Magdala - Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem
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Hidden in the forests of Sologne is a small haven of peace: Magdala.
This former hunting lodge has been home to the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem since 1985, transformed into a place of contemplation and missionary joy.
Retreats organized by the community
A brief history of the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem
Since 1975, the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem have gathered men and women called to seek and taste together the love of God in the world. They are non-cloistered religious, meaning they are not bound to a single residence and are free to move about. Their communities offer oases of prayer open to all who wish, following the monastic way of prayer.
Indeed, in 1975, Cardinal François Marty, Archbishop of Paris, and Father Pierre-Marie Delfieux, chaplain to students at the Sorbonne, decided to found a new community. It continues the tradition of the Charismatic Renewal communities, a spiritual renewal movement that grew from the 1960s following the Second Vatican Council.
The vocation of this community is to offer a space for prayer in urban settings. However, the Fraternities include several communities with distinct missions: some have an essentially contemplative vocation (life of prayer), others have an evangelizing dynamic (sharing their faith), or serve in parishes, at the service of the Church!
Thus, the communities are sent to cities (in the heart of Paris, a stone's throw from the Hôtel de Ville, for example), to major spiritual sites (such as Mont-Saint-Michel), or to secluded houses (like here at Magdala), dedicated to silence and spiritual renewal.
The community of the "Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem" at Magdala in Sologne
Before the 1980s, a Sologne hunting lodge called "La Briquerie" belonged to Louis Bérard. Widowed in 1981, he decided to join the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem and donate the property. Since the Statutes of the Fraternities state that the Congregation cannot hold real estate, it was decided to donate it to the Diocese of Blois.
In the 1980s, the Monastic Fraternities settled at "La Briquerie." The place was renamed Magdala. Extensive renovations followed, made necessary by the growing number of requests for welcome and accommodation. An important detail to set the geographic context: the Magdala site is nestled in the heart of a 135-hectare forest.
In 1985, the horse boxes were converted into cells and named Siloé, along with the upper floor, renamed Cénacle, while the stable became the oratory. In 1989, the old barn became the main chapel, the altar consecrated in the light of stained glass windows created by Henri Guérin (1929-2009, renowned glass artist). Then came Mont Sion (1989), Aïn Karim and Béthanie (1991), the Maison de Pierre (1994), Nazareth (1995), Ephraïm (1999), and Bethléem (2003).
You've probably noticed that the Brothers and Sisters of the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem like to rename their rooms and buildings using biblical geography!!
What to expect during your stay
The many activities awaiting you at Magdala
The mission of the Fraternities of Jerusalem at Magdala is a mission of hospitality: welcoming groups, but also individual retreatants who want to spend a few days in the solitude and silence of the forest.
This place of nature and beauty carries a very special grace of interiority and silence. External silence helps us taste it within: it is as vital as the air we breathe! Sharing the monastic experience will introduce you to the grace of true silence.
The Magdala community awaits you with a wonderful range of activities to offer:
- Lectio divina (a type of prayer that includes reading sacred texts, meditating on them, and personal prayer).
- Prayer groups centered on the Bible.
- Manual work (gardening, cooking, etc.).
Retreats with specific themes are regularly organized at Magdala, feel free to check out the themed stays.
Volunteer for a day, a weekend, a week?
Magdala welcomes volunteers year-round who wish to spend time in the context of a monastic life centered on hospitality and prayer, participating in fraternal life, the divine offices, and certain tasks. Practical details:
- Available from age 18 to 75.
- Volunteers receive room and board in exchange for services.
"Being a volunteer at Magdala means experiencing a fraternal, human, and spiritual journey. Magdala, in the heart of the Sologne forest, is a privileged place for me: the community is welcoming and warm, I feel useful and have the feeling of bringing joy. I can lend a hand according to my skills in a peaceful atmosphere. I also appreciate being able to participate very freely in the liturgical life. At Magdala, I feel at home, and that's priceless!"
Experience a spiritual retreat at Magdala, in the heart of a wild sanctuary
The monastery can accommodate groups, distributed in single, double, or triple rooms. Some rooms overlook the pond, as does the refectory.
An oratory and a chapel are available for you to spend time with God whenever you wish.
To nourish your reflection, the community also provides two libraries.
If you need to reconnect with your screens or work for a few moments, several meeting rooms with tables and video projectors are also available, even though the idea is to disconnect!
Finally, a large amphitheater allows large gatherings for special events.
Geography and activities
Between the game-rich forests of Sologne and the Loire châteaux
Sologne is close to the many Loire châteaux and only 50 minutes by car from the Château de Chambord. Within about an hour's drive are several cities with rich cultural heritage: Orléans, Vierzon, Bourges, Tours, etc.
The forests of Sologne are known for hunting but also for hiking, by bike, on foot, or on horseback. In the village of Villeny, you can discover the Maison du Cerf, entirely dedicated to deer.
In the village of La Ferté-Imbault (to which Magdala belongs), stands the château, the largest brick fortress in Sologne, long belonging to the d'Estampes family.
Practical information
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