Welcome to the U.S. website of the World Community for Christian Meditation! Here you will find local meditation groups you can join, basic information on meditation in the Christian tradition as we practice it, much inspirational information, news of events and retreats, our newsletter, and links to our worldwide community.
The World Community for Christian Meditation, which is inclusive of all denominations, shares a commitment to the discipline of meditation, inspired by the early Christian Desert Fathers and Mothers, and John Cassian in particular, which was taught and articulated by Fr. John Main, OSB (1926-1982). It transforms our lives in its twice daily practice and creates a community that constitutes a monastery without walls.
Our commitment is to share the teaching and practice of Christian mediation throughout the world, leading to an ever-deepening union with the living Christ present within us all. We are then propelled outward into practical care for all members of the human family and experience from within an increasing respect for the interdependence of all creation. The worldwide activities and programs of WCCM, now led by Fr. John’s successor, Fr. Laurence Freeman, OSB can be viewed at www.wccm.org.
We believe that understanding the gift of meditation is truly gained in the experience and practice of meditation, more than in the reading or study about it, so we welcome you to visit a group near to you or find an introductory event to attend. Meditation creates community. If you live too far for personal contact, our International site contains a wealth of online resources.
BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD – Psalm 46:10
“The all important aim in Christian Meditation is to allow God’s mysterious and silent presence within us to become more and more not only a reality, but the reality which gives meaning, shape and purpose to everything we do, to everything we are….”
John Main, OSB
♦U.S. News♦
Meditatio Forum: Meditation with Children
Mark your calendars for September 2013!
Meditatio, the program outreach of the World Community for Christian Meditation, is presenting a forum for teachers, parents and all those involved in the faith dimension of children and young adults’ lives. The program is nondenominational in content. Presenters Dr. Cathy Day, the Director of Townsville Catholic Education Office in Queensland, Australia and Ernie Christie, the Deputy Director, have earned international acclaim for their pioneering work in introducing meditation to children and teachers. They will speak about their experience in Australia, where they created and implemented a world-first Christian meditation program for all schools in their diocese. The forum will address practical aspects of implementing Christian meditation programs in various school settings. The forum will address the following:
- Why teach Christian meditation to children and young adults?
- Importance of meditation as an inclusive form of prayer promoting growth of the whole child
- The Townsville Experience: from pilot programs to teacher formation
- What children, teachers, and parents say about meditation
The event will be held in Houston, Phoenix, and Jacksonville to encourage as many educators as possible to come. Members of the World Community for Christian Meditation are encouraging educators to travel to one of these workshops:
September 23, 2013 (Monday) at the University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX. Details to follow on WCCM USA Events page (or contact: patrickking50@gmail.com or 713-444-6014 for more information).
September 27, 2013 (Friday) at the Franciscan Renewal Center, Paradise Valley, AZ. Go to: www.cornerstone-phx.org for more information and links to registration flyer for the AZ event.
September 30, 2013 (Monday) in Jacksonville, Florida, details to follow on Events page.
