The Bonnevaux Abbey from the south. A 19th century building with remnants of the original monastery
Bonnevaux Australia and New Zealand National Community Retreat
May 18th - 23rd, 2027
Registration is now open for the Australia and New Zealand National Community Retreat led by Fr. Laurence Freeman, taking place from 18–23 May 2027 at Bonnevaux, France.
This retreat is:
A five-day residential retreat at Bonnevaux Abbey, in Pointiers, France - home of the World Community for Christian Meditation.
A time of silence and stillness with a daily flow of meditation, contemplative walks and gathering as a group.
An opportunity to go deeper by being present to ourselves and to God in this special place steeped in Christian meditation and Benedictine hospitality.
Date: Tuesday 18th May – Sunday 23rd May 2027
Aus/NZ Leaders: The local event organisers for this Bonnevaux pilgrimage are Vincent Maire (New Zealand) and Sandy Andrews (Australia).
Retreat Leader: We are delighted that Fr Laurence Freeman, leader of the World Community for Christian Meditation, will lead our retreat. Through teaching, retreats and formation, Fr Laurence supports the worldwide network of meditation communities and the ongoing development of WCCM’s mission.
Details about the retreat title and theme will be forthcoming.
Before you register, please carefully review the following information:
Room Sharing
If you wish to share a room, each participant must register separately. After registering, please email us to confirm who you would like to share with.
Please note: the cost listed on the registration form is per person.
Dietary Information
We provide three freshly prepared meals per day, and throughout the day, refreshing drinks (coffee and tea) and fruit snacks are available for all retreatants.
Our kitchen offers vegetarian (no meat or fish), non-vegetarian, gluten-free, and lactose-free meal options. You can select your preferred option during the registration process.
Unfortunately, we cannot cater for specific intolerances and allergies as we do not have the facilities for this. Please also be aware that traces of allergens (e.g. nuts) may be found in the food at Bonnevaux.
To help us ensure your comfort and safety, please inform us of any other special dietary needs by emailing us at contact@bonnevauxabp.com at least 15 days before the event. Without this information in advance, we will provide our standard menu.
Cancellation Policy
Reimbursement Policy for Events and Retreats
We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise that prevent participation in our events and retreats. To ensure fairness and clarity, please review our reimbursement policy below:
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Up to 31 days: full refund
30 – 22 days: 50% cancellation fees
21 – 8 days: 75% cancellation fees
7 – 0 days: 100% cancellation fees
An additional operational fee of 5% will be charged for any refund or cancellation.
Membership fees are non-refundable and non-transferable (not applicable to another person or another year).
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In the unlikely event that the organizer must cancel or postpone the event/retreat, participants will receive a full reimbursement of all fees paid. The organizer cannot be held responsible for any disrupted travel arrangements or any additional costs such as off-site accommodation.
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Approved reimbursements will be issued to the original payment method within 14 business days of cancellation approval.
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We strongly advise all participants to obtain travel insurance to cover unexpected situations such as illness and injury, family and personal emergencies, travel disruptions, event cancellations or other unforeseen situations. This provides peace of mind and protection against expenses outside the scope of this reimbursement policy.
For insurance claims, we can provide participants with an official certificate of paid contribution and non-attendance. Please email us at contact@bonnevauxabp.com to request this documentation.
Ready to Register?
Bonnevaux have provided a special registration link for our Australian/New Zealand retreat.
Enquiries for New Zealand Retreat Organiser
Please contact Vincent Maire with any questions not answered in the information provided.
E: auckland@christianmeditationnz.org.nz
Kiwis in Bonnevaux
Stories, reflections and conversations
