Dear Community Leaders, Orientation, Discovery members and Regional Coordinators,

The Emmaus Retreat:  A Walk with Jesus is an opportunity for orientation and discovery members to reflect on their L’Arche experience in light of the teachings of Jesus.

L’Arche is a spiritual journey rooted in sharing life with others, some of whom have an intellectual disability, in community life.  In this retreat, the participants are invited to integrate their spiritual journey with their lived experience in their L’Arche community.  The talks, time for personal prayer and reflection, accompaniment, small groups and sharing are aimed at helping each participant deepen his/her spiritual journey in L’Arche.

This retreat begins with supper the 13th of May and ends at 11:00 a.m. the morning of the 18th.  This retreat is being held at Villa St Martin in Montreal, Quebec.

Liz Bonnar, a long-term member of L’Arche Homefires, is the coordinator of the retreat. Robert Larouche, community leader of L’Arche Amos, and Mary Bastido a Long Term Member of L’Arche Daybreak, will give the word. Both of them are bilingual.   Leading music will be Clara Fraschetti, a long -term member of Daybreak. Keith Reynolds, a United Church Minister connected to L'Arche Daybreak, will be our pastoral presence.

This is an ecumenical L’Arche retreat as the participants come from various Christian traditions. Liturgies will include celebrations from different Christian traditions as well as common prayer. The Emmaus Retreat:  A Walk with Jesus is rooted in Bible passages from both the Old and New Testament.

This is a silent retreat.  As this concept is often new for many of the participants of this retreat, it is very important that the participant understands what he/she is getting into.  The first evening, the participants are able to converse and get to know each other.  After the first talk, the participants are invited to live the rest of the week in silence in order for them to get in touch with the Spirit working in them with minimal distraction.  They will speak in the small group periods and in accompaniment.  Other than that, they are invited to enter into personal prayer and reflection. It is a discipline, which is a challenge for our culture in general.  We ask that you emphasize this aspect of the journey and ensure that participants are aware of this reality.  Our experience is that every year, participants arrive with no knowledge that silence is a part of the retreat and this can impede a smooth beginning to the journey.  It means leaving the ipods and computers at home.  Each participant is invited to unplug from his/her usual routine and plug into the Source of Life!

The criteria for participation in this retreat are:

• an assistant who is an orientation or discovery member (or the equivalent for someone awaiting a membership process);
• a commitment to one’s faith journey;
• a commitment to share with others;
• a commitment to living the rhythm of the retreat; and
• supported and encouraged by the Community leader and the Community Council.

We do ask community leaders with the community council to discern with the assistant the appropriateness of attending retreats. It is critical that the assistant come prepared to enter into this week.  Is the assistant ready to live a retreat?  Will this be helpful to him/her at this point in his/her L’Arche journey?   In his/her spiritual journey? These are questions that may help with this discernment.

The rhythm of the day will include two talks, time in small groups and time for personal reflection and prayer. As noted, this retreat will be lived in silence.  This is to allow the participants the opportunity to listen to God.

We do ask participants to bring a bible, a journal and a pen and notebook for taking notes.  As part of the silence, we strongly encourage people to leave behind those things which may distract them from entering into an encounter with themselves and with God.

Participants are responsible for their own transportation to the retreat centre.  This is most easily done by taxi from the Pierre Eliot Trudeau International Airport in Dorval, outside of Montreal.  The cost of this taxi ride is usually between $25-50 CAD.


The cost for participation fees for this retreat is $ 650.00.   

Please fill the registration form on line at: larchecommons.ca/events     

While we try to accommodate each application, priority will be given those who register first.  Please do not send your cheque or make your reservation until you have received confirmation of acceptance.  The deadline to receive your application is April 13th, 2012