Colleen Thomas | Which Way to Happiness? ‘Metanoia’ and the Divine Therapy

Originally Published on the website of Oblate School of Theology

March 4 @ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

FREE

Saturday, Mar 4 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Central Time | FREE ONLINE EVENT VIA ZOOM

Our Centering Prayer practice is an invitation to re-examine and re-order our relationship to what Father Thomas Keating called our emotional programs for happiness. Whether this transformational work, also known as the “divine therapy,” happens to us in our prayer time, or in times around the prayer is both evidenced by our fruits and a complete mystery.

Our faithful act of consent is a response of love to the presence of God within us. And by coming into a relationship with the Mystery of Love, we are consenting to the re-ordering of our sources of joy, peace, contentment, and happiness.

In this season of Lent, it is good to consider areas of our lives that need re-ordering. In the Greek, we understand repentance to be Metanoia  – to change one’s mind, to change the way we think, and to change the way we see.  Father Keating lovingly framed the invitation or call to repentance in the form of a very personal question – “Will you kindly change the direction in which you are looking for happiness?”

On this day of quiet prayer and Lenten reflection, let us examine our response to this gentle invitation of Jesus together through the practices of Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, and gentle examen.

Day of Prayer

This free day of prayer will take place on Saturday, March 4, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Central Time, ONLINE via Zoom Meeting.

Facilitator

A Spiritual Director and long-time practitioner of Centering Prayer, Colleen Thomas leads contemplative prayer groups for the “40s and Under” community and works closely with Contemplative Outreach’s diversity outreach initiative while serving as a Program Director for Stillpoint: A Center for Christian Spirituality.

Her passion for expanding contemplative practice and teaching to younger and more diverse communities keeps her closely aligned with a new contemplative movement that sees contemplative life and practice as inseparable from social justice organizing and action.

Colleen earned her MA in Theology and Art from Fuller Theological Seminary. She worked in television in Los Angeles for 15 years before relocating to her hometown of Washington D.C. where she continues to explore her creative passions while enjoying the close companionship of her family. You can discover more about her work at https://soulcarela.com/ and hear her in conversation about Centering Prayer and the contemplative life on the Opening Minds, Opening Hearts podcast.

Registration Fee: FREE but must RSVP below

Please note: We will send you a Zoom link and login instructions via email approximately one week before the day of prayer begins.

This event will be recorded and will be available for viewing, through March 19, 2023. A follow-up email will be sent to registered participants that will include instructions on how to re-watch.

For information or to register by phone, contact Victoria Rodriguez, Associate Registrar, at vrodriguez@ost.edu or (210) 341-1366 EXT 240.