The "Foyers de Charité"

Witnesses

Richard Antonio, Father of the Foyer in the Philippines

"The first thing that drew me to the Foyers is the complementarity between the lay people and the priests: all of them work in the same community, at the service of the Church and the spiritual regeneration of mankind."

Camille, member of a Foyer in France

At the age of 31 my life seemed a failure. A retreat in a "Foyer de Charité" for Holy Week and Easter was suggested to me by a friend: Jesus swept me up into his resurrection, into a true rebirth. This Foyer was looking for a nurse for a year's period : I accepted! Life took on a new colour through the rhythm of prayer which is the framework for our day and helps one grow in charity, through the Christian community life in which the strong support the weak, and through the welcoming of the poor. Two years later, I entered the Foyer. "The lot that is mine is a delight to me" Psalm 15.

Henri-Dominique, member of a Foyer in France

My vocation to join the "Foyer de Charité" corresponds to a very early call of the Lord to lead a spiritual life. After many attempts, among them a long period as an "assistant" at "l'Arche", I discovered the "Foyers de Charité" "little by little", through "l'Arche". I committed myself to the Foyer because of the regular prayer life, the family life-style, the service of the Church and the welcoming of retreatants.