Centering Prayer is a form of Christian silent meditation rooted in the self-emptying love that forms the heart of Jesus' teaching and life. This retreat is an opportunity to deepen one's contemplative journey in the contemporary world. The retreat offers two tracks: a five-day track, recommended for individuals with an established and regular practice of Centering Prayer, and an eight-day track, intended for those who have maintained a regular practice of Centering Prayer and previously participated in an intensive retreat. The intensive and post-intensive tracks are available for both the five-day and eight-day retreats.

 

This retreat offers a sacred rhythm of silence, solitude, and prayer, with opportunities to join the Benedictine Sisters for Mass and optional prayer times. Afternoons provided space for walking in nature and engaging in soul friending with retreat facilitators. Designed to cultivate deep interior silence, the retreat nurtures and awareness of God's presence in everyday life. A Korean language track is available for the five-day retreat, making this a welcoming and accessible space for Korean-speaking participants to engage fully in the retreat experience.

 

Sacred Heart Monastery, 916 Convent Road, Cullman, Alabama 35055

Leslee Anne Terpay is a spiritual director, contemplative teacher, and retreat leader from Lone Tree, Colorado. Leslee is a student of Thomas Keating (1923-2018) and Carl J. Arico. Leslee created and facilitated the year-long program "The Contemplative Journey" in Colorado Springs. Leslee has trained and mentored many Centering Prayer retreat leaders. Currently she serves as a team lead for Contemplative Outreach Retreats Service Team and is also part of the Q&A team for their online newsletter and website. She is a commissioned presenter for both Lectio Divina and Centering Prayer.

 

Leslee studied with Richard Rohr, Cynthia Bourgeault, and Jim Finley at the CAC's original Living School and received a certificate in Spiritual Direction from Benet Hill Monastery. She experienced the Eckhart Tolle School of Awakening, Michael Brown's Presence Process and Thich Nhat Hanh's Rocky Mountain National Park retreat.

The retreat begins for all tracks on Monday, October 27, with check-in from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, followed by a welcome session at 4:15 PM and Vespers at 5:00 PM. The retreat concludes at 10:00 AM on the final day for both tracks, with an option to stay through lunch.

The total cost of the retreat includes both the program fee and the fee for housing and meals. Private rooms will be available in the Mary and St. Joseph guest houses. If you wish to share a room with another registrant, please contact us for further details.

 

	Program Fee	Housing & Meals	Total Cost
Five-day Retreat	$335	$415	$750
Eight-day Retreat	$475	$725	$1,200

 

The five-day retreat is $750. The eight-day retreat is $1,200.

 

All balances are due October 13, 2025. Cancelations must be received before October 13, 2025, to receive a refund of the program fee minus the $150 deposit.

 

Meals start with dinner on Monday and include breakfast, lunch, and dinner for each full day of the retreat. There is the option to stay for lunch on your day of departure. Meal costs are included in the housing fee.

 

Recommended Reading: Open Mind, Open Heart by Thomas Keating

 

Financial Assistance: Limited financial assistance fund are available. Please fill out this form.

 

Please note that the launch of this event is contingent upon reaching a mimimum number of participants. If the required number of participants is not met by September 12, we may need to postpone or reschedule. Registration will be open until October 10, or until maximum registration capacity is reached. Day-of registrations are not permitted.

 

For questions about registration or for technical assistance, email lifelonglearning@ctsnet.edu. For questions about the retreat content, please contact Sharon Junn at junns@ctsnet.edu. For questions about the Korean language track, pleaes contact Nayoung Kim at nayoung2u@gmail.com.