Welcome to France!
Join REGINA Magazine (www.reginamagazine.org) for an exclusive retreat at the historic retreat center of the Sister Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus, located at Ver-sur-Launette - Loisy, near Paris.
The historic haven of rest and prayer has existed for generations, but has been under the new direction of the sisters since 2022, when the previous order of sisters closed their convent and retreat center in the wake of the infamous Covid-19 lockdown of 2020.
The retreat center is called the Maison Notre-Dame-de-Bonne-Délivrance, positioned on small acreage with gardens and grassy lawns. The property is located with a lovely stone chapel with incredible stained-glass windows. Dedicated in 1899, to Saint-Sulpice, the lovely chapel is modeled after King Louis IX's famous Saint-Chapelle in Paris.
The theme of the retreat is following Christ and the title is taken from Matthew 19:27: "Behold, we have left all things."
Whether single, married, with friends or family, we hope you will join us for spiritual formation and fun in France.
Here you will experience a rare glimpse of life at a traditional convent located in the remote countryside that has existed for generations.
You will live and experience the best of monastic traditions and hospitality flourishing in this hidden place, positioned amid forests and farmland just outside Paris, about a 45-minute drive from the CDG International Airport.
You will be fully immersed in the joyous convent life of a bygone era. This will include praying with the sisters and hearing them sing Gregorian Chant for their daily sung Mass and Office.
The convent and grounds will be your home for seven unforgettable days as we gather together on retreat June 10-16, 2025.
The retreat will begin the day after the annual Chartres Pilgrimage (June 7-9, 2025).
Daily Mass and the choral Office will be prayed and sung in Latin in the Classical Roman Rite in the main chapel of the sisters, a whimsical Neo-Gothic structure consecrated in 1899.
On Sunday, June 15 we will have a private bus excursion to Paris for Sunday High Mass at a local parish, followed by lunch and a free afternoon to explore the City of Light.
Most meals are included.
Our good friend Fr. Ralph Oballo, FSSP will be our retreat master.
Sessions will be held five consecutive mornings, with guided meditations in the morning and afternoons to help you explore the interior life and learn how to grow spiritually, aided by traditional Catholic spirituality.
The experience will include morning Mass in the convent chapel as well as the chanting of some of their public hours of the Divine Office in the same chapel with the nuns.
We will also have the opportunity to participate daily Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament as well as praying together the Holy Rosary.
Fr. Oballo has taken great care to design a uniquely tailored retreat that will give participants a once-in-a-lifetime experience of immersion in the stunning backdrop of the historic convent.
In addition, the poetry of the liturgical arts and the convent rhythm of prayer in the monastic tradition will help invigorate your soul and feed your spiritual well-being.
As a bonus, during our stay we will learn about the unique and distinctive work of the sisters and their life and mission -- living the fullness of the Roman Rite in the timeless tradition. This will include hearing about certain practices and customs of the sisters, who don the full habit, seeing why this Order is flourishing while others are not.
Following is the bio of our Retreat Master.
Fr. Oballo is a priest of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter and currently serves as Assistant Pastor to the F.S.S.P. Apostolate in Calgary, Canada. He is known for his desire to instill in others a great yearning for heaven. He has also always had a fondness for the Gospel accounts of Bethany and Our Lord's tangible human nature shown by His interactions therein.
Please note: there is limited availability for the retreat. The retreat center is small. We are only able to accommodate 23 retreatants. There are 15 rooms available, 6 of which have two single beds and 2 of which have a double bed for married couples That makes 21 places, with 2 retreatants per room (or 23 total, if there are 2 couples).
Meals at the convent are included.
Transportation from Chartres is included, as well as the transfer to the airport on the morning of the last day. In addition, bus transportation will be included for the Sunday experience in Paris.
Back by popular demand, Fr. Oballo, FSSP is an outstanding Retreat Master. Take advantage of this opportunity to meet with him. Two daily sessions are offered.
Take advantage to pray with these beautiful nuns in daily Lauds, Vespers, Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and Mass.
Enjoy a full afternoon exploring the grounds of this National French Treasure.
Our Retreat will conclude with a full day in Paris. Optional visit to the Louvre is included.
Enjoy the Maison Notre-Dame-de-Bonne-Deliverance, a beautiful property with acreage.
Airfare is additional cost.
Travel insurance is optional and additional cost.
The groups leaves from Chartres on Tuesday, June 10th.
We recommend that you stay Monday night in Chartres to meet the group at Mass on the 10th at 7:30 AM.
Tuesday, June 10th we meet in front of Chartres Cathedral at 7:30AM sharp. We enter the Crypt for a private Mass at 7:45 AM.
Following Mass, there will be time for private prayer, a visit to the Cathedral and a cappuccino if needed.
At 10:00AM we regroup in front of Chartres Cathedral to go to our private motor coach.
We board the bus at 10:30AM to travel to The Palace of Versaille! Enjoy an afternoon exploring this incredible French treasure. Lunch on your own.
At 3:30 PM we board the bus to Loisy, our beautiful Retreat Centre.
Dinner at 7:00PM sharp.
Wednesday, June 11 begins with breakfast in the Guesthouse Refectory at 7:45AM.
8:00 AM - Lauds with the nuns in the Chapel.
8:30 AM - Mass with the nuns (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will begin.)
10:30 AM - Morning Session with Fr. Oballo, our Retreat Master
11:30 AM - Free Time
1:00 PM - Lunch in the Guesthouse Refectory
2:00 PM - Afternoon Session with Fr. Oballo
3:00 PM - Free Time
6:00 PM - Vespers and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel
7:00 PM - Dinner in the Guesthouse Refectory
Thursday, June 12 begins with breakfast in the Guesthouse Refectory at 7:45AM.
8:00 AM - Lauds with the nuns in the Chapel.
8:30 AM - Mass with the nuns (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will begin.)
10:30 AM - Morning Session with Fr. Oballo, our Retreat Master
11:30 AM - Free Time
1:00 PM - Lunch in the Guesthouse Refectory
2:00 PM - Afternoon Session with Fr. Oballo
3:00 PM - Free Time
6:00 PM - Vespers and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel
7:00 PM - Dinner in the Guesthouse Refectory
Friday, June 13 begins with breakfast in the Guesthouse Refectory at 7:45AM.
8:00 AM - Lauds with the nuns in the Chapel.
8:30 AM - Mass with the nuns (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will begin.)
10:30 AM - Morning Session with Fr. Oballo, our Retreat Master
11:30 AM - Free Time
1:00 PM - Lunch in the Guesthouse Refectory
2:00 PM - Afternoon Session with Fr. Oballo
3:00 PM - Free Time
6:00 PM - Vespers and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel
7:00 PM - Dinner in the Guesthouse Refectory
Saturday, June 14th begins with breakfast in the Guesthouse Refectory at 7:45AM.
8:00 AM - Lauds with the nuns in the Chapel.
8:30 AM - Mass with the nuns (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will begin.)
10:30 AM - Morning Session with Fr. Oballo, our Retreat Master
11:30 AM - Free Time
1:00 PM - Lunch in the Guesthouse Refectory
2:00 PM - Afternoon Session with Fr. Oballo
3:00 PM - Free Time
6:00 PM - Vespers and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel
7:00 PM - Dinner in the Guesthouse Refectory
Sunday, June 15th Today we go to Paris for a beautiful Mass at Saint-Eugene-Saint-Cecile.
7:45 AM Breakfast in the Guesthouse Refectory
9:00 AM Board the Bus
11:00 AM Mass (Trinity Sunday) at Saint-Eugene-Saint-Cecile
12:30 PM Lunch on your own - picnic with the group (we will take you to a local grocery store) or elsewhere in Paris.
1:00PM Optional visit to the Louvre (included in the cost of the Retreat)
5:00PM Meet at designated place to board bus to Loisy
7:00 PM Dinner in the Guesthouse Refectory
Monday, June 16th Airport Transfer Day and solemn good-bye
7:45 AM Breakfast in the Guesthouse Refectory
8:30AM Meet the motor coach to put luggage on board
9:00 AM Depart for Charles de Gaulle International Airport
10:00 AM Arrival at Charles de Gaulle International Airport
