Your Question: What is centering prayer? Does Three Holy Women have a group?

First of all, I have to begin with the disclaimer that I am not an expert on this and you should probably consult your priest or other spiritual director for more information. From my short research, this is what I've found out. The term Centering Prayer can be used to refer to several different types of meditative prayer, so it is difficult to give a succinct explanation. Some centering prayer is derived from the traditional Christian practice of meditation on the Scriptures. Often, however, centering prayer refers to that of the centering prayer movement, started by folks such as Fr. Thomas Keating. Another source on centering prayer is Cistercian Basil Pennington. From what I've read, this centering prayer focuses on settling one's mind upon a sacred word, and repeating that word, so as to clear one's mind of busyness and center oneself upon God.

Like all kinds of prayer, its fruits and aim can differ according to the person doing it. One should be aware that sometimes centering prayer is taught as more of a Buddhist prayer, focusing on emptiness and attempting to come into communion with the nothingness of the divine through a specific technique. Christian prayer is not an opening oneself up to nothingness (or just any spirit that happens to be there), but rather to the one God, who is personal. Additionally, the Christian understanding of union with God is not something attained by some kind of technique, but is a rather a gift to be received from God.

As I mentioned, I am not an expert, and I would advise you to read more about it and talk to someone you trust--a priest or other spiritual director--for further information.

We do not have a group at Three Holy Women. Our neighbor, Saints Peter and Paul Parish does have a centering prayer group that meets every week. You could inquire there for more information.