Silence is an important part of the retreat but it is not experienced as a form of self-confinement.
It prevails throughout the household, including during the meal times which are accompanied by music. You will be supported in this experience.
The retreat preacher always offers an opportunity to meet with him personally as well as with the community members, who are trained in spiritual guidance.
Participating in the liturgy through songs and prayers will also help you engage in the retreat and the inner silence. This allows God to become the key focus of our inner conversations.
« Silence does not give God, but God gives himself in silence ».
Marthe Robin
Whether you are beginning a spiritual search, whether you are a baptised believer or not, or you are rooted in Christian life, the retreat can be the answer to your deepest desire. The times of teaching and prayer are accessible to everyone.
The lectures cover the major questions of life, faith and how they resonate with people today. It is through these lectures that the gospel can shed its light on new convictions and guiding principles that take into account every aspect of the human person. This light comes to each person, whatever his or her current situation.
Whatever your age, your journey, your expectations, your questions… whether you are single, married, widowed, divorced, remarried, priest, religious or consecrated: there is a spiritual retreat for you.
The retreat is organised according to a coherent plan. It forms a whole and helps the person to make progress. Each person is invited to engage in this process.
The days are broken down into times of prayer, teaching, meals and free time so that the person can really rest and experience genuine regeneration. After each teaching, you have time to pray, meditate, go for a walk, etc. The beautiful places where the Foyers de Charité are located allow the body to rest and the soul to breathe.
You will be received at the Foyer by a community of men and women who will do everything they can to make you feel at home. They are dedicated to praying for you and accompanying you while respecting your personal journey.
The times of prayer and teaching provide the elements you need to be renewed, to meet or be approached by Christ where you are at the moment, to experience the unconditional love of God for every man and be renewed by the Spirit.
The Foyers de Charité are open to all those who wish to come to experience a spiritual retreat together as a family, regardless of your financial means.
We do not have a daily rate. However, during the retreat, you will be given information on the running of the household. You will be invited to contribute to the expenses of the stay, without obligation and in accordance with your conscience.
The treasure of the spiritual retreat is the encounter with Jesus: this is priceless! This is why there is no set financial contribution that retreatants are required to pay.
The Work of the Foyers of Charity is the “House of the Heart of Jesus open to all” (Marthe Robin, founding text).
Several Foyers de Charité provide day-care for the children.
They are welcomed subject to the availability of places and their age. Conditions may vary from one foyer to another.
The best way is to contact the foyer you are interested in to find out the practical details.
If you have a diet, please let us know by phone or letter before your arrival, when you register for the retreat.
In most of the Foyers de Charité, there is wheelchair access for people with reduced mobility. If you have difficulty getting around, please inform the foyer you are planning to visit before your arrival so that the right accommodation can be arranged for you.
If you require some special assistance during your stay, do not hesitate to contact the foyer so that we can see how to welcome you in the best conditions possible.
The retreat is structured over a 6-day period, including 5 full days in silence.
The entire retreat makes a whole, like a journey with milestones allowing space for God’s surprises, from the very beginning to the very end of the week.
That’s why we recommend that you make arrangements to stay for the entire retreat.
The 6-day retreat helps you to explore and understand the fundamentals of the Catholic faith so that you can discover and learn about how it all fits together to make a coherent whole. They shed light on all the major questions of life that every person asks himself.
Whatever the reasons, the spiritual retreat is a breathing space in a setting that inspires inner reflection. The setting, silence and pace of the retreat give the participants the freedom to open up to themselves and to God.
A spiritual retreat is a break for the heart and the mind. It creates a breathing space for:
Relaxing, resting and finding comfort in the middle of our very busy lives;
Meeting with God in silence, reading his Word and rekindling the fire of our faith;
Reflecting on the meaning of our existence, taking a step back before making important choices;
Exploring the key questions of life and gaining a better understanding of the foundations of the Christian faith.