Our Bonneveaux Experience - By Linda Polaschek
Kiwis at Bonneveaux Series
In light of the upcoming Bonneveaux Pilgrimage Retreat in May 2027, we are inviting people from the NZCCM community who have spent time at Bonneveux - the home base of the World Community for Christian Meditation in France - to share their experiences. Linda Polaschek is an experienced meditator and member of NZCCM. She and her husband Nick stayed at Bonneveaux in 2025.
My husband Nick and I went to Bonnevaux in June 2025 as part of a trip to Europe.
We stayed for three days and thoroughly enjoyed it. We were very fortunate to be able to stay, as our visit coincided with a gathering of the WCCM Academy . The guest house was full, but they made room for us in the Abbey.
There is something very special about being with people who share the same values and practices, especially of course, Christian Meditation.
The times of meditation together were very affirming and nurturing. The grounds and surroundings are beautiful, so many places to walk and appreciate God’s creation. And the food was plentiful and delicious.
Nick Polaschek, Fr Peter Murphy, Linda Polaschek, Henriette
A highlight for me was spending time with Peter Murphy – a former national coordinator of NZCCM who is now living at Bonnevaux, having retired from his priestly roles in New Zealand.
He was happy to see some fellow Kiwis and was very generous with his time.
A particular gift of our visit for me was experiencing the international nature of WCCM, with Academy members coming from a wide range of countries (though all spoke fluent English).
Including a visit Bonnevaux in your trip to Europe turns a holiday into a spiritual encounter. And, while you could go at any time, being there with fellow Antipodeans for the 2027 Bonnevaux Pilgrimage Retreat will enhance your experience as you build friendships with other pilgrims.
If you do go, I recommend making the most of the long journey and allowing time to explore other parts of Europe as well. We took 4–6 weeks to see a few other places. One very good accommodation site we used was Monastery Stays
