Healing the Breach

Finding Faith, Meaning and Dignity in a Season of Contempt

JOHN MAIN SEMINAR 2026

🗓️ 17-20 September, American University, Washington D.C.

In this centenary of John Main’s birth, we would do well to read his letter written fifty years ago from Thomas Merton’s hermitage at the time of an American Presidential election. He appealed for a new language of politics in tune with authentic moral values secured by the awakening of the contemplative dimension of religion. Today Tim Shriver also understands how ‘in meditation we learn to live committed to the rule of prayer and to make it the spiritual foundation underlying all our activity.’

Leading this year’s John Main Seminar, he asks how a personal practice like meditation directly affects others and helps build a secular society aligned with the peace and justice of the reign of God. He will explore what John Main means by saying that ‘meditation creates community’?

Tim has long been committed to the work of re-building society: by speaking truth to power and caring for the neglected and marginalised. In the talks and dialogues of the Seminar, he will apply his personal conviction of the power of faith and spiritual experience – in the deepest and broadest sense – to transform hearts and open minds. In the global pandemonium of politics today how can we build schools of dignity? How can we find the self-control necessary for mutual respect.

Even more, how can we ‘stir into flame’ the gift of the spiritual power of love to move definitively from division and violence to dignity and joy? ‘I don’t have all the answers’, he says. But having heard him speak from mind and heart, one feels the way forward has become much clearer – and more hopeful.

Seminar Highlights:

Centenary Reflection: Honoring 100 years of John Main by exploring his vision for a “new language of politics” grounded in authentic moral values and contemplative prayer.

Renowned Speaker in Social Inclusion: Led by Tim Shriver, renowned leader in social inclusion, who examines how quiet meditation creates community and drives meaningful action.

Civic & Spiritual Renewal: Addressing today’s political turmoil by exploring how faith and self-control can transform hearts, rebuild trust, and cultivate “schools of dignity.”

From Division to Joy: A hopeful exploration of moving past societal friction and violence toward mutual respect, inclusion, and shared humanity.

Speakers

Tim Shriver - keynote speaker

Tim Shriver is husband, father, grandfather, educator, best-selling author, Chairman of the Special Olympics and Chairman of UNITE. As Chairman of Special Olympics, he has driven the largest expansion of the organization in its history—growing the movement from one million athletes to over six million athletes in more than 170 countries around the world. As Chairman of UNITE, a non-profit that also emerged from this exploration, he has helped to pioneer the Dignity Index—a new tool to help Americans disagree without demonizing each other—and catalyze dozens of moonshots that unite Americans in common purpose to tackle our country’s most intractable challenges.

Ray Dalio (online contribution)

Global thinker, philanthropist and meditator. Ray has been a long-standing friend of our Community and has participated in several WCCM events. A few years ago, in a conversation with Fr Laurence, he explained how he first began meditating: “When the Beatles started meditating and they drew attention to it, it was a curiosity and I thought I would try it. Then it changed my life. It’s the biggest influence on whatever success I’ve had in life.”

Bishop Mariann Budde

Mariann Edgar Budde serves as spiritual leader for the congregations and Episcopal schools in the District of Columbia and four Maryland counties. As the first female bishop of the Diocese of Washington (D.C.), her voice of justice and mercy has resonated with many in our time of uncertainty.

Tia Norman

Tia Norman is a spiritual leader and contemplative guide helping people pursue spiritual depth through the intersections of spirituality, psychology, and social change. She serves as Pastor of Awakenings, Inc., leading a contemplative Christian community through worship and communal formation. Tia designs immersive retreats and learning experiences rooted in embodied spirituality and contemplative practice. She hosts the annual Black Contemplative Prayer Virtual Summit, centering Black contemplative voices and histories. Wesleyan Impact Partners recognized her as a leader reshaping the Christian church. (tiaariane.com)

Laurence Freeman OSB

With Irish roots, Fr Laurence Freeman studied English Literature at Oxford University. He is Director of The World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM), a global, inclusive contemplative community. Fr. Laurence is a monk of the Benedictine Congregation of Monte Oliveto Maggiore. He is also the Director of Bonnevaux, the spiritual centre of the WCCM.

"We live in a culture awash in contempt, in which we are continually exposed to contemptuous speech and are encouraged to use it ourselves, particularly when speaking to or about those with whom we disagree. Faith, meaning and honoring the dignity of every human being are the antidotes to contempt, and the means for us to remain grounded in the love and mercy of Jesus."

Mariann Budde

Bishop of the Diocese of Washington

Schedule

Thursday*

Time	Programme
4:00 pm	Registration
5:30 pm	Meditation
6:00 pm	Public Opening Event – Tim Shriver, Bishop Mariann Budde & Fr Laurence Freeman

Friday

Time	Programme
9:30 am	Morning Prayer & Meditation
10:15 am	Talk – Tim Shriver followed by small group discussion
12:00 pm	Midday Prayer & Meditation
12:45 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm	Free time • Walking Meditation • Book Table • AU Art Gallery
2:15 pm	Talk – Tim Shriver, respondent and dialogue
3:15 pm	Dignity Index Exercise with Tim Shriver
4:45 pm	Contemplative Eucharist
Evening	Free Evening

Saturday

Time	Programme
9:30 am	Morning Prayer & Meditation
10:15 am	Talk – Tim Shriver, followed by discussion
12:00 pm	Midday Prayer & Meditation
12:45 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm	Free time • Introduction to Christian Meditation (45 mins) • Centenary of Fr John Main Workshop (45 mins) • Book Table
3:15 pm	Talk – Tim Shriver, followed by discussion or respondent
5:00 pm	Evening Prayer & Meditation
6:00 pm	Dinner at American University
7:00 pm	Social Programme & Choir

Sunday

Time	Programme
9:30 am	Morning Prayer & Meditation
10:00 am	Closing Session
11:00 am	Coaches depart for Mass at St Martin of Tours
12:00 pm	Mass at St Martin of Tours

*Please note that Thursday evening’s gathering at 6pm will be open to the public. Programme subject to change.

Download the Schedule for Online participants here

Registrations

Access to Recordings

By registering (for in-person or online), you'll be given access to the talks' recordings

Concessions

A discounted option is offered for students, seniors or any that would be helped by a reduced rate (please tick the discounted option when registering)

The Venue

American University, Conference Center Constitution Hall on East Campus, at 3501 Nebraska Ave NW (across the street from AU’s main campus), Washington, DC 20016

How to get there

Download here our Transportation & Venue Guide

Accommodation

SUGGESTED HOTELS IN THE AREA:

1. Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington DC Chevy Chase Pavilion

Address:
4300 Military Road NW | Washington DC 20015 (Metro Station “Friendship Heights”) – One Metro stop to Tenleytown-AU Metro Station or 1.5 walking mile if you choose to walk.

→  $189 two-room suite (1 King bed plus a foldout sofa-bed) (plus tax 15.95% ); breakfast included.

For Reservations, use this link HERE

Call in Reservations: 1-800-774-1500, group code: 907. The World Community for Meditation USA. Reservations require a one-night deposit or a guarantee by a major credit card. They are holding 15 rooms through August 18 for this cost level. 

2. Hyatt Regency Bethesda

Address:
One Bethesda Metro Center, (Metro Station “Bethesda”) Two stops to Tenleytown-AU Metro Station).

→ $175 per room (two queen beds or one king bed) plus 13% tax.
They are holding 75 rooms through August 25, 2026 at this cost level.

For reservations, use this link HERE

3. Eaton DC

Address:
1201 K Street NW, Washington DC , 2005 (1/2 mile walk to “Metro Center Station”) Six stops to Tenleytown-AU Metro Station

→ $189 room (king bed) per night plus 15.95% tax on 9/18 and 9/19; $229 per night plus 15.95% tax on 9/16 and 9/17.

They are holding 20 rooms until August 17.  

Reservations: by calling Eton Hotel (202-289-7600) or online www.eatonworkshop.com with promo code JMS091626. Our block of rooms are King beds.  All reservations must be guaranteed with a first night room and tax deposit or with a major credit card.

NOTE: All seminar participants will be able to use AU Campus shuttle bus (runs every 15 minutes) from AU Metro Station to Constitution Hall on campus (about .5 mile).

CANCELLATIONS: For all hotels, cancellations must be made 72 hours before intended arrival for a no charge cancellation.

About the John Main Seminar

The Seminar is the major annual international event of the World Community for Christian Meditation. It honours and explores the vision and legacy of the Irish Benedictine monk John Main (1926-1982). His family home in Kerry was in sight of Skellig Michael, the 5th century icon of Celtic monasticism with its contact with Egyptian and Syrian monks of the period. John Main helped restore the long-forgotten practice of Christian Meditation to the western church, recognising its potential both to renew this tradition and to open the common ground of humanity with other faiths. Contemplation, he believed, is essential for civilisation.