La Retraite Sisters
Welcome to the La Retraite page. Officially we?re called Sisters of La Retraite or Congregation of La Retraite. Since 1674 we have been accompanying people on their journey in life.
Our story began in Brittany, France during a time of famine, poverty and great religious turmoil. Missionaries of the time traveled through Britanny bringing people to know the love of God. Our foundress, Catherine de Francheville, had experienced for herself a deepening relationship with God which led her to take the audacious (and at the time illegal) step of opening a retreat house for women. Though the retreats flourished she was soon in trouble with the authorities who feared the consequences of so many women gathering together?..
For Catherine and the group of women who formed the first community, the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola were an important means in experiencing and sharing the love of God. Then as now, sisters sought a way of looking at our world and its needs with eyes of faith that recognize God at work there. In our lives today we continue to see the importance of standing back from everyday concerns in order to reflect on the meaning of what is happening. Regular times of prayer alone and in community help us find God and send us out to share ourselves and our resources with others.
We continue to be involved not only in retreat work and spiritual direction but in many areas where we can help the growth of individuals and groups (e.g. personal growth work, dance movement therapy, teaching, mediation, facilitation).
Just now we number a little under 300 sisters and tend to live in groups of three or four. We live in Ireland, England, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, South Africa, Cameroon, Mali and Chile.
If you are considering the direction of your life at the moment and would like to know more about us, you might like to look at our website www.laretraite.org.uk or get in touch? Bye for now, Avril
For more information contact:
Sr. Avril O'Regan
Tel: 091-524548
Email: avril
laretraite.org.uk
Website:www.laretraite.org.uk
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