No. 8 October 2005
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Contemplative Retreat by Kim Nataraja
The Tara Towers Hotel, Merrion Road, Dublin
Arranged & organised by:
Christian Meditation Centre, 4 Eblana Ave.,
Dun Laoghaire
Fee 40 euro Booking Tel 01 2807827
"We are indeed blessed to have a Master in Desert life and Spirituality to lead us at this conference in the person of Kim Nataraja. The challenge today is the same as that which faced the Desert Fathers and Mothers, which is, to find the True God and not a god of our thinking or imagination."
Kim who is Dutch lives in London. She is a Spiritual Director, leader of three London meditation groups and has recently written a book "Dancing with Your Shadow" to be published shortly by Medio Media.
It was my privilege to attend this gathering in Florence. There were 41 people from 26 countries representing a wide variety of involvement - everything from the Czech Republic with one group, to Australia with over 500!
Fergal McLoughlin, Ireland's Co-ordinator, chaired the event over four days.
We worked on a variety of topics & got to hear of the challenges & growth in many different countries. We also found out about recent additions to Medio Media's resources.
Peter Ng, presented us all with a CD ‘The Art of Living and The Art of Dying - Patricia Ng, Woman of Love'. Peter's wife Patricia, aged 57, died of cancer earlier this year and this CD, which is so up-lifting, may be of great help to others who are trying to cope with illness.
A set of books for primary school teachers has been prepared in Australia by Barbara O'Halloran. They are a series of seven brightly coloured little books which are designed for each year of primary school & can be used by teachers with no previous knowledge of Christian Meditation. These resources will soon be available from Medio Media.
My main memories of Florence are: the beauty of the place; the warm welcome & the commitment that so many wonderful people have to spreading the practice of Christian Meditation around the world.
I have a very real sense of belonging to a large, diverse & loving family. It was a great spur to all of us lucky enough to be there.
Philomena McQuillan, Co-Ordinator, Belfast
Note: The following report, written for the Co-ordinators Meeting held in Dublin on 1st Oct. is shared here to give encouragement to others (Editor)
In June we held our 4th Annual Evening at Rostrevor Benedictine Monastery, Co Down. 25 meditators attended including members from groups in Lurgan, Portadown & Belfast. We attended Vespers with the monks & during the monks period of silent prayer after Vespers, we meditated. A welcome cup of tea provided an excellent opportunity to socialise & then there was time to visit the monastery shop or enjoy a walk in the grounds before sharing in Night Prayers with the monks. This opportunity to share in the prayer of a contemplative order is something which really inspires the meditators and next year at Philomena McQuillan's suggestion we hope to encourage more Belfast groups to attend. We were delighted to welcome Phil this year.
The groups got a great recharging of energy this year from the greatly appreciated gift of the wonderful CDs, delivered by Fr Laurence & so generously financed by Peter Ng. They are just what we have been longing for so long -short & simple & packing a real punch. Everybody loves them! George, the group leader in Limavady wrote specially to say , "Thank you for the tapes. They are an immense help to our group". I had similar spoken enthusiasm for the first two CDs from other group leaders & they have now received the third CD, which is of particular help to meditators who may have fallen by the wayside in their practice (& don't we all!)
We hope very shortly to have a new group up & running in Enniskillen under the enthusiastic leadership of Mary McElroy. Also the news that a womans' group in Portstewart had contacted Fergal for a speaker on CM came as an answer to prayer to the Holy Spirit for help & Kit from the local group, which had become depleted in numbers, has readily agreed to give the talk with members from her group sharing their experience of CM.
I thank you for all your prayers & good wishes during my recent illness.
Elizabeth McStravick, Lurgan (Co-Ordinator)
For years I thought it would be nice to attend & thank God it became a reality for me this year. As soon as it appeared in the International Newsletter I applied but it was booked out, however they would put me on a waiting list providing I was prepared to share. After a few months my place was confirmed, so I made the necessary travel arrangements. I hadn't a clue what to expect, except the promise of good weather, but then I wasn't going to the sea, some of my friends exclaimed "a silent retreat"!
From the moment I arrived I felt I was in an oasis of peace. This stately Benedictine monastery, nestling in the valley of the Tuscan hills(near Siena) surrounded by majestic cypresses spoke to my soul; everything seemed to be in harmony with this ancient place of beauty & prayer. As we received out timetable, welcome & introduction to sixty people from twenty countries of various accents I thought to myself, perhaps the silence will be good. I noted the day began in silence at 6.30am & closed in silence after the 9pm compline, the evening meal being our social time together (& with the help of the vino proved to be very social indeed).
We had three periods of meditation with very helpful input from Fr Laurence & Giovanni Felicioni on posture each day. Yoga after breakfast each morning was a real treat in limbering up the old bones with gentle exercises & relaxation, good for body and soul.
Fr Laurence's conference talks on the overall theme "Questions to live by- a contemplative way of living the gospel", were both challenging & thought provoking. I now agree that the questions are more important than the answers. They keep us awake & lead us into a deeper awareness of Truth. Once again I was made aware of my need for a deeper level of contemplative spirituality to lead me into the knowledge of God through attention & meditation.
Lectio in the afternoon on the "Life & miracles of St. Benedict" facilitated by Bill Kiely from Boston made me realise what a great depth of gratitude we owe to the wisdom of the desert Fathers & Mothers. The celebration of the Eucharist, satsang (reflection) & meditation each evening with Fr Laurence filled me with gratitude & awe. I felt so priveleged to be at one with so many people from different parts of the globe. Fr Laurence invited the various countries to recite the Our Father in their own language & when our turn came, we four from Ireland were thrilled to oblige ‘as gaeilge'.
Meditation has been a great gift & I'll be eternally grateful to the people who awakened & continue to nurture it in me. My trip to Oliveto has once again confirmed this for me.
Patsy Burke, Co-Ordinator, Offaly
Kim Nataraja lead a most interesting two -day "School for Meditators"
in the Mercy International Centre, Dublin in July, entitled "Roots
in the Desert". It looked at the history of Desert prayer, &
its influence on contemplative life & meditation up to the present,
from John Cassian through to John Main & Thomas Merton, and on to
the present day writings of Rowan Williams.
Kim returns to Dublin to lead the Contemplative Retreat on 14 - 15 October
(see opposite)
7-9 October 2005
Course/Retreat with Fr Pat Murray
Meditation Centre, Ferbane, Offaly.
Booking: Patsy Burke tel.09064-54314
24 - 26 March 2006
Retreat on the theme of "Martha and Mary"
with Fr. Laurence Freeman & Brendan McAllister, Director of Mediation
Services, Northern Ireland. Dromalis House, Larne.
31 March - 2 April 2006
Retreat: "Spiritual Community"
with Fr. Laurence Freeman exploring the nature of spiritual friendship.
Dzogchen Beara, Tibetan Buddhist Retreat Centre, West Cork.
21/22 April 2006
Fr.William Johnston SJ, (Tokyo)
Tara Towers Hotel, Dublin
And to end... part of a Desert reading...
When you meditate, it is Jesus
Praying through you to the Father in the Spirit,
You are carried by the flame of His love.
Be like a river, serving to all,
& the time will come, you will change into Love.
Fr Seraphion, Mount Athos, adapted by Fr J. Bereza OSB
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