Transforming Community:
Leading Contemplative Spiritual Groups & Retreats
Experiences, resources, and encouragement for those called to create and lead contemplative spiritual groups and retreats for personal and social transformation
Program runs January – December 2027
Early Bird Application Deadline: October 11, 2026
Regular Application Deadline: November 22, 2026
Transforming Community: Leading Contemplative Spiritual Groups & Retreats is designed to equip, encourage, and support those called to create and facilitate contemplative spiritual groups and retreats. Through experiential learning, seminars, reflection, and a sacred learning community, participants will expand their contemplative awareness of the Divine and grow in their contemplative leadership and skills.
Do you feel a nudge to create and lead contemplative spiritual groups and retreats?
Free Info Sessions
Join us on Zoom to discern about the rightness of this program for you. Talk with the Director and recent grads. Register in advance by clicking on a date below.
Transforming Community Timeline
We recognize that accessibility and practicality are important factors when considering spiritual deepening and professional development programs! To limit time away from home, family, and work and to minimize expense, Transforming Community has been designed with one in-person nine-day residency and a series of online class sessions that provide a deep and rich learning experience in sacred contemplative community. Our schedule includes:
At-Home Work:
• January – December 2027
Online Opening Weekend:
• Friday, February 5, 2027 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm ET
• Saturday, February 6, 2027 from 10:00am – 4:00pm ET
Online Class Session:
• Saturday, March 13, 2027 from 10:00am – 4:00pm ET
In-Person Residency:
• Friday, April 9 – Saturday, April 17, 2027
Online Class Sessions:
• Saturday, May 15, 2027 from 10:00am – 4:00pm ET
• Saturday, June 26, 2027 from 10:00am – 4:00pm ET
• July/August 2027 – 2-hour session with date mutually agreed upon by Peer Group members
• Saturday, September 11, 2027 from 10:00am – 4:00pm ET
• Saturday, October 9, 2027 from 10:00am – 4:00pm ET
• Saturday, November 6, 2027 from 10:00am – 4:00pm ET
Program Components
Transforming Community includes at-home work scheduled at your convenience and participation in online class sessions and an in-person nine-day residency at Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center in Marriottsville, MD.
At-Home Components:
- Reading and engagement with selected texts and resources
- Participation in online Class and Peer Group sessions
- Creation and facilitation of a four-week contemplative spiritual group with a short opening retreat in one’s home community
- Participation in a two-night guided silent or contemplative retreat of your choice
- Preparation of two spiritual practice sessions to be led with one’s Peer Group at the residency and at an online Peer Group session
- Four short reflection papers responding to specific program components
- A final integrative paper focused on the design of a contemplative spiritual group or retreat
- A personal spiritual practice, as well as regular meetings with a Spiritual Director/Guide/Companion.
Residency Components:
Residencies enjoy a daily rhythm of prayer, practice, learning, reflection, rest and renewal, including:
- Topical Seminars
- Grounding in a variety of spiritual practices
- Opportunities for reflection and sharing
- A guided silent retreat
- Leadership in a small group setting
Sample Seminar Themes and Practices:
- Grounding and Intention of Contemplative Spiritual Practices
- Contemplative Leadership
- Creating and Facilitating Contemplative Groups and Retreats
- Leading from a Heart of Love
- Creating Belonging in Community
- Discernment in Leadership
- Dynamics and Challenges in Groups
- Sound & Silence
- Embodiment
- Creativity
- Sacred Text
- Interfaith Practices
- External Images
A Certificate of Completion is awarded upon completion of all program requirements.
RETREAT LOCATION
The residency will be held at Bon Secours Retreat and Conference Center in Marriottsville, MD. You will have a private room with bathroom. Some meals will be included at each residency: dinner on the first day; breakfast and lunch on the last day; and breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the days in-between. The center and grounds have walking paths through woods and fields, in-season swimming pool, and a fitness center.
“Honestly TCP [Transforming Community Program] changed my life and breathed much needed vitality, creativity, and equanimity into me, a weary mental health provider. I wasn’t exactly clear why God guided me to this particular program but I knew I felt a deep longing to help support the healing of our wounded world in a way that seemed larger than just working one-on-one with clients in my psychology practice. TCP gave me the tools to teach others to access and listen to the transforming and deeply healing voice of God. Through engaging seminars, small group practice, monthly book reading and discussions, modeling by leaders, and collaboration with others I felt like my understanding of contemplative practices and leadership expanded greatly and I became well equipped to guide others into practices of connecting with the Presence. I’m now incorporating my passions for nature, creativity, deep healing, and connection and leading retreats at a local retreat space as well as weekly contemplative prayer groups. This work is life-giving for me and I’m so thankful I trusted that quiet voice that nudged me to start!”
-Laura Kirby, Class of 2023
“We came as strangers. Now we leave as friends. A time consecrated by a Spirit’s breath.” – Sacred Journey, a song dedicated to the TCP class of 2026. (Lyrics by TCP-26 grad, Joan Belistein. Music by Suni AI Technology.)
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
LORIE CONWAY
Lorie Conway is the program director for the Transforming Community: Leading Contemplative Spiritual Groups and Retreats. Lorie has a passion for deep listening and accompanying others on their spiritual journeys through spiritual companionship, contemplative small groups, and spiritual retreats…
Lorie is a graduate of Shalem’s Living in God and Transforming Community programs and received her certificate in spiritual direction from the Kairos School of Spiritual Formation. She also holds a M.A. in Religion from Lancaster Theological Seminary and a M.A.S. in Behavioral Management & Human Resources from Johns Hopkins University. Lorie’s spirituality is rooted in the Christ tradition and welcoming of the many paths and unique journeys enfolded within Divine Mystery.
COST
- Early-Bird Price (by 10/11/26): $4680
- Regular Price (after 10/11/26): $5200
Need-based tuition assistance is available. For more information, contact Katy at Katy@shalem.org.
APPLY NOW
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Katy Gaughan is the Registrar for Transforming Community: Leading Contemplative Spiritual Groups & Retreats and can be contacted at katy@shalem.org.