about us

Who We Are

This is a group focused on the contemplative dimension of life, Centering Prayer, the teachings of Fr. Thomas Keating, the Christian contemplative heritage, and other contemplative practices like Lectio Divina.

We welcome you to community if you have attended an introductory workshop on Centering Prayer, a Lectio Divina workshop, or if you are visiting the northern Nevada area and have an established Centering Prayer practice. We hold several introductory workshops each year. We also hold several days of reflection, a 5-day silent retreat at Lake Tahoe on April 16-21, 2023, and weekly and biweekly prayer groups in Carson City, Gardnerville, Reno, and Sparks.

Commissioned Presenters of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina Introductory Workshops for Contemplative Outreach

Deacon Dennis and Patty Schreiner have been involved with Contemplative Outreach, founded by Fr. Thomas Keating, OCSO, since 1992, practicing Centering Prayer and guiding others in the way of prayer. Deacon Dennis has been an ordained deacon since 1990 for the Diocese of Reno. Patty attended the deacon training with her husband for four years and is a master Catechist. Patty has been certified as a Spiritual Director after completing a 2-year training program through Christian Formation & Direction Ministries in May of 2018. Deacon Dennis and Patty started Contemplative Outreach Northern Nevada as a spiritual network of those committed to a daily practice of Centering Prayer in 2007.

Therese Coen has been involved with Contemplative Outreach since 1995, practicing Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina and guiding others in the way of prayer. She is a commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina. She retired to the Carson Valley in 2010 with her husband, Tom, and is a parishioner of St. Gall's in Gardnerville. She is originally from Ireland and has been a member of Centering Prayer groups in San Francisco, Ireland, Carson City, and Gardnerville.

Therese is the current Coordinator of Contemplative Outreach of Northern Nevada.

Centering Prayer Group Facilitators

Cathy Wayne facilitates a prayer group at St. Teresa of Avila in Carson City (currently on Zoom) on Wednesday mornings, 10:15-11:45 a.m.

Therese Coen facilitates a prayer group at St. Gall's in Gardnerville on Tuesday afternoons, 3:00-4:30 p.m.

Joan Peyser facilitates a prayer group at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (currently in person and on Zoom) on Monday afternoons, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Their group started as a contemplative prayer sit and became a Centering Prayer support group after Trinity Cathedral hosted a Centering Prayer introductory workshop in October 2013. Joan is a spiritual director, having received her training in Pennsylvania in 2003. She has been a centering prayer practitioner since that time. Joan completed two years studying with the Living School for Action and Contemplation, a course taught online and in Albuquerque, New Mexico, offered by The Center for Action and Contemplation.

Terry Norman, Ann Steckline, and Rosemary Damron facilitate a prayer group at Our Lady of the Snows in Reno on Thursday mornings at 10:15-11:45 a.m. and have been practitioners of Centering Prayer for a number of years. They have participated in the annual Lenten retreats at Lake Tahoe every year since the retreats started in 2011. Ann, Terry, and Rosemary are parishioners of Our Lady of the Snows. Terry attended deacon training with her husband, Dave Norman, a deacon with Our Lady of the Snows.

Mark Miskulin facilitates a prayer group at Holy Cross Catholic Community in Sparks on Wednesday evenings at 6:30-8:00 p.m. (Currently on Zoom/hybrid). Mark is a native Nevadan and “cradle Catholic.” He has been practicing Centering Pray for 3.5 years. Mark initially became interested in Centering Payer when he learned that Centering Prayer was a silent method of praying in addition to “rote” prayer most of us learn as children and continue praying throughout our lives. Mark continues to grow and is being challenged as he practices Centering Prayer.