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How I started the Center

It was the result of a long search after which I wanted to share what I found out, with people with same interests. I have always being interested in the spiritual aspects of life and had not found answers that pleased me in the different religious groups I could make contact with. I was looking for serious, adult and committed ways to live my spiritual life feeling that I am responsible for my own actions and their consequential for humankind and the planet. I have felt the need to go on growing spiritually in company with kindred spirits.

Realizing that Catholicism is not the only religion, I become interested in approaching people with other beliefs and observing their behaviors. Thus I visited different denominational Christian Churches, and also became active in a progressive Ecumenical, Jewish Christian Group when I lived in Buenos Aires. It was during a time spent in U.SA.. that I first met Unitarian. Main thing that call my attention was observing women role as ministers in the congregation. Another aspect that I noticed was the freedom, and guilt free feeling in their members. And this was only the beginning of a long process that showed clearer that I have found my way. That I was not wrong when I did not give up looking for a spiritual place, for a place among people where I could feel congruent with my beliefs. In Argentina I have never heard about UU
It was not surprise that at the same time I approached UU, I was making other life important decisions, such as leaving the hectic life I was living in a crowded city and decided to move to a more peaceful place; this is U., where I am settle since 1994.
Being here one of the first motions I took was to look for a spiritual home, if any…there were very few options: two traditional Catholic Churches and different charismatic evangelical churches led by paternalistic pastors. I visited all of them and found I did not fit in any of them.
But… I desperately needed to strengthen my spiritual values with like-minded people. Meanwhile ICUU was born and I got in touch with the Program Director. I felt so welcoming that decided a personal meeting, and traveled to Boston with this particular purpose, where I was kindly received and introduced to a number of ministers.
Encouraged by this visit, back home I started organizing meetings at my home, announcing them as UU meetings
Little by little I noticed that in this country the very name UU sounded unknown, suspicious,…. perhaps a sect? Another New Age group?, related to the historical “Unitario vs. Federal” Movement in Argentina? So, I decided to apply the wise saying: . "To bring someone along spiritually requires first meeting them where they are."
Thus I invited people to share topics such as: meaning of life, human suffering, ecology, religion and science, prayer etc. All meetings began and ended with the chalice lightening accompanied by meaningful words.
At the same time, along these years I have been organizing open Interfaith Celebrations close to Xmas. and Easter time. In such occasions Hotel, or University Meeting Places are rented, where between 60-70 people can meet in response to invitations made through the media.
As time passed by the need for a private, larger and more specific space was evident. Thus, a lobby, a Classroom and a toilet on the first floor, as well as a Meditation Room upstairs was built attached to my house.
This became PAZ Y ARMONIA Study, Meditation and Action Center.
*Meditations -, as we call Worship here-, take place every second and last Sunday mornings and once Wednesday evening a month.

* Meditation: includes a service component in which group members work together in alternated leadership.

The practice of Meditation grounds us in the present we use different techniques from different sources, such as Buddhism, Hassidism, Christianity, Quakerism, etc.

Other activities are also offered:
Frequent open meetings for People going through Bereavement process, - also promoted by the local Funeral Director-. (These are opportunities to taper spiritual issues.)
The Center also offers a place for people interested in the study of Philosophy, Theology, Psychology. UU authors and other writers such as Paul Tillich, Thomas Moor, Thick Nhat Hanh, etc. are read and discussed. It is a place to share opinions. Thus people not only come to open their minds, but also to strengthen their spiritual values.
Besides, different Workshops are offered at the Center, focusing on topics such as, "Love and Sexuality", "Analyzing our own Values and Beliefs", "Simple Living", "Burnout" " Grief and Loss " and " World's Religions".

Understanding that one cannot really reach true spiritual awareness without an action component, we began to train volunteers as community caregivers.
Although I began this project by myself, now people interested in Meditation may gather in groups of 10 or 12 on a regular basis. People with specific interests attend the different activities.
A dozen volunteers may meet to share their experiences as caregivers.

Lately we have been offering, twice a year, "A Day Spiritual Retreat" outside, at the foot of a mountain. Now we are feeling the need for longer term events, such as "Five Days Spiritual Retreat".

We have not yet faced fund-raising for the Center, but this is not our priority for now.

I could afford our building and other expenses. Only a few events have asked for an anonymous contribution, which did not cover the cost they implied.

My personal formation:
Besides my Professional background as Psychologist, I am permanently complementing it as Lay Leader attending Courses at Shalem Institute, Pendle Hill Quaker Center, Mennonite University, and other Institutions.

But what has mostly contributed to my formation is establishing contact and communication with a range of UU groups in USA, and Europe; attending ICUU, Canadian and British Council Meetings, first as an observer and lately as Emerging Group representative and SouthAmerican Task Force. All these added up to my informal ministerial training.

Synthesis of Activities:

The Future, some of the work to be done will be: