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Center for Action and Contemplation

Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find our most frequently asked questions. You may utilize the menu below to find your question quickly. If you are unable to find what you are looking for below, please contact our support team and we will be happy to assist you in a timely manner.

About CAC

Can I distribute content or resources from CAC programs?

Please see the CAC Copyright Permissions Policy to review our guidelines and/or submit a written request through the CAC Permission Request form.

Can I visit the CAC?

Yes, the CAC is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mountain Time. See our Visitor Center page for more information.

How does CAC financially sustain its work?

The work of the CAC is possible only because of friends and supporters. Gifts of any amount are received gratefully and are tax-deductible in the United States to the extent allowed by the law. To learn more about how donations are used and how to make a contribution (including stock transfers and bequests), visit our Support the CAC page.

Is the CAC a Catholic organization? Is it inclusive of other denominations or faiths?

The CAC is a 501c3 educational non-profit whose mission is to introduce Christian contemplative wisdom and practices that support transformation and inspire loving action. We are not a part of the Catholic Church or any other religious organization. Friends, participants, and staff at the CAC come from many different faiths and backgrounds.

Does CAC offer spiritual direction?

While the CAC does not offer individual spiritual direction, we do recommend and partner with Spiritual Directors International who lists directors by region. For more information, please visit our What is Spiritual Direction? page.

Does CAC offer overnight accommodations?

The CAC does not offer overnight accommodations and is not a retreat center.

Can I volunteer for CAC?

Due to the pandemic, we do not currently have any volunteer opportunities available. Please check back in the future for updated information.

How can I receive a copy of The Mendicant donor newsletter?

Everyone who donates to the CAC receives a printed copy of the Mendicant by mail. Additionally, past issues of The Mendicant are available on our website.

How can I obtain a statement of my donations to CAC?

CAC acknowledges each donation with a receipt for tax records. If you gave a total of $250 or more in a given year, please contact our Community Support team to request a statement of your donations.

I’m interested in studying with the CAC. What are my options?

The CAC’s programs and resources are designed to help deepen prayer practice and strengthen compassionate engagement in the world. Our Online Education courses and Living School program are both great options for going deeper on a particular topic.

Bookstore

I have a question about my account or recent online order. How can I get help?

If you do not find the answer to your question on our site, feel free to email [email protected] or call us at 505-247-1636.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and PayPal.

Can I get a refund for my Bookstore purchase?

Please click here to read our returns and refunds policy.

How does shipping work on international orders?

At this time we only offer international shipping through USPS. We are aware of the unfortunate high shipping cost for these orders and suggest looking into our Digital Products in our Bookstore, which require no shipping.

Does the CAC sell gift cards?

Gift cards are available in denominations of $25, $50, $75, $100, $125 and $150. All gift cards are good for 5 years from the purchase date. PLEASE NOTE: gift cards cannot be used towards our Online Education courses.

Email/Daily Meditations

How do I access previous Daily Meditations?

You can explore past meditations on our website. Some Daily Meditations are also available in print.

How do I update my email subscription preferences?

To unsubscribe or make changes to your email subscription, click the “update your preferences” link at the bottom of any CAC email.

How do I change my email address?

Please contact our Community Support team for help with updating your email address. Be sure and include your old and new email address.

Why am I not receiving any emails from the CAC?

If you are having trouble receiving our emails, please be sure and check your Junk, Spam, and Promotions folders. If you still are not seeing emails from us, please contact our Community Support team.

Does Fr. Richard write the DM emails?

Many hearts, heads, and hands go into creating the Daily Meditations. Learn more about the team behind this important CAC program.

Online Education

Is financial assistance available for an online course?

The CAC is able to offer a limited amount of financial assistance for each online course. Please fill out our Financial Assistance Application at least one week before registration is scheduled to close.

How long will I have access to course content?

Some courses provide access to articles and audio files after the course closes. Others, however, do not have student access after the end date has passed.

Are there live teaching elements in any of the courses?

Courses feature previously recorded teaching content from our faculty. Most courses do not offer live interaction with any of the teachers; please review each course’s specific details for information about faculty interactions.

Will I be able to connect with other participants in an online course?

Most online courses include a Discussion Forum where participants are encouraged to share with and engage with each other. However, that is not the case for every course. Please review each course’s details for specific information on opportunities to connect.

Is there a mobile app for online courses?

Canvas offers a mobile app called Canvas Student which will allow you to use Canvas from your phone or tablet (Android and iOS). When prompted to enter your school’s name, please search Center for Action and Contemplation.

What are the technology requirements to take an online course?

All CAC online courses require utilizing Canvas web-based learning management system. Learn more about the browser and computer requirements for Canvas.


Recommended browsers and devices

CAC online courses are available on computers and mobile devices, like tablets and smartphones.

If you’re having problems, you might be able to solve them by making sure you’re using a supported browser or device, and making sure it’s updated.

Supported browsers

Canvas supports the most recent versions of the following browsers on computers:
• Google Chrome (recommended)
• Firefox
• Microsoft Edge
• Respondus LockDown Browser 
• Safari (Macintosh only)

If you’re using an older browser, updating your browser can help solve problems.

Computer requirements

To access courses, you’ll need a reliable Internet connection and a computer. For best performance, you should access Canvas with a computer that supports the most recent browser versions and have an internet connection that supports the playback of online video.

It is recommended to use a computer five years old or newer with at least 1GB of RAM.

Using Canvas on mobile

The Canvas interface was optimized for desktop displays, so using smaller devices such as phones may not work as intended. For the best user experience, please download the Canvas mobile applications for Android or iOS. The Canvas mobile applications require Android 8.0 or later and iOS 15.0 or later.

How do I reset my password?

To reset your password, visit learn.cac.org and click the Forgot Password? link. Please remember to verify your email address is entered correctly. All passwords are case sensitive.

I’m having trouble accessing Canvas.

If you’re having problems connecting to Canvas, first:

If you’re having problems accessing Canvas using a mobile browser:

Please note that the Canvas interface was optimized for desktop displays, so using smaller devices such as phones may not work as intended. For the best user experience, please download the Canvas mobile applications for Android or iOS. The Canvas mobile applications require Android 6.0 or later and iOS 13.0 or later.

If none of these steps have addressed your issue, please reach out to our Community Engagement team.

Can I receive a refund for an online course?

Students can request a full refund for any online course for up to 14 days from the start of the course. Students can also request to transfer to another course offering of the same course at no extra charge.

To request a refund, please contact our Community Engagement team.

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