Welcome!
My name is Brian Rafferty. I am one of the founders of the Miracle Study Center and served as Lead Facilitator for the organization until my retirement in 2019sa. In 2003, a small group of individuals came together out of our shared interest in making A Course in Miracle more accessible and we organized as a non-profit organization.
I came to A Course in Miracles in 1988. My 13 year old son was dying of leukemia and I was searching for a way to make sense of it all. Nothing else had worked, including my background as a Catholic priest. When I began studying the Course I expected that it, too, would leave me feeling comfortless. I could not read the text in any organized fashion because my seminary training and intellect continually argued with it. I was guided to begin attending a group that was studying the lessons of the Workbook for Students of A Course in Miracles. After a year of working with the daily lessons I had no more argument, because I found that the principles the Course was teaching were working in my life. I was finding peace and was able to see my son's death as a gift and a blessing. At that point I was able to read the text with ease, and I was asked to begin teaching A Course in Miracles. More than 25 years later I find that it continues to reveal itself to me, as I continue my study. I’m often astounded when I come across a line I’ve read many times before, and feel as though I’m understanding what it’s really saying for the first time. As I teach, I learn.
My journey to San Antonio and A Course in Miracles began in Northern Ireland in a very large, and always loving Catholic family. After boarding school and seminary I was ordained as a Catholic priest and came to the United States in 1965 to serve a San Antonio, Texas parish. Five years later I made the difficult decision to leave the church. However, my relationships with my seminary classmates continues. We recently celebrated our 50th Jubilee in Ireland -- priests and former priests, coming together in loving friendship.
I came to A Course in Miracles in 1988. My 13 year old son was dying of leukemia and I was searching for a way to make sense of it all. Nothing else had worked, including my background as a Catholic priest. When I began studying the Course I expected that it, too, would leave me feeling comfortless. I could not read the text in any organized fashion because my seminary training and intellect continually argued with it. I was guided to begin attending a group that was studying the lessons of the Workbook for Students of A Course in Miracles. After a year of working with the daily lessons I had no more argument, because I found that the principles the Course was teaching were working in my life. I was finding peace and was able to see my son's death as a gift and a blessing. At that point I was able to read the text with ease, and I was asked to begin teaching A Course in Miracles. More than 25 years later I find that it continues to reveal itself to me, as I continue my study. I’m often astounded when I come across a line I’ve read many times before, and feel as though I’m understanding what it’s really saying for the first time. As I teach, I learn.
My journey to San Antonio and A Course in Miracles began in Northern Ireland in a very large, and always loving Catholic family. After boarding school and seminary I was ordained as a Catholic priest and came to the United States in 1965 to serve a San Antonio, Texas parish. Five years later I made the difficult decision to leave the church. However, my relationships with my seminary classmates continues. We recently celebrated our 50th Jubilee in Ireland -- priests and former priests, coming together in loving friendship.
Have questions? Want to know more before you decide to join us for a study group? We'd love to hear from you.