This event takes place at Bonnevaux and offers an opportunity to discover the rich cultural and historical French and European heritage of the 12th-century Abbaye de Bonnevaux, as well as to explore the varied and natural beauty of the land which we cultivate as a model of ecological responsibility.
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Speakers
Leader
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Laurence Freeman
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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.
Other Leaders
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Tayna Malaspina
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Taynã is a WCCM oblate and International Director of Meditation for Young people. She started her work in the community with a meditation project with children. She graduated in Social Communication with a master’s degree in Social Psychology. Postgraduate degree in Positive Psychology: Science of Well-being and Self-Realization (PUC-RS) . Certification in Neuroscience and Well-being Science (PUC-RS) . Postgraduate degree in Spirituality and Consciousness Studies (PUC-RS). Taynã is 39 years old and has two daughters (4 and 9 years old). Christian meditation was the path I found on my spiritual journey responsible for deepening my Christian faith through the experience of being with God in silence. Bonnevaux is an oasis of peace in a world marked by distractions. Living in the atmosphere of Bonnevaux allows us to look at our current lifestyle and "recalculate our route", seeking a better balance between action and contemplation.
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Patricio Lynch Pueyrredon
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Originally from Argentina, Father Patricio is currently the pastoral advisor of Amigos de Jesús, a Home for Children in Honduras. He is a missionary priest, living part of the year in rural areas of the Honduran West, and the rest of the year in the US spreading the word about Amigos de Jesus and contemplative prayer according to the teachings of the WCCM. Father Patricio also conducts weekend retreats and days of recollection for various groups including local parishes, women’s groups, and Latin-American communities in the US. Father Patricio is part of the Latin American pastoral team of the WCCM and travels around Latin America giving talks and retreats related to contemplative prayer.
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Giovanni Felicioni
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Giovanni Felicioni is the Associate Director of Bonnevaux Centre for Peace, the international home of the WCCM. He has been involved with the WCCM since its inception, serves on its Guiding Board and is a Benedictine Oblate. Before his role at Bonnevaux, Giovanni’s professional career spanned 30 years as a bodyworker, movement instructor and therapist in London and Europe. He studied yoga with visionary and pioneer Mary Stewart (Vanda Scaravelli) and regularly taught on her London-based Yoga Teacher Training. He is a certified Advanced Rolfer®, a Rolf Movement™ practitioner and has served on the faculty of the Rolf Institute since 2000. Giovanni taught for Independent Dance, founded in London by Siobhan Davies, Gill Clarke and Fiona Milward. He taught the Masters in Creative Practice at Trinity Laban, run by Independent Dance and Siobhan Davies Dance. He was also a contributor at the PAL, Movement and Meaning laboratories, founded by Gill Clark and Susan Benn. In 2012 He founded the British Academy of Rolfing in London. Most importantly, these 30 years of personal research into the relationship between touch, movement, awareness and contemplation led him to over two decades of study with movement scientist Hubert Godard during Hubert's development of Tonic Function Theory.
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Who is this retreat for?
- If you have questions about the meaning of life
- If you're interested in deepening your spirituality through the practice of Christian Meditation
- Meditators aged 18 to 45
- If you're inspired by spending time reconnecting with nature
- If you're new to meditation or are an ongoing meditator
Know someone who may be interested?
If you know someone who may benefit from this retreat, download this simple PDF and share it away.
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Schedule
During such retreats, you’ll notice that your minds themselves begin to slow down, to calm down, to become more clear and we begin to discover the natural state of the mind.
There will be four meditation periods each day to accommodate your level of practice.
During the retreat, we will have time for meditation, prayer, talks, yoga, community, experience community life and contact with nature.
| Arrival | Tuesday 30 July 2024, check-in: 13h30 – 15h30 |
| Departure | Sunday 4 August 2024, after lunch (14h00) |
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Location
Bonnevaux (Bonne Vallée , or Good Valley) is set within a beautiful valley formed by the river Rhune (la Rhûne) which descends past the Chapel and the 12th-century Abbaye, emptying into the lake beyond. The beauty and peace of Bonnevaux´s 65 hectares (160 acres) reflects the contemplative life lived here from its foundation as a Benedictine monastery in 1119 until the French Revolution. The community is continuing this policy as a living witness to the link between ecology and the human spirit. The land has over 20 different plant habitats, some of which are of heritage value.
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
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Contribution
| Single room | €700 |
| Shared bathroom single room | €600 |
| Shared twin room | €550 discounted to €450 |
The prices reflect the need to achieve self sufficiency. Therefore if you’re able to give a little more we would be very grateful. Please, click here to donate.
If you need a concession please let us know. We do not turn anybody away for lack of resources. Please, click the email address contact@bonnevauxabp.com to contact us.
Scholarship
If you’re interested in applying for a scholarship, please complete this form here.
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Dietary Information
At Bonnevaux, we aim for healthy, well-rounded, and nutritious meals. Please indicate your meal preference (non-vegetarian, vegetarian) below within the registration process.
* Unfortunately, we cannot cater to specific intolerances and allergies — we do not have the team or facilities for this. Please also be aware that traces of allergens (e.g. nuts) may be found in the food at Bonnevaux.
* We are committed to balancing protein, carbohydrates, fats and fiber from organic meat, plant-based proteins, vegetables, un-processed carbs, grains, legumes and fruit.
* Gluten and Lactose intolerance: we cannot create individually tailored meals. Should the main course at lunch contain your intolerance, you can always choose from the vegetables on offer and rice (plus non-gluten bread). The salad and soup bar in the evening will offer you a variety to balance out and complement what you have eaten for breakfast and lunch.
* Should you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at: contact@bonnevauxabp.com.
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FAQ
Not at all, you can join this retreat if you’re new to meditation and are curious to learn more. We will support you along your journey with meditation during the retreat.
You can apply for a scholarship by completing this form here.
We’ve designed this retreat especially for meditators in the age group 18 – 45 and the challenges they face. If you know anyone who may benefit from this event, please do share this page with them. We offer an extensive programme of online and in-person events for meditators of all ages, make sure to visit our Events Programme Page here.
During the retreat, you’ll notice that your minds themselves begin to slow down, to calm down, to become more clear and we begin to discover the natural state of the mind.
There will be four meditation periods each day to accommodate your level of practice.
Mornings will be spent in silence including breakfast and lunch, with the afternoon opening to times of rest and solitude. The evenings end with a convivial dinner where you can get to know your neighbour.
Each day will offer embodiment and movement work (yoga), talks, time for discussion and being out in nature.
We’ll be happy to assist you with any questions you may have. Just drop us an email at support@wccm.org
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Registration
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.
Address : Bonnevaux, 86370 Marçay, France.
Phone number : 06 33 43 71 71 / 06 61 96 57 74.
José Pype (President of the Association); Giovanni Felicioni (Associate Director and Programme Manager)
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