Mike Matteuzzi is the founder of Contemporary Spirituality, an organization dedicated to connecting sincere seekers with the wisdom teachings of the world’s religions. Contemporary Spirituality offers “something more for sincere seekers” through in-person and online programming. It seeks to build a supportive community that emphasizes commitment to a regular contemplative practice while assisting participants in discerning their unique call.
Mike’s spiritual journey has taken him to conferences at the Center for Action and Contemplation, silent retreats at St. Benedict’s in Snowmass, Colorado, several years organizing and promoting retreats in Missouri and Kansas for Trappist Fr. William Meninger, time on Sr. Ilia Delio’s board of directors for her Omega Center, and participation in two multi-year spirituality programs: Richard Rohr’s Living School and Ronald Rolheiser’s Forest Dwelling: Spirituality for Our Wisdom Years.
In this episode, we speak with Mike about his background and early experience in an intentional Christian community, his awakening to the “spaciousness” of contemplative spirituality, and how he lives out the calling of “entering the cosmic dance” in his day-to-day life and work with his organization. We also look at how his understanding of the church has evolved throughout his journey, the limitations and invitations of “cultural Catholicism,” and the ways in which the role of the church “is to embrace so as to redeem and not to exclude so as to purify.”
