22.11.2012
Spirituality Events in Christ Church Cathedral
Two events will take place in Christ Church Cathedral over the coming weeks which aim to provide space to reconnect with oneself and God and escape from the stresses and strains of life. A workshop on Centring Prayer will take place on November 28 while there will be a quiet morning, led by the Archbishop of Dublin on December 1. Both events aim to enable participants to find space for silence and reflection.
Centring Prayer is a method of prayer that comes out of the Christian tradition, principally The Cloud of Unknowing, by an anonymous 14th Century author and St John of the Cross. The historical roots of Centring Prayer go back to St Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Massachusettes, where Fr Thomas Keating was abbot from 1961 to 1981. Today Centring Prayer is practised by people from all over the world with many networks of small faith communities such as Contemplative Outreach Ireland, who in communion with many other networks from around the world, are contributing to the renewal of the Christian contemplative dimension of the Gospel in everyday life.
The workshop will take place in Christ Church Cathedral on the skill of centring prayer on November 28 from 6.00 pm to 9.15 pm. The cost is €15. Soup and sandwiches will be available from 6.00 pm with the workshop beginning at 6.30 pm. Please email the Revd Garth Bunting, garth.bunting@cccdub.ie, if you would like to book a place or know more about the evening.
There is a centring prayer group that meets in the cathedral’s ancient crypt each Wednesday night from 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm and as part of the workshop, participants will be invited to join with that group as they continue on the centring prayer journey.
An Advent quiet morning is being held in the cathedral on Saturday December 1. The speaker is the Archbishop of Dublin, The Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson. On the theme of preparation and expectation, participants will be guided in their reflections at the beginning of the Advent season as we await the coming of our Saviour. Again, you can book your place by contacting garth.bunting@cccdub.ie. The morning will begin at 10.00 am and finish at 1.00 pm with Holy Communion.