Maison de l'Assomption - Orléans
The Sisters of the Assumption in Orléans, in the Centre-Val de Loire region, welcome young adults aged 18-35 year-round for times of personal and spiritual renewal in a family-style house located just steps from the Loire River!
Retreats organized by the community
Who are the Sisters of the Assumption in Orléans?
The Assumption community was founded in Paris by the very young Marie Eugénie Milleret (1817-1898) on April 30, 1839. Immediately dedicated to the education of young girls, the community grew very rapidly and is now present on almost every continent. Recognized as a saint by the Church, Marie Eugénie was beatified in 1975 and canonized in 2007.
As missionaries, the Sisters of the Assumption do not just pray. Following the Rule of Saint Augustine, their days are balanced between prayer and work. Engaged daily in a fraternal life of joy and simplicity, the Sisters of the Assumption are present and active in parishes, in neighborhood associations, and in schools, all ways and means to build a more just society!
Today, the congregation has 1,100 sisters in 33 countries. In France, there are 130 sisters in 12 communities. In total, just in France, they serve nearly 16,000 students, three guest houses, and two student residences!
Settling in the Argonne neighborhood in Orléans
The congregation has been present in Orléans since 1968. Together with the Sisters of Saint-Aignan, they ran the Saint-Marc school and middle school. Due to the aging of the community, activities slowed down in the 2000s.
On May 11, 2014, the community experienced a second youth with the inauguration of their new home, in the heart of the multicultural Argonne neighborhood in Orléans.
In the same missionary spirit, the Sisters of the Assumption are engaged in various ways in the neighborhood's life: literacy programs, visiting the elderly, tutoring, spiritual guidance... Involved in parish and diocesan activities, the community regularly organizes activities for children.
The sisters also participate in the mission of the Assomption Saint-Marc school, particularly through teaching, listening to students, tutoring, pastoral ministry, and supporting the teams.
What to expect during your stay
Taking a spiritual break with the Sisters of the Assumption in Orléans
The sisters offer pauses for the heart and spirit: quiet time to reflect, study... Living prayer alone or with the community, sharing life together, being accompanied in one's human and spiritual search... Young adults wishing to live a "missionary stopover" with them are welcome to stay in their community!
For students in Orléans: the place is ideal for students seeking tranquility during exam preparation or thesis writing.
The community welcomes you in a family-style, simple, and comfortable house. Located in the heart of the city, it is a small haven of peace, warmth, and prayer! Freshly restored, it has individual rooms with sinks, a small garden, an oratory, and a library. It currently has a capacity of two individual guests maximum.
Meals are shared with the community. An experience not to be missed: every Saturday, dinner is taken in silence! Additionally, each day between 8 PM and 9 PM, time is set aside for gathering and fellowship.
The schedule to hear the Sisters sing
While not required for your stay, you may join the community's prayer at the following times:
- Lauds: 8:00 AM on weekdays, 8:30 AM on Sundays,
- Mass: 12:00 PM on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays; 9:00 AM on Fridays,
- Adoration: daily from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
- Vespers: 7:00 PM on weekdays, 6:30 PM on weekends,
- Vigils: Saturday evenings and the eve of major feasts at 8:30 PM.
Geography and activities
Places to visit around the Sisters of the Assumption house
The Sisters of the Assumption house is located in the Argonne neighborhood in Orléans, in the Loiret department (45), in the Centre-Val de Loire region. The nearby city center is accessible by tram. Explore the city far and wide and discover every corner:
- The half-timbered houses and cobblestone streets of old Orléans,
- The majestic Loire River, the legendary river along which you can stroll blissfully for a poetic moment.
- The Louis Pasteur park and perhaps the Orléans forest (via the GR3 or GR32 trails),
- The Joan of Arc house,
- The museums of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and the regional contemporary art collection,
- The Sainte-Croix Cathedral with its spire reaching 106 meters...
The Tourist Office has all sorts of walking tours to offer, and the Sisters can even lend you bicycles. Enjoy your walk!
Coming by car? Chambord Castle is less than an hour's drive away. Otherwise, in the immediate vicinity of Orléans, visit the Meung-sur-Loire Castle (former residence of the Bishops of Orléans) or the Fierté-Saint-Aubin Castle (less than 30 minutes by car) with its typical 17th-century architecture...
Practical information
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