International Thomas Merton Society
North-Central Connecticut Chapter
NCCITMS
Latest News
12/2/2022:
Merton Chapter Announcements:
The winter Quarterly meeting of the North-Central CT ITMS Chapter will be on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time and will be held over Zoom.
The topic is Contemplative Dialogue as a reflection and extension of Thomas Merton's Contemplative Engagement with the World.
Thomas Merton is known for his ability to meaningfully engage with people from a place of deep listening and understanding which found expression through his pioneering work for Interreligious Dialogue. Merton engaged people from the Contemplative Spiritual foundation on which his life was based.
The term Contemplative Dialogue is familiar to those who have participated in the bridges to contemplative living with thomas merton series edited by Jonathan Montaldo and Robert G. Toth. The eight principles for sharing presented in the series were derived from a more comprehensive practice for effective interpersonal and organizational interactions developed by Steven Wirth, the founder of The Center of Contemplative Dialogue. Though Contemplative Dialogue is based on Communications and Organizational Theory, one of Steve's early inspirations for developing this method was his experience of facilitating a conference of diverse set of world leaders at the Abbey of Gethsemani in 2000.
In our time together we'll explore the key ideas from Thomas Merton's Contemplative Spirituality that influenced the way he engaged with people and how those ideas are reflected and extended in the formal method of Contemplative Dialogue.
This talk will be presented by Mike Smoolca and Paul Uccello who have both been trained in and have shared Contemplative Dialogue with others.
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.
Mike discovered Contemplative Dialogue in 2014 when he co-facilitated the Bridges to Contemplative Living series with Paul. Subsequently he had Intensive group training and mentoring on the method of Contemplative Dialogue and has presented the method in informal workshops with Paul in interfaith settings.
Paul Uccello
Paul lives in Manchester, CT with his wife, Joanne and their dog, Riley and they have 7 grandchildren. Paul held various executive management positions at United (Raytheon) Technologies Corp as well as the president of Fenn Manufacturing before retiring in 2017. He received several masters degrees in Business and also attended the Harvard Business School Executive management program. Paul also earned a master's degree from Hartford Seminary and did additional post graduate work at the seminary in the field of multi faith chaplaincy. Early in his retirement he was an assisted living and hospice chaplain.
Paul came across the practice of Contemplative Dialogue in 2014 during his studies and facilitation workshops around Merton's writings and life. Realizing the potential and value of Contemplative Dialogue, Paul initiated a 4 day CD session (facilitated by Steve Wirth) with his business leadership team in order to improve communication and overall effectiveness of the business.
Paul was brought up in the Catholic faith. He has been a follower of Avatar Meher Baba for over 45 years.
The topic is Contemplative Dialogue as a reflection and extension of Thomas Merton's Contemplative Engagement with the World.
Thomas Merton is known for his ability to meaningfully engage with people from a place of deep listening and understanding which found expression through his pioneering work for Interreligious Dialogue. Merton engaged people from the Contemplative Spiritual foundation on which his life was based.
The term Contemplative Dialogue is familiar to those who have participated in the bridges to contemplative living with thomas merton series edited by Jonathan Montaldo and Robert G. Toth. The eight principles for sharing presented in the series were derived from a more comprehensive practice for effective interpersonal and organizational interactions developed by Steven Wirth, the founder of The Center of Contemplative Dialogue. Though Contemplative Dialogue is based on Communications and Organizational Theory, one of Steve's early inspirations for developing this method was his experience of facilitating a conference of diverse set of world leaders at the Abbey of Gethsemani in 2000.
In our time together we'll explore the key ideas from Thomas Merton's Contemplative Spirituality that influenced the way he engaged with people and how those ideas are reflected and extended in the formal method of Contemplative Dialogue.
This talk will be presented by Mike Smoolca and Paul Uccello who have both been trained in and have shared Contemplative Dialogue with others.
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.
Mike discovered Contemplative Dialogue in 2014 when he co-facilitated the Bridges to Contemplative Living series with Paul. Subsequently he had Intensive group training and mentoring on the method of Contemplative Dialogue and has presented the method in informal workshops with Paul in interfaith settings.
Paul Uccello
Paul lives in Manchester, CT with his wife, Joanne and their dog, Riley and they have 7 grandchildren. Paul held various executive management positions at United (Raytheon) Technologies Corp as well as the president of Fenn Manufacturing before retiring in 2017. He received several masters degrees in Business and also attended the Harvard Business School Executive management program. Paul also earned a master's degree from Hartford Seminary and did additional post graduate work at the seminary in the field of multi faith chaplaincy. Early in his retirement he was an assisted living and hospice chaplain.
Paul came across the practice of Contemplative Dialogue in 2014 during his studies and facilitation workshops around Merton's writings and life. Realizing the potential and value of Contemplative Dialogue, Paul initiated a 4 day CD session (facilitated by Steve Wirth) with his business leadership team in order to improve communication and overall effectiveness of the business.
Paul was brought up in the Catholic faith. He has been a follower of Avatar Meher Baba for over 45 years.
Kindly Let Us Know THat You'll Be PARTICIPATING Our January 18, 2023 Winter Quarterly Meeting
Please visit our past meetings page to view and obtain the materials from our past 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 |
We are looking to make this Chapter more active. We will publicize various Merton events and will have local Chapter meetings every quarter starting in the fall/winter of 2016.
If you have an interest in finding out more about our Chapter please email Mike Smoolca (msmoolca@hotmail.com) or fill out the form below: |