“Pamela [Begeman] was a joy — a true gift. I would welcome another retreat led by her!”
More comments about these events
About the Retreat:
“Really served as an Advent retreat; I personally felt the Presence move me to a deeper level of peace and joy…”
“I have been attending 1 to 10 day Centering Prayer retreats 5-8 times a year for the past 20 years and this is the best retreat I have ever attended. The schedule was ideal… [it] gave the perfect balance of structure and spaciousness.”
“I so appreciated the flow… the invitation to participate, as well as the encouragement to join in as one was able. It empowered me…to make the offerings [my] own.”
“The content was fresh and unexpected…each session set just the right tone, and I was drawn deeply into the silence.”
“It was like a day of recollection. [I] found the participants’ input very good.”
“The feeling of being welcomed cannot be over-emphasized!! This sets the tone for open-hearted discussion that I personally find invaluable to the experience.”
“I was glad for [the] pace as I could keep good notes.”
“[I’m] grateful for the group share and how the team made that an integral part of the experience.”
“The feeling of being welcomed cannot be over-emphasized!! This sets the tone for openhearted discussion that I personally find invaluable to the experience.”
“I really appreciated that we were given time to put what we were learning into practice during the session.”
“A most inspiring and detailed presentation by an Experienced person with contemplative prayer especially Centering Prayer.”
“[The] Depth of Participation was an unexpected bonus; the presenter seems to have made everyone comfortable to share deeply felt thoughts.”
About the Format:
“It was thoughtfully prepared…No ‘guilt’ or obligation if you had to bow out of a session or two, just like an in person retreat.”
“I was pleased with the cost…I enjoy attending retreats in person, but the cost has become prohibitive.”
“At first, I was slightly hesitant to attend [the retreat] because it was virtual, but I dismissed my resistance and did with an open, receptive heart and it was beautiful…”
“[The] schedule was a good balance between content and breaks … Perfect for a retreat within our home environment.”
“I have been amazed that online retreats are as powerful as they are, in fact deeper…”
“It is a great thing to be able to attend such a good retreat program without travel.”
“Thank you so much for this free zoom online retreat. It was very moving and awaking (sic).”
“I really appreciate the Zoom format as I live on the West Coast and cannot attend in person.”
“What a “booster” during these continuing days of the pandemic and the chaos so prevalent in
our political and global struggles….”
“I really appreciate that this could be offered by Zoom. I live in Cleveland, OH…[s]o I hope you can continue to offer some online options.“