Dom John Main

Dom John Main - the founder of the modern Christian Meditation movement. John Main rediscovered the authentic practice of mantra-based christian meditation by studying the ancient works of John Cassian.

WCCM website

Visit - the World Community for Christian Meditation website.

‘Maranatha’ is an Aramaic word from the time of Jesus, meaning 'Come Lord'. It can be found in Revelation 22.20 (the penultimate verse in the New Testament) and has been used as a prayer word since earliest days of Christianity. When meditating, use it simply as a focus for your attention, without thinking about the meaning of it.

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Bere Island: The birth place of Laurence Freeman's mother and a place to which he has returned from time to time for periods of prayer and solitude. In his book “Jesus, the Teacher Within”, Laurence uses his rediscovery of the island as an allegory of the search for personal identity and the gradual separation of reality and illusion we all need to make in order to grow spiritually.

Scenes from Guildford: The historic town of Guildford is located between the rolling North Downs and the winding River Wey. It has an interesting past that hails back to Saxon times.

Hove: scenes from the sea front.

Laurence Freeman: a Benedictine monk and priest of the Congregation of Monte Oliveto, and director of WCCM. He is also the founder and director of the John Main Center for Meditation and Inter-religious Dialogue at Georgetown University, and author of many books and articles for the Tablet particularly, and a member of the Board of Medio Media.

Central London, viewed from Greenwich Observatory. Can there be space for quiet contemplation in a city like this? Well yes actually! Saint Marks Church in Islington, hosts the London Christian Meditation Centre. Cockfosters Retreat Centre also offers a range of meditation retreats throughout the year, and further meditation events take place at St Peter’s Centre for Meditation and Peace, at Vauxhall, and at Westminster Cathedral

Views, from Loweswater Village Hall. Usually, once a year in the summer, the Cumbrian Christian Meditation group meet here. The hall provides one of the most panoramic views in the Lake District looking up the valley that holds Crummock Water and Buttermere, to Great Gable, which is wreathed in cloud on this occasion.

The Newsletter is released quarterly and is the main source of information for many many members of the Community. In it you will find sections covering news of the Community's leaders, forthcoming retreats and events and a message from Father Laurence Freeman. Contact Saint Mark's Church if you want to receive it. There are details at the foot of this webpage.

North Staffordshire includes the City of Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme and their surrounding areas. There are currently three groups in the area: May Bank (Newcastle), Longton (Stoke) and Stone.

Benedictines: John Main, the founder of the World Community for Christian Meditation, and Laurence Freeman, the Community's current leader; a sketch of the Christian Meditation Retreat Centre at Cockfosters and one of the corridors at the monastery of Monte Oliveto.

The Open Gate: a retreat house run by the Community of Aidan and Hilda on Lindisfarne, Northumberland. Courses and retreats on many aspects of christian spirituality are provided each year.

Oxford: Britain's oldest university town.

Portsmouth Catholic Cathedral was built in 1882 and is situated close to the City centre and the home of the Royal Navy.

Waterfall, in the grounds of Rydal Hall, near Ambleside. Meetings organised by the Cumbrian Christian Meditation group often take place here. The mountains of the Lake District make an inspiring backdrop to the grounds of the hall and remind us that although the path of meditation can sometimes appear rather steep and craggy, there is a way to the summit.

Autumn Colours, in the grounds of Rydal Hall, near Ambleside. Meetings organised by the Cumbrian Christian Meditation group often take place here. The mountains of the Lake District make an inspiring backdrop to the grounds of the hall and remind us that although the path of meditation can sometimes appear rather steep and craggy, there is a way to the summit.

Shrewsbury: typical half timbered houses in the town and plate glass windows in the cathedral

Lindisfarne Slakes, in the fading light of a late February afternoon. The tranquility of the sea and sky on this day, might remind us of our quest for tranquility of mind and spirit during meditation.

Staffordshire Moorlands at the southwestern end of the Pennines, provides an opportunity for solitude. The Staffordshire Peak District is distinctly quieter than its more famous Derbyshire neighbour!

Scenes from Surrey famous for its gardens and picturesque villages, and also an area where WCCM UK is very active, with a good number of groups and local events

Painted Ceiling, in one of the corridors of the Vatican Museum, leading to the Sistine Chapel.

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Scenes of central London WCCM Doves Lindisfarne Slakes The WCCM UK Newsletter Scenes from Bere Island John Main, Laurence Freeman, Cockfosters, Monte Oliveto Ceiling paintings in the Vatican Museum Autumn colours at Rydal Hall Views from Loweswater Village Hall Waterfall and pool at Rydal Hall Scenes of central London

Cockfosters Retreat Programme

The World Community for Christian Meditation Retreat Centre

For general information about the Retreat Centre see below. For details of the retreat program for 2010 click here.

The Retreat Centre

The Centre is run by resident Benedictine Oblates and other members of the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM). It is a place of peace and hospitality where we practice and share the gift of meditation in the Christian tradition. We welcome everyone seeking peace from every tradition.

There is daily meditation at the Centre at 8.00 am, 12.00 pm and 6.00 pm, which is open to all.

Contemplative Eucharist is celebrated at special times – please call for information.

Daily Meditation Times

All Welcome (Free of Charge)

Meditation Support Group

On 4th Friday of each month    7:00 – 8:00pm

This is an opportunity to help each other on the Meditation journey through reflecting on our experience and discussion in the group.

Come with questions or just to enjoy a time of fellowship. Led by a member of the community.

Introductory to Meditation and Deepening Your Practice

These events are open to all. They run from 10.30 am to 4.00 pm and are led by experienced meditators of the community. Contact the Centre to discuss which programme would best suit you. You may come just for the day or make a weekend retreat and stay Friday and Saturday. Please book rooms in good time.

The Young Adult Meditators Group

This meets monthly. For more information, please contact Pierre at retreatcentre@wccm.org

Eleventh Step weekends

These are meant particularly for participants of the 12-step recovery program or those affected by addiction in the family.

Weekend Retreats

These begin at 5pm on Friday and end with lunch on Sunday.

Day Retreats

There begin at 10.00am and end at 4pm.

Location

A 10 minute walk from the Oakwood Tube station on the Piccadilly Line. Exit from the tube station and walk left along Bramley Road until you come to the Monastery of Christ the King and Vita et Pax Church. Walk under the arch to the back of the driveway, turn left and follow the paved path to the Retreat Centre.

Cockfosters Retreat Centre

Rates

Retreat Centre Programme 2010

To book any of the events below:

June

July to December

Details of retreats for the second half of the year will appear here when available.

Our Speakers

LAURENCE FREEMAN OSB is a Benedictine monk of the Olivetan Congregation and Director and Spiritual Guide of the WCCM. He is spiritual successor to John Main and author of many books and articles.

KIM NATARAJA is the WCCM International Coordinator of The School. She is a spiritual director and leads retreats and workshops around the world. Kim is the author of Dancing with Your Shadow.

LIZ WATSON is the WCCM UK National Coordinator. She also teaches meditation, leads retreats and is a spiritual director.

STEFAN REYNOLDS is an Oblate of the WCCM. He learnt meditation from Bede Griffiths OSB, worked with Mother Theresa and at L’Arche. He is working on his PhD in English Medieval Mysticism.

CHRIS HURLEY is a qualified yoga teacher. She explores ways in which simple yoga poses can support and reflect the work we do in our meditation practice.

FR MALCOLM GLAZE is a parish priest and a teacher of meditation. He has a special interest in interfaith and ecumenical work.

FR ROBIN BURGESS ran the Centre for Spirituality in Westminster Cathedral and is now on the parish team at Ealing Abbey. He is a spiritual director and leads retreats.

TERRY DOYLE has studied the spirituality of the east through Tai Chi and other disciplines. He works with people ravaged by alcohol and drug abuse.

MARGARET LANE is currently working on St Augustine and the role of attention in the search for self and God. She is married, with three children.

JIM GREEN works in the mental health field and is an oblate of WCCM. He is interested in the meeting points of psychology and spirituality, poetry and social justice.

BRIJI WATERFIELD is a mother, business woman, spiritual director and is currently doing an MA in Pastoral Theology. She has had a life-long interest in the Christian mystical tradition and leads workshops and retreats.

PIERRE CORCORAN is an Oblate of the WCCM is the Director of the Christian Meditation Retreat Centre, London. He is also studying Theology at Heythrop College.

HENRIETTE HOLLAR is in the WCCM Oblate year programme, currently resident at the Retreat Centre in London. She works with the mentally disabled in Holland.

ANDREA KANG is in the WCCM Oblate year programme, currently resident at the Retreat Centre in London. She was an editor at Marshall Cavendish in Singapore.

Sunday 19th December 2010

Oblates Annual Meeting

Title: Tending our roots: sharing our love

Location: Benedictine Centre for Spirituality (BCS), Christ the King, Cockfosters

Time: 10.00 for 10.30 finishing at 16.00hrs

Activities will include:

Cost: suggested donation of £10.00

Contact: Eileen Dutt - mobile: 07721 574767

Accommodation: If you need accommodation can I suggest you contact Kath in the Benedictine Centre for Spirituality (BCS) by email (listed above) or telephone on 020 8449 2499.

By the end of July WCCM will have vacated the Retreat Centre which means we won't have at our disposal the additional bedrooms available to us as in previous years. Given this, early booking is essential.

Oblate Days are open to any meditator who wishes to learn more about  the Oblate community.

You can download the full Cockfosters Christian Meditation Retreat Programme for 2010 here

Check the Cockfosters Retreat website for any updates

WCCM Birds

Updated: 05-01-2010