Pilgrimage Retreat To Chartres France
September 18-25, 2011
Situated in one of the most beautiful and inspiring cathedrals in the world, the Chartres Contemplative Pilgrimage will provide you with a unique opportunity to pray and to seek a deeper relationship with God. You will learn, pray, contemplate, and seek God in the company of experienced Christian spiritual guides and fellow-pilgrims. This week-long experience is designed to support those who value holistic spiritual growth, are open to contemplative prayer, and want to better serve Christ and others out of a fuller experience of God's love.
What You Can Expect on Pilgrimage: Retreat Highlights
Group sessions will incorporate ritual, visual presentations, song, teaching, interaction, and prayer. Special pilgrimage experiences will include: praying on the labyrinth after hours; a worship service in the ancient crypt chapel; an exclusive tour of the exterior at roof-level; an introduction to the world-class, medieval stained glass windows by renowned guide Malcolm Miller; a six mile walking pilgrimage to the church from the original area where the stones for the cathedral were quarried; and a half-day silent retreat.
Contemplative Pilgrimage Retreat in Chartres, France
September 18-25, 2011. Led by Tim and Jill Geoffrion
Information from Jill's website on making a pilgrimage to Chartres, France
Questions Asked by Pilgrims Preparing for Group Pilgrimages to Chartres
Photo Gallery from 2009 pilgrimage to Chartres Cathedral
Your Pilgrim Guides: The Leadership Team
Photo ©Alain-Pierre Louët
The Rev. Jill Kimberly Hartwell Geoffrion, Ph.D., a frequent pilgrim to the Chartres Cathedral, has published seven books on labyrinth prayer, two of which focus on praying with the labyrinth in the Chartres Cathedral. Jill's leadership style is enthusiastic, visual, devotional, and inviting. She loves guiding pilgrims to enter as deeply as possible into the beauty and love of God as it can be experienced in Chartres.
The Rev. Timothy C. Geoffrion, Ph.D., has taught extensively on the New Testament and Christian spirituality in colleges and seminaries, as well as to groups of pastors on four continents. His two most recent books, The Spirit-Led Leader: Nine Leadership Practices and Soul Principles, and One Step at a Time: A Pilgrim's Guide to Spirit-Led Living, express the heart of his teaching ministry and spiritual life coaching work.
Tim's engaging style blends thought-provoking questions, relevant input, group interaction, and guidance for personal reflection. He loves teaching and helping others to grow in every dimension of their life.
Jill and Tim enjoy using their complimentary gifts as they minister together. They will be joined by several other well-qualified leaders including M J McGregor who is completing her Ph.D. thesis that focuses on pilgrims' experiences of the Chartres Labyrinth.
Housing for the Pilgrimage Retreat
will be several blocks from the cathedral at COACH:
Click here for a photo gallery of COACH
Centre Oecumémic et Artistique de Chartres (COACH)
The Ecumenical & Artistic Center of Chartres
13, rue du Docteur de Fourmestraux, 28000 Chartres
From the US Telephone: 011-33-2-37-18-24 (In France: 02-37-18-32-24)
This is a retreat center of the ecumenical community that sings Vespers nightly in the Cathedral.
Phone cards are available for purchase at the post office. There is a public pay telephone near the cathedral. There are several internet cafés and wi-fi hot spots in town.
Flexible Daily Schedule
7:30-8:15 am Breakfast, in silence
8:20-9:30 am Contemplative Prayer & Sharing in the Cathedral
9:30-10:00 am Tea & Coffee Break
10:00 am-Noon Group Sessions At COACH Retreat Center
Noon-3:00 pm Personal Time
3:00-4:30 pm On-Site Exploration & Prayer at the Cathedral
(Optional Tours of Crypt, Roof Level, Stained Glass Windows,
and Six Mile Walking Pilgrimage)
4:30-6:15 pm Personal Time
6:15-7:00 pm Guided Contemplative Prayer at the Cathedral & Daily Debriefing
7:00-7:30 pm Cathedral Vespers (Sung in French)
7:30 pm Personal Time
Self-guided Eventide Prayer in Retreat Center Chapel
10:00 pm-8:20 am The Great Silence
Program Costs and Details
Program cost: $1895.00 includes all program costs, accommodations and continental breakfast, three group meals over the course of the week, numerous guided cathedral visits, a half-day walking pilgrimage, and a private group labyrinth experience.
Travel to and from Chartres and most daily lunches and dinners are not included. A $500 non-refundable deposit is due June 30, 2011 and full non-refundable payment is due Sept. 1, 2011.
We will be staying in a retreat center close to the cathedral. Singles and double rooms with bathrooms are available on a first come, first served basis. Several rooms for couples are available. Room assignments will be made when full payment is received.
Registration is limited to 25. If the pilgrimage needs to be canceled due to insufficient registration (to be decided on July 1, 2011), all fees paid to date will be refunded.
For more information please contact:
Email: info@fhlglobal.org
Faith, Hope & Love Global Ministries 1660 Hwy. 100 south, suite 426
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
Will You Join us?
We are praying that God will bring those who are most ready to go deeper in their relationship with God, to seek to follow Jesus Christ more fully, and to learn how to better keep in step with the Spirit's leading. We hope that includes you! If you feel God prompting you to step out of the ordinary into the extraordinary for one memorable, life-changing week, please join us.
For Your Inspiration and Reflection
Prayerfully gaze at this image taken in the Chartres Cathedral.
What do you notice?
How do you feel?
What is God communicating to you?
The Mission
Faith,
Hope
and
Love
Global
Ministries
exists to
teach,
inspire,
and
encourage
ministers
and
leaders,
equipping
them
to serve
Christ
more
effectively.
The Vision
Better
equipped,
spiritually
vitalized
leaders
serving
Christ
in
strategic
positions
of
influence
throughout
the
world.