The Vocation of the Foyers de Charité
The vocation of the Foyers de Charité is to revitalize and strengthen Christians in their faith so that they can live out their baptism to the full and contribute to the life of the Church at the service of the entire world.
And beyond the community of believers, their vocation is also to give all men the opportunity to meet Christ and grow in humanity.
The main mission of the Foyers de Charité is to participate in the new evangelisation through the preaching of spiritual retreats that are open to everyone. They offer 6-day retreats, in silence, during which the participants are welcomed as if they are part of the family and receive teachings that summarise the fundamentals of the Catholic faith.
The Foyers of Charity are the workers of a “New Pentecost of Love”: their purpose is to experience and bear witness to the love of Christ for everyone.
The Foyers of Charité in the world
The 80 Foyers de Charité, which are spread across four continents, welcome more than 50,000 people per year to their spiritual retreats.
In each foyer, the members offer the same loving accompaniment, while remaining faithful to Christ’s message of love.
What is a Foyer de Charité ?
The Foyers de Charité were founded in 1936 at the instigation of Marthe Robin and Fr Finet. As a Catholic Work with an international scope, their main mission is to offer spiritual retreats that are open to all, whether they are believers or not.
A Foyer that is resplendent with light, charity, and love
Marthe Robin
In each Foyer de Charité lives a community of men and women gathered around a priest who is the “father of the foyer”. The members of the foyer, who can be single or married, share a simple fraternal life. They put their belongings and abilities in common to make the Foyer a place for nurturing the spiritual renewal of their contemporaries.
The members of the Foyers de Charité have chosen to concentrate their lives to evangelising others. Through their work, prayer and hospitality, their aim is to:
- live out and bear witness together to the love of Christ for each person;
- strengthen Christians in their faith;
- give all men the chance to meet Christ and to grow in humanity.
The house of the Heart of Jesus open to all
Marthe Robin
The 76 Foyers de Charité, which are spread across four continents, welcome more than 50,000 people per year to their spiritual retreats. Currently, there are 28 Foyers in Africa, 15 in America, 9 in Asia and 24 in Europe, of which 13 are in France. In each foyer, the members offer the same loving support, while remaining faithful to Christ’s message of love.
Some Foyers de Charité have additional missions (schools, dispensaries, holiday homes, voluntary work).
In 1986, the Pontifical Council for the Laity recognised the Work of the Foyers de Charité as an international association of the faithful of pontifical right.
Why go on spiritual retreat ?
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.