Centering Prayer on March 24

Hi All,

We have invited Greg Carbone and Karen Beidel from St. Peter's parish to join us to discuss Centering Prayer.

Centering Prayer was developed following the Second Vatican Council by three Trappist monks, Fr. William Meninger, Basil Pennington and Thomas Keating. Drawing from the Church's ancient tradition of contemplative prayer and lection divina, the three developed a simple method of silent prayer for contemporary people.

From the "Contemplative Outreach" website:

Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God's presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. This method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship.

Centering Prayer is not meant to replace other kinds of prayer. Rather, it adds depth of meaning to all prayer and facilitates the movement from more active modes of prayer--verbal, mental or affective prayer--into a receptive prayer of resting in God. Centering Prayer emphasizes prayer as a personal relationship with God and as a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with Him.

The source of Centering Prayer, as in all methods leading to contemplative prayer, is the Indwelling Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The focus of Centering Prayer is the deepening of our relationship with the living Christ. The effects of Centering Prayer are ecclesial, as the prayer tends to build communities of faith and bond the members together in mutual friendship and love.

We look forward to seeing you all on Wednesday, March 24 at Delaney's Music Pub & Eatery in Five Points from 6 PM to 8 PM.

Christ's Peace,

Zach and Matt

next meeting: March 10

Hey folks YACs is doing something new starting in March. In addition to our regular meeting at Delaney's on March 24th (we'll have a post about that coming up soon!) we're meeting on Wednesday March 10th at St. Thomas More Chapel near USC to pray Vespers.

Vespers, also known as Evensong or Evening Prayer is one of the Liturgical Hours. These prayers traditionally sung by religious (monks, nuns, priests in community) are a part of our rich Catholic patrimony. Since the Second Vatican Council the Church has encouraged the laity to participate as a community in these prayers of the church. And that is what we plan to do!

So join us March 10 and experience the richness of our Catholic Spirituality.

For more information on the Liturgy of the Hours check out these links:

Laudis Canticum - Encyclical by Pope Paul VI

General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours

Wikipedia

February's Meeting: Sacra Musica

For February's meeting we're going to mix things up a bit. Instead of meeting at our usual locale, we're meeting at St. Peter's on Assembly Street.

Mark Husey, the Director of Music and Liturgy, has graciously agreed to talk with us about the Music of the Church. From ancient hymns to classical works by the greats and the songs we hear today Mark will share with us from his vast repertoire of musical knowledge. We'll hear not only about the music of our Catholic tradition and it's role and place in our liturgy, but of protestant hymnody as well and how they've influenced each other and moved hearts and souls towards God.

Who knows maybe we'll even get to go into the choir loft and hear Mark play.

So join us at 6:30pm on Wednesday February 24th at St. Peter's, located at 1529 Assembly Street.

Oh, and some intersting links: St Peter's Catholic Church, and the Choir Ministry's YouTube Page.

-Matt

Janaury 2010 Meeting

Hi All,

We will meet at DeLaney's Pub in Five Points on Wednesday, January 20 at 6 PM.

Join us as we discuss Pope Benedict XVI's latest Encylical, Caritas in Veritate ("Love in Truth"). This encyclical continues to develop the Catholic Church's teachings regarding the basic rights of the human person in light of current world events.

Please see the US Bishop's site primer on previous encyclicals at the USCCB Media Blog.

Christ's Peace,

Zach

November Meeting

Hi All,

Join us for our discussion, "East Meets West." We have invited Fr. Mark Mancuso from St. Elizabeth the New Martyr Russian Orthodox Church to come and speak about Eastern Orthodoxy. This will be an open discussion exploring some of the similarities and differences between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches.

We will meet on Wednesday, November 11 in the back room at DeLaney's in Five Points from 6 to 8 PM.

Christ's Peace,

Zach

October Meeting

Hi All,

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, October 7 at 6 PM at DeLaney's in Five Points. Please note the change of venue for our meeting! We will be in the back room at DeLaney's.

For this month we will discuss the ordained priesthood and how different priests have lived this out. We have tried to invite a group of priests, of different ages and from different backgrounds, to discuss their experience of being a priest. This should be a good meeting and a chance to talk with priest more candidly than perhaps you have in the past.

Come and join us!

Christ's Peace,

Zach

Vocation of Marriage

Hi All!

Our September meeting will be next Wednesday, September 16 at 6 PM at Jake's Bar and Grille in Five Points.

This month we will discuss a topic that is very pertinent to many in our group: the Sacrament of Marriage.

We have invited several couples to discuss the meaning of marriage as a vocation and it's sacramental implications for all of us. This will of course be light-hearted, but information filled meeting and should be beneficial to us all; whether married or single.

Come prepared to discuss!

Christ's Peace,

Zach