A Hidden Wholeness: The Art of Thomas Merton
CCE Contemplative Enrichment Day
Saturday, May 22, 2027
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (ET)
Paul M. Pearson, PhD
Beginning with an overview of Thomas Merton’s art we will move on to focus on his photographs and, drawing on his journals and late writings, we will reflect on how solitude, silence, and attention shaped his understanding of art and his way of seeing. Participants will be invited to engage Merton’s images slowly and prayerfully, noticing how they reveal a contemplative gaze rooted in humility, wonder, and a deepening awareness of God’s presence in the everyday.
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 morning and afternoon sessions of Centering Prayer.
Offering: $75, includes lunch
Scholarships are available, please contact Mike Smoolca at cce@holyfamilyretreat.org for more information.
Presenter Profile
Paul M. Pearson, PhD
Paul M. Pearson, PhD is Director of the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky and Chief of Research for the Merton Legacy Trust. He is Resident Secretary of the International Thomas Merton Society, and served as President for the 10th administration. Paul is a founding member of the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland. He edited Seeking Paradise: Thomas Merton and the Shakers, Thomas Merton on Christian Contemplation and, Beholding Paradise: The Photographs of Thomas Merton.
Dietary restrictions? Holy Family is committed to making your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible, and to that end, we can accommodate most dietary needs. Please email Marianne, our Dining Room Manager, at mbrady@holyfamilyretreat.org, if you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies, so that we may make preparations in advance of your retreat.
Online registration will be available soon. Please check back for updates.