Family retreat "I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you"

Family retreat, from Sunday, July 11 at 7 PM to Friday, July 16 at 10 AM.

"I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you." Strengthening your Christian life, your marriage, your family: how do we live out this commandment as a family?

Living a spiritual retreat as a family is a foundational experience: a true renewal, for parents and children alike, each according to their age. It is an opportunity to share a meaningful spiritual time, to care for the family as a whole and for each individual, to reflect on the past year, to grow in faith and unity, to learn to pray together, and to share what truly matters.

Retreat led by Father Dominique Bostyn, the community of the Foyer de Charité Notre-Dame de Lacépède, and a team.

Retreat open to all families: couples with their children and teenagers, couples without children, single parents.

A retreat of rest and prayer, in a spirit of recollection for all.

• Parents follow a silent retreat, with teachings that speak to their lives as spouses and parents.

• Children ages 4 to 14 experience a retreat tailored to their age group: the spiritual experience unfolds through play, reflection, shared life, and prayer.

• Young people aged 15 and over participate in the retreat by serving: they help lead the children's groups and also benefit from time for formation and relaxation.

• Three teachings per day; daily Mass, Lauds, free adoration, rosary, and prayer vigils with personal reflection activities offered.

A typical day

• Breakfast and family praise

• First teaching for parents, while children join their activities

• Mass at the end of the morning

• Lunch in silence for parents

• Extended free time in the early afternoon

• Second teaching, then free time (adoration, snack, walk...)

• Third teaching

• Dinner in silence

• Evening gathering, as a family or otherwise

• From 9:30 PM, children are under their parents' responsibility until the next morning's activities

• Opportunity to meet with a priest (confession or conversation) or a lay person trained in listening and spiritual guidance

• Walks in and around the grounds, through a landscape of gentle wooded hills

• Meals with music, generous and varied; dietary requirements accommodated on request

Practical details

• The Foyer, located halfway between Toulouse and Bordeaux, welcomes you on a full board basis, with home-cooked meals.

• Single rooms, with some double rooms: couples who wish to may be accommodated together. The vast majority of rooms have full bathroom facilities. Pillowcases and blankets are provided.

• If you are traveling by train, a Foyer shuttle can pick you up at Agen train station: please indicate this when registering.

• By registering, you commit to respecting everyone's privacy and rest, and to attending the retreat in full.

What to pack

• Your bed sheets (rental available for €5 per set if you are traveling by train; the size depends on your room, please check with the Foyer's secretariat)

• Your personal towels

• Your table napkin, with a napkin ring or holder if possible

• Your regular medications

• Shoes and clothing suitable for walking

• Your Bible, at least the New Testament and the Psalms (lending copies available on site)

• Something to take notes with

For children, a detailed packing list is sent at the time of registration.

Suggested offering

• The Foyer's material existence depends on the contributions of retreatants: the financial contribution is left to your discretion, each person gives in good conscience, according to their real means.

• As a guide, full board (24 hours), including programming, costs the Foyer approximately €55 per person per day (half that for children).

• If this represents a genuine difficulty for you, please mention it when registering.