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Body Presence and Contemplative Awareness

  • Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center 303 Tunxis Road West Hartford, CT, 06107 United States (map)

Body Presence and Contemplative Awareness - BioSpiritual Focusing Day of Presence

Contemplative Enrichment Day

Saturday, February 18, 2023
9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (ET)
Donna O’Connor and Mike Smoolca

Discover a deeper awareness of healing and wisdom accessible to each of us through our bodies. We’ll establish BioSpiritual Focusing’s place in Body Awareness Practice and then progressively and experientially introduce participants to the focusing concepts which will conclude with individual experiences of being companioned through a focusing session. Participants will be invited to welcome and hold their feelings with curiosity and loving care to achieve integration into greater wholeness. This day provides the foundations to pursue further practice and study of BioSpiritual Focusing.

This program will be offered both in-person and online via Zoom. Information on how to access the program on Zoom will be sent to participants in advance.

This program will include a morning and an afternoon session of Centering Prayer.

Offering: $65 (includes lunch)


Presenter Profiles

Donna O’Connor

Donna O’Connor is the BioSpiritual Focusing Coordinator at Genesis Spiritual Life Center in Westfield, Massachusetts, a retreat leader, and long-time spiritual director. Donna has a special interest in helping people who struggle with weight, body image, and eating disorders and is experienced in 12-Step Spirituality. 


Mike Smoolca

Mike Smoolca is a contemplative group and workshop facilitator and a dedicated teacher and student of contemplative practice and wisdom spirituality. He is a Contemplative Outreach presenter and coordinator for the Christian Contemplative Experience at Holy Family, Contemplative Outreach of CT, and the Northern CT Chapter of the International Thomas Merton Society. Mike is a practicing spiritual director and supervisor as well as a BioSpiritual Focusing companion and teacher.


Earlier Event: February 12
Sunday Eucharist
Later Event: February 19
Sunday Eucharist