Update from the Precious Blood Renewal Center
Over the last couple of years, Precious Blood Renewal Center has been hosting a series of sessions based on the book series “Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton” from Ave Maria Press. In January and February, about dozen folks are studying Book 7 in the eight-book series under the guidance of Fr. Garry Richmeier, C.PP.S. This is one of the Renewal Center’s hybrid offerings. About half the group is from the Kansas City metro area, but the other half are Zooming in from California, Ohio, Maryland, and Florida. Because it is hybrid, we were able to host the first session uninterrupted even as the Great Blizzard of 2025 swirled around us. Everyone Zoomed in that evening. We will study the last book in the series in March and April, if you would like to join us.
The Renewal Center was featured in The Leaven, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, and the local Liberty newspaper, The Courier-Tribune, for our work marking the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. 18–25. The Leaven article reported on the octave of online prayers that three area Catholic retreat centers created for the week. Staff from the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Kansas, Marillac Spirituality Center, the Benedictine Sisters of Atchison, Kansas, Sophia Center, and Precious Blood Renewal Center produced eight daily online prayer experiences and shared them with our communities through social media and our websites. Each day offered a scripture reading, a reflection on a person who had been a witness of Christian unity, and prayers for unity.
The Courier-Tribune wrote about the Community Ecumenical Prayer Service organized by the Renewal Center and the Liberty Ministerial Alliance. About 70 people attended the service Jan. 23 held at the Community of Christ Church in Liberty.
The Bible records at least 72 names for God (some scholars count more); each reveals an aspect of God’s character. On the four Thursday evenings in February, a local artist and spiritual director, Brenda Pryor, will lead mediations on the names of God to give us insight into our own spiritual journeys. Brenda blends prayer and meditation with creating art and journaling to deepen the experience by engaging multiple senses. Because of the hands-on nature of this event, it is not one of our hybrid offerings.
Are you looking for a 10-minute guided meditation to open a meeting or as part of community gathering? Looking for something to help your personal prayer life? We have dozens of videos with guided meditation and prayer experiences on the Renewal Center YouTube channel and our website. Search them at https://tinyurl.com/vamwsy2z.