International Thomas Merton Society
North-Central Connecticut Chapter
NCCITMS
Latest News
3/5/2025:
Chapter Announcements:
The upcoming ITMS Conference on June 19-22, 2025 in Denver, CO.
Here's a link to find more information about the conference and to register: https://merton.org/2025/default.aspx
Here's a link to find more information about the conference and to register: https://merton.org/2025/default.aspx
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Spring 2025 North-Central CT ITMS Chapter meeting
How Thomas Merton's Reflections on Nonviolent Resistance inform today's Nonviolence movements Tuesday, April 15, 2025, 7:00 p.m. ET over Zoom Thomas Merton achieved a spiritual depth in which he knew the oneness in himself with God, all of humankind and indeed, all of creation. Yet he was acutely aware of the injustices and divisions of his times, principally in the struggle for Civil Rights, the Vietnam War and the increasingly selfishness and alienating society of his time. As he was drawn out of himself by his deep sense of solidarity with all, he felt inspired to engage in the problems and issues of his times. His deep knowing, his uneasiness with the realities of injustice in his times and what to do about it coupled with his prolific study, brought him to embrace the work of Nonviolence. Many of us are experiencing a growing and gnawing sense of uneasiness in our times and ask what can we do? This is an important but personal question that we must answer individually. The hope of this timely presentation is that perhaps it might open up a way forward for you. We will discuss Merton's spiritual understandings of Nonviolence and will share practical insights from Pace-e-Bene's Nonviolence training that may provide you some practical answers and a way forward. Presented by: Mike Smoolca and Martha DiGiovani Please register below: |
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Kindly Let Us Know THat You'll Be PARTICIPATING Our April 2025 Quarterly Meeting
Please visit our past meetings page to view and obtain the materials from prior meetings.
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Judy Collins, Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter and musician recently released, Spellbound, her newest album. One of the tracks is entitled Thomas Merton is a tribute to Merton. Here is a link to the lyrics:
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/judycollins/thomasmerton.html |
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TUESDAYS WITH MERTON
A webinar series presented by the International Thomas Merton Society and the Center for Spirituality at St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame on the second Tuesday of each month. Free and open to the public. Registration required.
You may obtain material from past Chapter meetings and get more information about us on our past NCCITMS meetings here!
A webinar series presented by the International Thomas Merton Society and the Center for Spirituality at St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame on the second Tuesday of each month. Free and open to the public. Registration required.
You may obtain material from past Chapter meetings and get more information about us on our past NCCITMS meetings here!
We're Excited To Highlight A Book Authored By One Of Our Members
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Mystic, monk, and activist Thomas Merton asked those questions in the twentieth century. Writer Sophfronia Scott is asking them today.
In The Seeker and the Monk, Scott mines the extensive private journals of one of the most influential contemplative thinkers of the past for guidance on how to live in these fraught times. As a black woman who is not Catholic, Scott both learns from and pushes back against Merton, holding spirited, and intimate conversations on race, ambition, faith, activism, nature, prayer, friendship, and love. She asks: What is the connection between contemplation and action? Is there ever such a thing as a wrong answer to a spiritual question? How do we care about the brutality in the world while not becoming overwhelmed by it? By engaging in this lively discourse, readers will gain a steady sense of how to dwell more deeply within--and even to love--this despairing and radiant world. Visit our past meetings page to see the Spring 2021 Quarterly meeting at which Sophfronia spoke to us about her book! |
Our Typical Meeting Location
Our group generally meets at Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center in West Hartford, CT.
Meetings at Holy Family usually take place in the Center Building First Floor Classroom
Meetings at Holy Family usually take place in the Center Building First Floor Classroom
Other Information
Highlights from past NCCITMS meetings are located here!
Here is a link to Information on membership to the International Thomas Merton Society.
Here's a copy of our latest Brochure. Please distribute it to any friends you know that are interested in sharing their interest and admiration for Thomas Merton!
You may sign up to be on our Chapter's email list at the bottom of this page!
Here is a link to Information on membership to the International Thomas Merton Society.
Here's a copy of our latest Brochure. Please distribute it to any friends you know that are interested in sharing their interest and admiration for Thomas Merton!
You may sign up to be on our Chapter's email list at the bottom of this page!
About Us
The International Thomas Merton Society came into being in 1987 to promote a greater knowledge of the life and writings of Thomas Merton, one of the most influential religious figures of our time. Local Chapters and Affiliates of the ITMS across the world reflect a wide range of personal interest and approaches to Thomas Merton.
The ITMS sponsors biennial conferences devoted to Merton and his work and supports the writing of general-interest and scholarly books and articles about Merton. In addition the ITMS awards regular grants to researchers and scholarships to youth. It encourages a variety of activities such as Merton retreats.
The North Central Connecticut Chapter has been in existence for many years and was originally begun by Bill Williams and others in West Hartford, CT in 2006. In the Spring of 2016, Bill handed over the leadership of this Chapter to Mike Smoolca.
The ITMS sponsors biennial conferences devoted to Merton and his work and supports the writing of general-interest and scholarly books and articles about Merton. In addition the ITMS awards regular grants to researchers and scholarships to youth. It encourages a variety of activities such as Merton retreats.
The North Central Connecticut Chapter has been in existence for many years and was originally begun by Bill Williams and others in West Hartford, CT in 2006. In the Spring of 2016, Bill handed over the leadership of this Chapter to Mike Smoolca.
About The North-Central Connecticut Chapter |
NATURE OF OUR GROUP:
We are a spiritually-focused group dedicated to contemplative traditions, interfaith dialog, engaging our community in issues of compassion, peace, justice and finding truth in our personal lives. OUR VISION: The NCCITMS was formed to study the writings, work, life and influence of Thomas Merton, in the hope of inspiring, affirming and enriching every member to embrace life and the God who created it. THE PATH WE FOLLOW: Our focus will be to promote and encourage Christian Contemplative Spirituality, Thomas Merton workshops, covering all the interests of his life, days of recollection and study as well as interfaith dialog. OUR STRUCTURE: We envision that our group will be structured around the important themes of Merton's life. In particular, we see the following four special interest areas of study, focus and sharing:
LAST WORDS: Our motto: “Going clear out of the midst of all that is transitory and inconclusive. The return to the immense, the Primordial, the Unknown, to God who Loves, to the Silent, to the Holy, to the Merciful, to God Who is All.” -- Thomas Merton (Journal, March 22, 1961) |
Links and Events |
Contact Us |
If you have an interest in finding out more about our Chapter please email Mike Smoolca ([email protected]) or fill out the form below:
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