News From New Mexico

A monthly newsletter from the Center for Action and Contemplation

Celebrating 35 Years of Action and Contemplation 

CAC’s Engagement Director Brandon Strange invites readers to reflect on the work of our past and join us in living our mission of action and contemplation forward into the future.  

In 1986 Richard Rohr left behind his community of New Jerusalem and moved to New Mexico to start a “school for prophets” — and a year later, in 1987, the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) was born.  

With the benefit of hindsight, it is easy to consider this move a good decision, but I doubt this was the case at the time. What madness could have possessed such a popular, successful, and much-admired person to leave everything behind and start over on the other side of the country — in the desert, no less? Simply this: “I felt called.” And this: he responded.   

The CAC was founded to provide spiritual grounding for a movement of contemplative activists and prophetic leaders by teaching the path of praxis and prayer, or action and contemplation. And as Richard has said on many occasions, the most important word in the CAC’s title is neither action nor contemplation, but the word and.   

In English grammar “and” is called a coordinating conjunction, and it is used to connect two words, phrases, or clauses together — much like the year 1986 seems to connect the first and second halves of Richard’s life. I like the word coordinating because it does a good job describing how things are brought together, which is a bit like a call and a response. But to respond is not always easy... 

Read the rest of Brandon’s article on our website.

LIVE Virtual Meditations Beginning Friday, October 21  

There is a deep relationship between the inner revolution of prayer and the transformation of social structures and social consciousness. Our hope lies in the fact that meditation is going to change the society that we live in, just as it has changed us. —Richard Rohr

Father Richard teaches contemplation as the practice of being fully present to what is in a way that allows us to creatively respond and work toward what could be. It is his belief that only the contemplative mind can bring forward the new consciousness that is needed to awaken a more loving, just, and sustainable world — so much so that since its beginning, the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) has begun each day with a 20-minute period of prayerful meditation Richard likes to call “Daily Sit.” 

In celebration of CAC's 35th Anniversary and to honor our founder, we invite you to join us for six free virtual sit meditations, once a week beginning on October 21. Each meditation will be livestreamed to Facebook and YouTube and will last from 10–10:30 am PT (1–1:30 pm ET; 5–5:30 pm GMT).

Learn more about Virtual Sit Meditations 

At this stage in his life, Father Richard’s deep desire is to create space for the rest of us to step in and carry his work forward. Connect with a living tradition of Action and Contemplation and help co-create a world where everything belongs.

Registration Closes Soon! Enroll in Mystical Sobriety by Oct. 26 

We’re learning to experience God's presence in our brokenness, carrying us along. We learn to trust in that, to live by that, and share it with others. —James Finley  

Mystical Sobriety is a new 12-week online course from the Center for Action and Contemplation. Rooted in the 12 Steps, instructor James Finley integrates the spiritual and psychological on a path of healing, growth, and transformation. Students will learn to recognize attachments of the mind and heart through a deep exploration of past trauma and experience how God’s healing grace can sustain us even within cycles of grief and suffering.  

This course includes four LIVE virtual calls with James and an optional 12 weeks of additional personal deep work. Space is limited; enrollment ends on October 26 or when the course is full.  
 

Learning Objectives: 

• Foster a greater awareness in your life of the habits of the mind and heart that pull you away from accepting your inherent belovedness. 
• Expand your understanding of the Divine’s interplay in practice, reflection, and daily life, to help you stay present to what is arising in you daily.  
• Cultivate a contemplative practice to anchor the spiritual work of embodying these teachings in your daily life.  
• Connect and learn with James Finley and other students in four live virtual calls, journeying toward living in a more present, compassionate, and non-reactive way.  

Register Today for Mystical Sobriety!
Time commitment: 2–4 hours a week  
Registration ends Oct. 26, 2022  
Course begins Nov. 2, 2022  

Exploring New Common Ground in The Cosmic We Season 3

What lies at the intersection of spirituality and cosmology? Join hosts Dr. Barbara Holmes and Dr. Donald Bryant for Season 3 of The Cosmic We to go beyond race and into relatedness with some of today’s most profound contemplative teachers like Fr. Richard Rohr, Dr. Rachel Harding, Brian McLaren, Dr. Frank Thomas, and more.  

The Cosmic We podcast goes beyond race and racism to consider relatedness as the organizing principle of the universe, exploring our shared cosmic origins though a cultural lens that fuses science, mysticism, spirituality, and the creative arts. 

Subscribe to The Cosmic We through Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or listen on our website.

Journey to the heart of Jesus’ message with Richard Rohr in Jesus’ Alternative Plan

How do you live Jesus’ teachings, even when it is difficult? For those who want a deeper exploration of the Sermon on the Mount, take a deep dive into Jesus’ message of a justice-centered world with Jesus' Alternative Plan. In this new edition of Fr. Richard Rohr's book Jesus' Plan for a New World, discover how the Beatitudes can help overturn conventional wisdom and power structures, offering an alternative plan for living an authentic life.   

Order Jesus’ Alternative Plan today at the CAC Bookstore 

CAC is Hiring! Co-Create a Modern Workplace Rooted in Christian Contemplative Traditions

The Center for Action and Contemplation exists to awaken a more loving world through the teaching and practice of the Christian contemplative traditions. We are looking for mission-aligned staff with the professional skills and experience needed to scale our work and reach a larger audience. Combine your professional expertise and passion for contemplative living in one of our open positions:  

• Community Engagement Representative: Troubleshoot issues in real-time to provide extraordinary support to our community. Grow with a team that values your work in an intentionally collaborative environment. Click here to apply! 
• Development Manager: Join a team pioneering a unique and values-aligned approach to fundraising with transparency, relationality, and solidarity. Click here to apply! 

Interested in one of these positions or know someone who would be a good fit?  Apply today or help us spread the word!