The Center for Contemplative Living is a 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1987 in Denver, Colorado to promote the practice of Centering Prayer.  Our programs serve to transmit the living tradition of monastic spirituality and the contemplative Christian heritage to those living ordinary lives. Today, as an ecumenical community of individuals and small faith communities, we annually:

• Teach over 3,000 people the practice of Centering Prayer and other contemplative practices through locally-hosted and online workshops.

• Provide training and resources for individuals and volunteers.

• Distribute the wisdom teachings of Fr. Thomas Keating and the practices of a contemplative life through online courses, voluntary service teams, programs, and newsletters etc.

The national organization, Contemplative Outreach Ltd., was founded by Father Thomas Keating in 1984 and serves as a spiritual network of individuals and small faith communities committed to living the contemplative dimension of the Gospel. The common desire for Divine transformation, primarily expressed through a commitment to a daily Centering Prayer practice, unites their international, interdenominational community.

We primarily look to Father Thomas Keating, and the body of work that is his legacy, for guidance in the practice, and in recognizing its fruits. We are also open to the tenets of a variety of other contemplative traditions and practitioners. 

All of us at “The Center,” as we lovingly call it, practice centering prayer, individually and collectively, as part of centering prayer groups. Most of us, and all the staff, have taken the basic courses offered by Father Thomas and are showcased on the Spiritual Journey web page. Many of us have gone on retreats of varying duration and intensity at St. Benedict’s Monastery.

Although centering prayer is rooted in the Christian contemplative tradition, our members are diverse and from many different religions. We do not seek to exclude anyone from the practice of centering prayer. We welcome beginners and long-time practitioners of contemplative prayer. We welcome all lifestyles, ages, socio-economic backgrounds, and any other demographics one could imagine. Diversity is God’s greatest means to sustainability. As St. Paul noted, “so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.”

We recognize that “chop wood and carry water” are necessary to our physical existence, and are grateful for any help we can get. There are a few paid positions on our staff, but the majority of our staff are volunteers. Our volunteers perform a variety of services for The Center including hosting prayer groups, providing hospitality, gardening, washing and drying table linens, and teaching classes. Our class facilitators are all required to have taken a minimum of the courses we teach, are trained, and are certified by our parent organization, Contemplative Outreach Ltd.