Orval Young People in Prayer
For 18 to 30 year olds
Orval Young People in Prayer
Reserve my spot
What is prayer? How do you pray?
Are you questioning the meaning of prayer and want to deepen your faith?
OJP is for you!
OJP is for young people and with young people who want to learn to pray and find meaning in it:
- discover the Bible and what it can bring you
- experience times of sharing, discovery and relaxation
- celebrate with other young people in church
Enjoy the setting of Orval: beauty, silence and peace.
You will meet the monks of the community and share their quest for God with Christians of diverse experiences.
We expect participants to commit to the complete program as OJP is not a menu to choose from.
However, some afternoon activities are optional, along with generous personal time.
Only participation in the Office of Vigils (at 5:00 in the morning) is optional, for the most motivated!
- Concretely, the day begins with morning prayer at 7:30 a.m.
- The morning alternates between moments of biblical introduction, solitude and group sharing.
- In the afternoon, various activities are offered as choices: either workshops, manual work in the forest, or organized walks through Gaume in the Orval area.
- Regarding meals, each has a specific atmosphere: breakfast, between 6:00 and 8:30 a.m., is self-service and in silence, with background music.
- The meal is shared all together and in silence.
Being experienced within an abbey and with a community of monks, OJP is structured around the "offices", the sung liturgy of the hours, the times of monastic prayer.
- The musical aspect is also important.
- Singing rehearsals will help everyone actively participate in the community's psalmody.
- Music becomes a concrete element of communion among participants.
- Each day, the same chant connects the key moments of the day through a Gospel theme.
- We also want to honor with this chant the sensitivity particular to your generation, while respecting the style proper to the monastic atmosphere.
- Finally, if you play an instrument, don't hesitate to bring it.
A specific registration form will be sent to you based on this request.
- For prayer, it is helpful to bring a Bible even though we make one available.
- Bring something to take notes (paper and pen), to note elements from the introductions or personal reflections that you will share in small groups.
- For lodging, bring sheets or a sleeping bag.
- For clothing, it can get cool during the night in our region, especially for Sunday vigils.
- If you want to walk, perhaps bring appropriate shoes.
- If you plan to participate in manual work, work clothes are welcome.
- Don't forget your musical instrument if you play one, and specify this in your registration!
- To preserve an atmosphere of interiority, it is clear that computers and audio devices of all kinds are unnecessary.
- We also ask you not to bring alcoholic beverages.
Suggested offering:
- €80 rate for working people
- €60 student rate, and each according to their means