Béthanie Priory
.webp)
A verdant haven at the gates of Paris in Île-de-France, Béthanie Priory welcomes anyone seeking a time of spiritual renewal. Established since 1972, the community of 25 Benedictine nuns offers numerous customized retreats for everyone!
Retreats organized by the community
A breath of fresh air and rest: Béthanie Priory
Built in 1972 in Blaru in the Yvelines region, Béthanie Priory was constructed to allow the sisters who were serving at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre to come "get some fresh air" and find renewal in the countryside in order to regain strength for their mission.
Over the years, a spiritual welcome for all has developed there. Bethany is the place where Jesus loved to withdraw with his friends Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. Like Jesus, the community invites guests to come "to a deserted place and rest a while" (Mk 6:31). Guests are welcome for a time of renewal from a few hours to several days.
A priory with multiple purposes
Béthanie Priory is also:
- a spiritual guest house serving the Church, in the heart of the Diocese of Versailles, open to all people wishing to share in the community's life of prayer and adoration, whether you are an individual, part of a group, families, students, Scouts, priests, or consecrated religious.
- the "family home" of the congregation of the Benedictines of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre.
- a place of life and formation for the novitiate
- a place of accompaniment for elderly sisters or those convalescing
- a place of rest and renewal for sisters of the Congregation on mission at another priory
The congregation of the Benedictines of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre
The congregation of the Benedictines of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre belongs to the spiritual movement that led to the construction of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre. In the spirit of this place, the sisters seek to live a Eucharistic life connected to the devotion to the Sacred Heart and open to welcoming all who are drawn to it. This is why their vocation usually unfolds in different sanctuaries and priories. In all these Church places, the Rule of Saint Benedict nourishes their life of prayer, their fraternal life, and their mission of hospitality to offer welcome in different apostolates.
In addition to the various offices and Mass, the sisters take turns adoring the Blessed Sacrament one hour per day.
The community, composed of 25 sisters, has a charism that is lived in community. The diversity of generations, shared meals, daily encounters, and working together allow the sisters to discover the joy and fruitfulness of mutual trust.
They also invite the priory's guests to help them with certain tasks and duties such as gardening or crafts.
%2520(1).webp)
What to expect during your stay
A unique guest house that adapts to its guests
At Béthanie Priory, the sisters have a mission of welcome, listening, and gracious presence. This is their priority mission. The sisters are careful to make themselves available to individuals and groups who request it.
They offer in particular an introduction to prayer, adoration, or lectio divina (prayerful reading of the Word of God), as well as teachings or times of exchange with one of them. There are also times of service (gardening, housekeeping, icon workshop, etc.).
For groups, thematic retreats are also offered, as well as individual times for families, parents and grandparents, and retreats for young people (Béthanie team ages 12 to 25, etc.).
The community is also delighted to have guests visit for a liturgical office, a time of silence, an individual retreat, or to exchange with them.
The schedule for offices on weekdays is as follows:
- 7:30 AM Office of Readings and Lauds (except Tuesday)
- 8:30 AM-11:00 AM Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
- 11:30 AM Mass
- 1:30 PM Midday Office and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
- 6:00 PM Vespers (except Monday: 4:30 PM)
- 8:30 PM Rosary (except Tuesday)
- 9:00 PM Compline (except Tuesday).
On Sundays, the schedule for offices is as follows:
- 8:00 AM Lauds
- 8:30 AM-10:00 AM Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
- 11:00 AM Mass
- 1:30 PM Midday Office and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
- 4:00 PM Vespers
- 8:30 PM Rosary
- 9:00 PM Compline.
.webp)
What awaits you during your retreat at Béthanie Priory
During your retreat in Blaru, you will find:
- Capacity for 45 rooms including 16 doubles, each with its own bathroom.
- 8 meeting rooms, some of which can accommodate up to 100 people
- 2 large refectories
- a large garden with a small Lourdes grotto
.webp)
Geography and activities
Béthanie: countryside at the gates of Paris
Béthanie Priory is located in the countryside in the village of Blaru, in the Yvelines region. Just 1 hour 15 minutes from Paris and 7 minutes from Vernon, the priory is also accessible from Normandy (1 hour from Rouen).
Several hiking trails are available. If you're nostalgic for Paris, the priory is located next to the Seine!
If you have a car, many fabulous sites are easily accessible from Blaru:
- Claude Monet's house and gardens
- Bizy Castle
- Tourelles Castle
- Versailles Palace
- Château Gaillard
- Collegiate Church of Mantes-La-Jolie
- Collegiate Church of Vernon
- La Roche Guillon
Practical information
Discover more locations
