The four formation cycles led by the Chemin Neuf Community began in September in four different locations around the world:
- At the Chartreuse de Saragosse in Spain, 47 participants from 13 countries, mostly families, are taking part in the Aula Dei Experiment. They began the formation with a week on Genesis.
- At the International Centre in Tiberias, Ivory Coast, no fewer than 20 participants from eight different countries are beginning the training cycle.
- At Hautecombe Abbey in France, 42 young people from 13 countries are also gathered and are living this year through the five pillars: formation, prayer, community life, mission and integral ecology.
- Finally, for the third year, The Community at the Crossing is bringing together 13 young people in New York at the Episcopal Cathedral for a year of formation. These 13 young people come from 3 countries and 6 different churches (Episcopal, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran, Protestant and non-denominational).
Here are some photos of the start of the academic year and testimonials:
Testimonials:
Jean-Baptiste David, France, formation at the Centre international de Tibériade:
Training with Chemin Neuf was the result of a decision to take the JET course, which includes training before going on a mission abroad for an international volunteer experience. Obviously, this choice was carefully considered, but it required taking a step forward and accepting the unknown. So I received and accepted the offer to attend the School of Tiberias Discipleship 1 in Ivory Coast.
I found myself surrounded by thirteen young people and two couples from very diverse cultural backgrounds. The most striking aspect of this formation for me was undoubtedly the fraternity. Who is my brother, who is my sister? The one I choose? Or the one who is given to me? A week was dedicated to this in the middle of the formation. One girl confessed to me: ‘I find you cold towards me, I feel like you don’t like my head.’ It was a powerful, intense moment, and I really had to question myself. I had nothing against this girl, yet I thought I was being cordial to her. But according to her, my behaviour did not match what I thought. The notion of fraternity thus took on even more meaning. To be a Christian is to love your neighbour. Not just to accept them, but to love them.
Marie Epiphanie Kagamé, Ivory Coast, in formation at the Centre international de Tibériade :
My journey with the community is relatively recent, and the course at Tiberias was offered to me at the end of the Jericho retreat. This course was for me a leap towards Jesus and the discovery of a world that was unknown to me, namely: Ignatian prayer, reading the Bible, understanding the Mass, Eucharistic adoration, community life (fraternity). I particularly remember two highlights. First, the week of ‘life in the Spirit,’ which allowed me to discover the person of the Holy Spirit and invite him into my life. The spiritual exercises retreat was also a defining moment, during which I was able to forgive people who had hurt me, but also to confess my sins and renounce them. To allow all this to take root and to remain attentive to the Lord, I decided to do the second year of the course, which was not planned. May the Lord, who is full of surprises, continue his work!
Nikolett Váradi, Hungary, in formation at Hautecombe Discipleship School (HDS):
Before HDS formation, I worked as a nursery school teacher in Budapest. I left my job. My family didn’t really understand why I was going to another country, learning another language and living in an abbey for a year.
The motto of the Discipleship School in Hautecombe is: ‘Become a disciple, shape the world.’ The five pillars of the formation (prayer, formation, community life, integral ecology and mission) form a unity that helps us to follow Jesus in our daily lives.
The most important moment of the formation was the Ignatian retreat. During the formation, I felt that God was working deeply within me in relation to my childhood. During the retreat, I experienced an important reconciliation that showed me God’s healing power. I understood that I can offer God not only my talents, but also what is difficult or in need of healing.
The first week at HDS (Hautecombe, France)
The first week at Aula Dei Experiment (Zaragoza, Spain)
The first week at Community at the Crossing (New York)
The first week at l’Ecole de Disciple de Tibériade (Ivory Coast)
