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Journey of L'Arche 2009
Hollee Card
Posted 2009-03-12 09:48:39

LETTER - INVITATION JOURNEY OF L'ARCHE 2009.php

 

Dear Community Leaders and Regional Coordinators,


The Journey of L'Arche retreat will be offered between May 4 (starting with dinner) and May 11 (end with breakfast), 2009 at the Villa Saint-Martin in Montreal. This retreat is offered to those assistants who are orientation and discovery members (essentially assistants in their first four years).


The Journey of L’Arche is designed for those who are interested in exploring their spiritual journey in a format that is not neccessarily tied to the Christian religion. In coming to L’Arche assistants discover themselves and others in new ways. They are transformed. During the Journey of L’Arche retreat, this transformation is explored, beginning with the self and moving through relationships, community life and the mission of L’Arche. The themes of this retreat are based on the International Charter of L’Arche.


L'Arche welcomes a diverse group of assistants. This diversity includes our spiritual backgrounds as well as the images and language we use to nourish our spirituality. For many assistants at L'Arche, the Christian religion is their primary path to understanding their spiritual journey. Many other assistants come from backgrounds in other religious traditions, or from no particular religious tradition at all.
Still others have grown uncomfortable with the traditions they grew up with, and are searching for their own path. We hope to offer a place in the Journey of L'Arche retreat where all these people can find nourishment together.


The retreat will take place in a restful environment and will include talks, small group discussions, individual accompaniment, and a daily evening sharing. Those who wish to pray are invited to do so.


The week will also include significant periods of silence. All together the intention of the week is to create an opportunity to rest, to listen, and to integrate our daily life in L'Arche with our spiritual life. Parts of the retreat will be in French, and parts of it in English, but there will always be translation available for those who need it (between French and English). This retreat is not a vacation and it is not a time to catch up on work. It is a space set aside for spiritual work and personal reflection, as well as the opportunity to connect and share with other people who are on the same journey.


Silas Donham is the coordinator. Sylvie Morin and Lyska Stefko are giving the word in French and English respectively.

The criteria for participation are:
· orientation or discovery membership (or the equivalent if the community hasn’t processed membership);
· a desire to explore a spiritual journey;
· a commitment to reflect on one’s personal and community experience;
· a commitment to share personal experiences with others;
· a commitment to being accompanied;
· a commitment to living the rhythm of the retreat, which includes significant periods of silence; and,
· support from the Community Leader to attend.

We cannot overemphasize the importance of silence in this week. Silence allows participants to listen to their interior life. It is a discipline which is difficult for our culture in general. Our experience is that often participants arrive with no knowledge that silence is a part of the retreat. This surprise can impede a smooth beginning to this week.


To encourage the space for personal reflection, we ask that participants leave their iPods (or equivalent), computers, and cell phones at home. This week is an opportunity to touch into the richness of life with fewer distractions than normal.
This journey begins with supper May 4th and concludes May 11th (after breakfast), 2009.


The journey is being held at :
Villa Saint-Martin
9451, boul. Gouin Ouest
Pierrefonds, QC H8Y 1T2


The registration process includes a set of questions which must be submitted with the registration form.

Those wishing to apply to participate in the Journey of L'Arche can obtain these documents from
Guillaume Richard, L’Arche Canada (grichard@larche.ca).

The deadline for submitting the registration form and questions is April 17th, 2009. Please note that the application procedure will be through email only this year. Applications received by fax will not be accepted.


Sincerely,


Hollee Card
Vice Zone Coordinator

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