Christian Meditation – building a contemplative church

Published by CN Admin at October 11, 2019

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The World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM) is a global and inclusive contemplative family. The roots of our community lie in the desert tradition of early Christianity dating back to the 4th century.

In 1975, John Main, an Irish Benedictine monk (1926–1982), started the first Christian Meditation Centre in London. The symbol of the Community—the two birds looking in different directions but resting on the chalice—represents the union of the contemplative and active dimensions of life. The first weekly meditation groups began in London and these groups can now be found in over 120 countries.

The WCCM Caribbean supports and coordinates all the English-speaking Caribbean countries in the practice of Christian Meditation (CM). Sr Ruth Montrichard SJC heads the leadership team of WCCM Caribbean which is based in Trinidad and Tobago and she is also a member of the WCCM International Guiding Board.

At the requests of the bishops—in Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Vincent—we have and continue to send trained teams out to these islands to facilitate the integration of CM.

Our recently concluded mission to St Vincent and the Grenadines involved the following activities:

Talks at six parish Masses
Revisiting CM in one primary and three secondary schools that continue the practice in their schools
Visiting and reintroducing meditation in the male prison
Introducing meditation to teenage girls in a Home for Abused teens
Talks to the priests; deacons and their wives
Radio interviews

Our other outreach missions include the

introduction of CM:

In Catholic schools in Trinidad and Tobago—This project was initiated under Archbishop Joseph Harris and has continued with our incumbent Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon. Archbishop Gordon is the patron of WCCM Caribbean.
To catechists—That they in turn will pass on the tradition to confirmation students
To recovering addicts—As part of the recovery programme

To persons who have suffered loss:

To parish communities—In Trinidad we currently have ten groups, located in north, south, east and west Port of Spain that meet weekly
To business communities
To promote health and wellness—Some of our meditators come based on the recommendation of their doctors
Via our televised programmes on Trinity TV
Growing an oblate community
More recently via the Life in the Spirit programme
Via our Quiet Evenings and Essential Teaching Weekend Retreats—our next Quiet Evening takes place in December and next ETW is scheduled for March 2020

Our John Main Center for Interreligious dialogue provides a haven in Port of Spain for those who wish to just pause from the busyness to just be still.

Since the inception of WCCM Caribbean, we have seen the integration of CM practice by

Parish priests during church services
Business leaders, who appreciate the centering it provides at a personal and group level
Schools, as part of their prayer routine
Religious leaders who are committed to interreligious dialogue

The WCCM website www.wccm.org provides a wealth of resources for those interested in knowing more about CM and how WCCM throughout the world continues to introduce the practice to various sectors of society.

CONTACTS

– Sr Ruth Montrichard,

ruthsjc41@gmail.com

– Pat Howai, Schools Coordinator pathowai@yahoo.com

– Maurice Moniquette, Men’s Group maurice.moniquette@gmail.com

– Judy Joseph Mc Sween, Business

and Religious Communities

hajude05@yahoo.com

– Simon Healy, Recovering Addicts healysimon@hotmail.com

MEDITATION GROUP MEETINGS

The John Main Center is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m.–1 p.m., with meditation sessions from noon to 12.30 p.m.

Mondays