Nancy Cord-Baran is the Spiritual Director and Retreat Leader who serves as the Coordinator for Contemplative Outreach of Central Pa. She received her BS  from Penn State University and worked for 25 years as a Recreation Therapist. Nancy is a graduate of Oasis Ministries’ Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides and Deepening Year of Direction Ministries programs. 

Nancy has been practicing Centering Prayer daily since 1998 and is a Commissioned Presenter for the Introduction to Centering Prayer Workshop, The Forgiveness Prayer and 12 Step Outreach. She has led retreats on Centering Prayer as an 11th Step Practice at Bethany for the past 18 years.

Nancy is a long-time student of David Frenette, a long-time student of Fr. Thomas Keating.

Michael Gidlewski has had a daily practice of Centering Prayer since 1995 and became a commissioned Centering Prayer Presenter in July 2011. Michael has led many retreats on Centering Prayer and Centering Prayer as an 11th step practice, and through the practice of centering prayer, has deepened his own spiritual life.

Michael and his wife, Rosemary, also facilitate a weekly Centering Prayer Group on Zoom with a lively book discussion to reinforce our practice. Michael is the founder of Achievement Unlimited, Inc. As a growth catalyst and meditation teacher, he has presented hundreds of leadership and management programs, facilitated strategic plans and helped clients get the right people on the bus to grow their business. Continually reinforcing clients need to take time away from the business to recharge their lives in silence and solitude.