Each Foyer de Charité, composed of a community of priests and lay people, is part of the diocesan church. It maintains regular contacts with the bishop of the diocese in which it is based. Some members of the Foyer take part in the diocesan services (training, vocation services, liturgy), providing catechesis, visiting the sick, etc.

At the time of the 50th anniversary celebrations of its founding, the Work of the Foyers de Charité, which is steeped in the grace it has received throughout its history, was keen to establish closer ties with the Church in order to fulfil its mission for the world more effectively. As a result, it asked the Pontifical Council for the Laity to officially recognise it and approve its statutes.

Decree

In 1986, after carefully considering the documentation submitted by those responsible for the Work of the Foyers de Charité, it received a favourable opinion from many of the bishops with a Foyer in their dioceses and submitted the recognition request to His Holiness Pope John Paul II, the Pontifical Council for the Laity (today the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life) recognised the Work of the Foyers de Charité as an international association of the faithful.

Final approval of the statutes

In 1999, the Pontifical Council for the Laity confirms the recognition of the “Work of Foyers de Charité as an international private association of the faithful, in Pontifical right, with legal personality, according to the standards of canons 298-311 and 321-329 of the ICC and decree the final approval of its statutes whose original text has been authenticated and submitted to the archives of this dicastery.

Given at the Vatican, on 8 December 1999
on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

To read the statutes of the Foyers de Charité : click here

Government Charter

In March 2022, Cardinal Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, appointed Monsignor Dubost as Pontifical Delegate assisted by two other delegates Mr. Laurent Landete and Sister Christine Foulon, to “govern the association, in a manner temporary, with full powers of government.

On October 18, 2023, the government charter was published by the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life.

To read the government charter: click here

Why go on spiritual retreat ?

Whatever the reasons, the spiritual retreat is a breathing space in a setting that inspires inner reflection. The setting, silence and pace of the retreat give the participants the freedom to open up to themselves and to God.

A spiritual retreat is a break for the heart and the mind. It creates a breathing space for:

  • Relaxing, resting and finding comfort in the middle of our very busy lives;
  • Meeting with God in silence, reading his Word and rekindling the fire of our faith;
  • Reflecting on the meaning of our existence, taking a step back before making important choices;
  • Exploring the key questions of life and gaining a better understanding of the foundations of the Christian faith.

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