Coming to Stay at Bonnevaux
The Bonnevaux resident community welcomes you for short or longer stays to deepen your spiritual journey and share in its silence and peace where contemplation has been practiced for centuries.
Personal Retreat
Individuals or a small group may come to stay for an experience of retreat and to share in the life and work of the community. You may come at any time depending on available space in the guest house. If you would like to make a guided personal silent retreat let us know and we can discuss it with you. If you are new to meditation we will help introduce you to the practice
Volunteers
For those who would like to live the Bonnevaux life for longer, we suggest an initial period of one month. This is an opportunity to volunteer and support the daily work of the community and our hospitality while receiving board and lodging. In addition, we can offer spiritual mentoring, participation in our scheduled retreats and guided study to make your time especially enriching.
Interns
If you would like to come for an extended stay, for three months or more, contact us with your preferred dates and reasons. One of our community can then discuss it with you. This initial period may also be extended and for those wanting to explore a deeper commitment to the residential community this can be discerned while you are here.
Mutual Enrichment
We would like to feel that guests, volunteers and interns are finding personal growth and advancing in spiritual understanding and peace during their time of serving in Bonnevaux. Exactly how this happens, will depend on the individual; but, for example, we can offer a contemplative programme of guidance in areas like Biblical wisdom, interfaith dialogue, organic gardening, care for the land, ecological awareness, cooking.
If you have specific gifts you can share with us we would be happy to discuss how – especially in areas like administration, general maintenance, translation, IT, working with the French community and hospitality.
Resident Community
If you are interested in more of a life-style change, perhaps eventually joining the residential community, we are happy to discuss this with you and help you develop a discernment process. Please contact us and we will happily discuss your situation and the commitment involved.
Oblates
Bonnevaux is the home of the WCCM Benedictine Oblate community (oblates.wccm.org). It is possible to follow part or all of the oblate novitiate at Bonnevaux. Oblates are meditators who have found a wisdom path in the tradition of the Rule of St Benedict. Oblates can come to Bonnevaux as volunteers or residents . They specially contribute to the Benedictine spirit of daily life harmonising body, mind and spirit through balanced work, prayer and study.
Our Mutual Understanding
Community and guests live together with mutual respect and concern for each others´well-being and for the fulflling of Bonnevaux´s mission. As a retreatant, volunteer or intern, you will be invited to share in a variety of tasks such as cooking, cleaning, gardening, house and ground maintenance, Depending on your skills or if you wish to acquire new skills, there will be opportunities to work in IT, carpentry, gardening or agriculture etc. Accomodation and meals are simple and sufficient. Life at Bonnevaux aims to be in harmony with our spiritual values and contemplative practice, inclusivity, social justice, human kindness and respect for the environment.