Heading to the Abbey: Unique Spiritual Vacations

In the sacred, thousand-year-old setting of Sablonceaux Abbey (Charente-Maritime), the Chemin Neuf community launched an original spiritual retreat program this summer.

They took on the challenge of bringing together, for 4 to 5 days, more than 170 members from parishes in western France led by Chemin Neuf (Angers, Bordeaux, Caen, Nantes, etc.), including 50 children.

The uniqueness of the concept—part retreat, part vacation—lay in bringing together catechumens, new believers, young families with children, and “ordinary” parishioners to share a fraternal vacation experience that combined relaxation with spiritual growth.

“Relaxation Guaranteed, Hearts Nourished”

Each day followed the same rhythm: a special morning time to gather together before God, ample free time in the afternoon to rest and explore the region, daily opportunities for the Eucharist, adoration, sung liturgy, and praise, simple meals shared by parish, and an evening vigil each night.

During a more intense central day spent together, we alternated between an “Olympics” centered on the theme of virtues, a “Path of the Heart” (Way of the Cross), and an evening of reconciliation—not to mention the solar eclipse that made an unexpected appearance over the vast meadow!

One Course per Day

After casting off from everything that weighed down the parishioners, they set sail with one course a day:

• Let us turn to Christ so that He may meet us where we are,
• Let’s turn toward the Cross and the Love that heals wounds and forgives sins,
• Let us set our sights on the mission as we discover whom the Lord is calling us to serve.
• The closing Eucharist sent the participants forth, their eyes fixed on Christ, as missionary disciples in their daily lives to make known the love of God that has transformed their lives.

The children and young people, for their part, embarked on an adventure with St. Francis of Assisi, organized by age group. Each day, they, too, followed a path to marvel, love, and forgive; to live in harmony with others; and to radiate joy.

The Chemin Neuf Style

Over the course of a few days, participants were able to discover everything that makes Chemin Neuf unique: worship, Ignatian prayer, charismatic life, the prayer of the brothers, small-group sharing, an ecumenical spirit, simplicity and frugality in daily life and service, washing dishes and cleaning together, and a sense of celebration…

Experiencing Joy

At the end of this session, during which each participant was invited to take time to lay their life before God, to be enlightened by His Word, and to live out brotherhood in a tangible way, joy lit up every face, despite the heat and the mosquitoes.
The joy of experiencing deep within themselves God’s personal love for each person present, of believing that Christ is truly present in their lives and that He walks with them on their journeys.

The children’s exuberant joy, the freshness of faith among the catechumens and newly baptized young people, and the vivid testimonies of God’s presence in their lives—which gives meaning to even the smallest action—made it easier and easier to share deeply as the shyness of the first evening faded away.

Each of us is called by Christ to continue on the journey—specifically where we are planted, and especially in our parish—to come together in service to the Kingdom, under the guidance of the Spirit. Things may look a little different as we head back to church after the summer break!

Testimonials