Christian Meditation Group

UPDATE: The Meditation Group has recommenced following the long lay-off during the Covid lockdowns. The group gather in the parish centre St Joseph’s Friday mornings after the 10am Mass. All welcome!

The practice of meditation is deeply rooted in our Christian tradition. Throughout the ages, Christian spiritual sages have spoken about experiencing the mysterious presence of God in and through stillness and silence, which are the essential elements of meditation. The Book of Psalms tells us, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Truly, it is in stillness that we become more and more receptive to the Spirit and attentive to the presence of God within us. John Main OSB, who was a strong advocate of the practice of Christian meditation, believes that “the all-important aim in Christian meditation is to allow God’s mysterious and silent presence within us to become more and more not only a reality, but the reality which gives meaning, shape and purpose to everything we do, to everything we are…”

To be truly still and silent requires discipline. In fact, John Main, OSB argues, “the really important thing about meditating is the discipline of it.” For this reason, a group of us gathers every Friday at 10.30 in the morning at St. Joseph’s Church, not only to practice meditation but also to find support and encouragement in each other to persevere in the discipline of Christian meditation. During this time, we listen to a 10-15 minute taped talk on the principles and practice of meditation, by Laurence Freeman OSB. After which, we meditate together using John Main’s Time Peace Meditation CD’s. We are encouraged by the example of Jesus who often withdrew to a quiet place to pray in stillness and silence.

If you are interested in finding solitude away from the busyness of life, then please come along and join us in our meditation sessions. Together we journey to the heart and enjoy the peace that the presence of God within brings.