Centering Prayer and Welcoming Prayer

With Gwen Pickering and Mary Lapham

February 20 - 22, 2026

Date and Time Details: 4:00 pm Friday, February 20 to 3:00 pm Sunday, February 22

Location: St. Paul's Monastery

Address: 2675 Benet Rd, Saint Paul, MN, USA

Contact: Mary Ebb
mebb@stpaulsmonastery.org
651.777.8181 x148

  • $295.00 – Program Price
  • $195.00 – Price
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Centering Prayer and Welcoming Prayer Retreat

This a silent retreat for people who have been practicing Centering Prayer for at least 6 months.
In Centering Prayer, we consent to God’s presence and action in stillness.  In the Welcoming Prayer, we consent to God’s presence and action in ordinary, everyday settings. Both of these prayers help us to deepen our relationship with God and dismantle the emotional programs of the false-self system and heal the wounds of a lifetime. There will be several centering prayer sits as well as sessions for learning and practicing the Welcoming Prayer throughout the retreat.
  • Mary Lapham and Gwen Pickering will be facilitating the Centering Prayer and Welcoming Prayer Retreat.
  • Participants are invited to join the Sisters for prayer, following the daily schedule of Liturgy of the Hours.
  • All meals and a private room are included.

This silent retreat is for people who have been practicing Centering Prayer for at least 6 months.

About the Leaders

Gwen Pickering

 Gwen received her training as a spiritual director from the Franciscan Spirituality Center in La Crosse, WI.  She is a commissioned presenter of both centering prayer and the welcoming prayer through Contemplative Outreach.  She also received training in leading the Ignatian Exercises through Sacred Ground.   Gwen earned her undergraduate degree in secondary education from the […]

Learn more about Gwen Pickering

Mary Lapham

Mary Lapham, MEd, has been in a 12-step program as an Adult Child since 1984. Her 11th Step practice led her to Centering Prayer in 1996. She is a commissioned Presenter for both Centering and Welcoming Prayer. She leads a Welcoming/Centering Prayer hour in the meditation chapel on Zoom every Thursday at 11:00 (Thomas Keating […]

Learn more about Mary Lapham

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