Transforming Community: Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups & Retreats
Resources, encouragement and support for those called to lead spiritual groups and retreats.
February 2022 – June 2023
Are you called or want to test a call to lead spiritual groups and retreats?
Program runs February 2022 – June 2023
Early Bird Deadline: Nov. 1, 2021
Extended Deadline: Feb. 11, 2022
APPLICATION PROCESS IS NOW CLOSED.
Although the application period has closed for the 2023 class, we would be happy to talk with you if you are sensing a call to this program. Please contact Chris at chris@shalem.org.
Transforming Community: Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups & Retreats is designed to equip, encourage and support those called to lead spiritual groups and retreats. Its focus is on nurturing deeper communion with the Mystery we call God, contemplative awareness of God’s presence, and an openness to letting God guide.
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
The program includes at-home work before the first residency, between residencies and after the second residency.
At-Home Work: February-May, 2022
1st Residency: June 1-8, 2022
At-Home Work: June 2022-February 2023
2nd Residency: March 14-21, 2023
Leadership Paper: June 1, 2023
Program Components
Participants do much of the course work in their own communities, coming to the Baltimore / Washington area for in-person residencies during each program.
At-home work includes:
- A personal spiritual discipline of prayer/spiritual practice, spiritual direction, retreat time, and a prayer support group
- Leadership of at least one contemplative spiritual practice group in your locale
- Reading of selected texts from an extensive bibliography
- Time with specially designed Shalem audio files of spiritual practices
- Regular, periodic reports to a staff mentor
- A brief retreat reflection paper mid-way
- A final integrative paper based on your experience and learnings
Residency Topics
- Seminars (sampling of themes follows):
- Retreat design and leadership
- Scripture
- Body awareness
- Prayer and discernment
- Sound and silence
- Interior words and images
- Exterior seeing
- Creativity and contemplation
- Earth prayer
- Intercession
- Body movement meditation
- Practicing the presence in daily life
- Participant-led sessions
- A daily rhythm of prayer, rest and renewal, and silent retreat time.
A Certificate of Completion is awarded upon completion of all program requirements.
RETREAT LOCATION
The residential retreats will be held at Bon Secours Retreat and Conference Center in Marriottsville, MD. You will have a private room with bathroom. The center and grounds have walking paths through woods and fields.
“When I entered the common room for the first residency, it felt like coming home to something I didn’t even know I’d been looking for: a place of spiritual nurture grounded in unity; a place to explore an open and loving presence in a simple, profound way; a place to offer and receive support. I experienced so much more than training — I found a community, a people, a home.”
-Jamie Deering, Port Ludlow, WA
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
COST
- Early Bird price (before November 1, 2021): $6,580
- Regular price (after November 1, 2021): $6,780
Need-based tuition assistance is available. For more information, contact Chris at Chris@shalem.org.
APPLY NOW
Early Bird Deadline: Nov. 1, 2021
Extended Deadline: Feb. 11, 2022
We are requiring all participants to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (including booster shots).
Although the application period has closed for the 2023 class, we would be happy to talk with you if you are sensing a call to this program. Please contact Chris at chris@shalem.org as soon as possible to see if it still might be possible to include you in this class.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Chris Jeffrey is the Registrar for Transforming Community: Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups & Retreats and can be contacted at chris@shalem.org.