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International Retreat for Oblates

For people who have begun the Oblate Path
Laurence Freeman

Leader

Laurence Freeman

Fr Laurence is a Benedictine monk of the Monastery of Sta Maria di Pilastrello, Lendinara, in the Benedictine Congregation of Monte Oliveto. He is Director of Bonnevaux and of The World Community for Christian Meditation.

Date

09 - 14 Sep, 2025

Location

Bonnevaux Retreat Centre
86370 Marçay, France

The WCCM Oblate Path is a contemporary way of living a contemplative life in the wisdom of monastic tradition. The wisdom of the Rule of St Benedict is studied and applied to the situations of daily living and relationships. A community of meditating oblates within the WCCM is a unique dimension that helps members shape and share an approach to life  as ‘truly seeking God’. This retreat is for people who have begun the Oblate Path  which integrates daily practice of mediation, study and spiritual sharing about the integration of all aspects of one’s life, family, work, friends and social responsibility. For more information on this path: https://wccm.org/become-an-oblate/

Bonnevaux is near Poitiers, France, southwest of Paris. It is 20-minute ride from Poitiers Airport and train station. The journey by train to Poitiers is about 90 min from Paris (Montparnasse).

By road

5 hour drive from Paris along the A10. Parking is available at Bonnevaux. Get directions here

By air

Fly into Poitiers Airport, served by low-cost airlines. The airport is a 20-minute drive from the Abbaye. To the Poitiers Biard Airport website 

Fly into Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport – click here to get all travel info to and from the airport.

Fly into Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport – click here to get all travel info to and from the airport.

By train

1.5h by TGV from Paris to Poitiers station which is about 20 minutes drive from Bonnevaux. To the Gare de Poitiers Train Station website

  • Speakers
Laurence Freeman

Leader

Laurence Freeman

Fr Laurence is a Benedictine monk of the Monastery of Sta Maria di Pilastrello, Lendinara, in the Benedictine Congregation of Monte Oliveto. He is Director of Bonnevaux and of The World Community for Christian Meditation.

  • Schedule

International Retreat for Oblates

ArrivalTuesday 9 September 2025, check-in: 13h30 – 15h30
DepartureSunday 14 September 2025, after lunch (14h00)

Cancellation

— Please ensure you have travel insurance in place as we cannot refund cancelled travel for any reason.
— If you cancel your Bonnevaux booking up to 30 days before the event starts, you will be refunded the full cost of the event.  Cancellations occurring within 30 days of the event start will be offered a voucher for a future event. Bonnevaux reserves the right to cancel events at any point – cancellations occurring within 30 days prior to the event start date will be subject to the voucher refund policy only.

Membership Fee ** – 10€

Membership fee is paid once per year, valid from Jan – Dec.

** by French law you must be a ‘member‘ of the charity (association ABP) Abbaye de Bonnevaux – Centre Pour la Paix in order to participate at an on-the-ground event at Bonnevaux – 86370 Marçay, France.

Membership is non-binding. It simply means that you are invited to attend the annual general meeting if you wish and that you may receive information about our events during the year.

The Abbey of Bonnevaux is the spiritual home of the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM) which includes a Conference and Retreat Centre dedicated to peace. The on-the-ground activities of the Abbey are organized under the responsibility of l’Association Abbaye de Bonnevaux – Centre pour le Paix (ABP).  The Association, which is governed by the French law of 1st July 1901, is registered in Poitiers under the reference RNA: W863007299.

The Abbey of Bonnevaux is the spiritual home of the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM) which includes a Conference and Retreat Centre dedicated to peace. The on-the-ground activities of the Abbey are organized under the responsibility of l’Association Abbaye de Bonnevaux – Centre pour le Paix (ABP).  The Association, which is governed by the French law of 1st July 1901, is registered in Poitiers under the reference RNA: W863007299.

Address : Bonnevaux, 86370 Marçay, France.
Phone number : 06 33 43 71 71 / 06 61 96 57 74.
José Pype (President of the Association); Krzysztof Albinski (Executive Director)
Site hosting: Flywheel

Laurence Freeman

Leader

Laurence Freeman

Fr Laurence is a Benedictine monk of the Monastery of Sta Maria di Pilastrello, Lendinara, in the Benedictine Congregation of Monte Oliveto. He is Director of Bonnevaux and of The World Community for Christian Meditation.

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