COSA is…
Contemplative Outreach San Antonio (COSA) is a local chapter of Contemplative Outreach, an international organization of individuals dedicated to living the contemplative dimension of the Gospel in everyday life.
We are facilitated by anecumenical group of women and men serving together as a Servant Leadership Team, collaborating to support those who want to deepen their relationship with God through the practice of Centering Prayer in the San Antonio and Hill Country Area.
Service Teams
There are many ways to become involved with COSA’s leadership, and we welcome anyone with an established Centering Prayer practice to join us, at whatever level of participation works for you. For more information, contact us at COSA.centeringprayer@protonmail.com.
COSA Founders
Tribute to Sr. Mary Agnes Zinni
The COSA Servant Leadership Team sadly announces the passing of Sr. Mary Agnes Zinni, OSB, a Benedictine Sister of St. Scholastica Monastery in Boerne, Texas, at the venerable age of 100 years old. Sr. Mary Agnes was instrumental in successfully bringing the Contemplative Outreach teaching of Centering Prayer to San Antonio and the surrounding area.
Sr. Mary Agnes was involved with Contemplative Outreach – San Antonio (COSA) from its inception until she stepped away from a leadership position in May of 2019. During her tenure, there were as many as twenty Centering Prayer Support Groups active at one time. As a commissioned presenter, Sr. Mary Agnes presented many Introduction to Centering Prayer Workshops. COSA leadership sponsored workshops, Days of Prayer, and other enrichment activities in support of Centering Prayer for San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country, but participants came from as far away as Corpus Christi and Dallas. When COSA needed a new office, Sr. Mary Agnes secured a space in the ‘tower’ through her Benedictine Community.
In 2001, Sr. Mary Agnes was appointed Coordinator for Spirituality Programs and Spiritual Director of the Omega Retreat Center (now closed), on the grounds of the Benedictine Monastery in Boerne, Texas. Sr. Mary Agnes discerned a call — which she described as “being sent” – to bring the Contemplative Outreach teaching of Centering Prayer to the larger community. She became a commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer workshops and later assisted in the formation of other Centering Prayer presenters. She completed facilitator trainer and formed a Centering Prayer Support Group at the Omega Retreat Center that remained active for over 20 years, until the COVID shutdown forced it into hiatus.
In January of 2004, the first silent Centering Prayer weekend retreat was held at the Omega Retreat Center, presented by Fr. Carl Arico, one of the co-founders of Contemplative Outreach. The retreat was a great success, and at the close, Sr. Mary Agnes announced that Fr. Carl had committed to returning each January for a total of ten years to direct a weekend silent retreat. Each of those retreats attracted participants from all over central and south Texas.
At the end of the ten years, with Fr. Carl’s obligations fulfilled, Sr. Mary Agnes and the COSA leadership team formed a partnership with Oblate School of Theology (OST). COSA relocated its office to the OST campus where it was more centrally located. OST agreed to co-sponsor two events per year, which included advertising the event through its extensive database. COSA sponsored or co-sponsored more Centering Prayer retreats and many other Centering Prayer events at OST, both in-person and on-line, continuing to spread the practice of Centering Prayer to a receptive audience.
Even after retiring from active ministry, Sr. Mary Agnes continued to facilitate the Omega Retreat Center Centering Prayer Support Group well into her 90’s. There is arguably no one in this area who worked more tirelessly to advance the practice of Centering Prayer in her desire for people of all faiths to experience intimacy with God.
Retired Auxiliary Bishop Michael Boullete perhaps said it best when he referred to Sr. Mary Agnes as “a prophet” proclaiming the message of intimacy with God through contemplative prayer.
Support Us
COSA relies on your generous donations to support our modest operating expenses (website maintenance, purchase of books and educational brochures, etc).
COSA is not a 501(c)3 non-profit entity, so contributions to COSA are NOT tax-deductible under federal law. Donations may be mailed to COSA, c/o Ginger Barnett, 115 Leopold St, San Antonio, TX 78210.
If you wish to make a tax-deductible contribution to support the work of COSA, please contact Donna Cole-Struck, office@coutreach.org, 973.838.3384 x 1001 at the international office of Contemplative Outreach, Ltd.
