OFFICIAL NAME
Les Foyers de Charité
FOUNDATION
1936
HISTORY
The Foyers de Charité were founded in 1936 at Châteauneuf-de-Galaure, Drôme, France, by Marthe Robin and Fr Georges Finet.
Marthe Robin, a young, sick and paralysed laywoman was living in close union with Christ. She experienced an intuition that a renewal of the Church was about to take place, to which "Foyers of light, charity and love" would contribute. She asked Fr Finet to found the first Foyer de Charité, and to preach spiritual retreats of one week in silence.
On 1986, the Pontifical Council for the Laity decreed the recognition of the Foyers de Charité as an international private association of the faithful and approved their Statutes.
In 2014, Marthe Robin was declared Venerable by Pope Francis, thus recognising the heroic nature of her virtues.
Since 2022, the Foyers de Charité are governed by a pontifical delegation appointed by the Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.
IDENTITY
The members of Foyer are baptised men and women, both priests and laypeople, committed to a communal life dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel. The members share a genuine family life in a spirit of brotherhood. Every day, they celebrate the Eucharist and gather for other times of prayer, notably the Rosary and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Their activities and work are dedicated to welcoming retreatants and leading the spiritual retreats provided.
The mission of the Foyers de Charité is one of evangelisation through the preaching of spiritual retreats open to all. These retreats are predominantly conducted in silence, last for 6 days, and are composed of a summary of the fundamentals of the Catholic faith. Welcomed as part of the family within the context of the life of the community, the participants in the retreat are invited to leave the world to reflect on the meaning of their lives, to find new strength, seek inward renewal, and to deepen their faith. The mission of the Foyers is, therefore, to revitalise and strengthen Christians in their faith, so that everyone can live out their vocation as baptised Christians and contribute to the vitality of the Church in the service of the whole world. In addition to those who believe, the ambition of the Foyers de Charité is to give everyone the opportunity to encounter Jesus and to develop every aspect of their being.
ORGANISATION
Two pontifical co-delegates are assisted in their mission by a provisional council and a general directorate.
Each Foyer de Charité is integrated into the diocesan Church, in communion with the universal Church.
The life of the Foyers de Charité is supported by a network of friends known as ‘L’Alliance’, which bears witness to the light, charity and love of Christ throughout the world.
Each Foyer is legally and financially supported by a non-profit civil association in accordance with the legislation of the country in which it is established.
Furthermore, the “Le Foyer de Charité” Foundation, recognised as a public-benefit organisation in France, is authorised to receive donations and bequests. It helps, in particular, to support the construction of new Foyers, but also to assist the most disadvantaged communities, particularly in certain developing countries or those affected by conflict.
WORKS
In addition to running spiritual retreats, certain Foyers carry out other missions or charitable works: schools, dispensaries, centres for receiving children, meal distribution, etc.
WEBSITE
https://www.lesfoyersdecharite.com
https://www.martherobin.com
ADDRESS
The Foyers de Charité
85, rue Geoffroy de Moirans
26330 Châteauneuf-de-Galaure (France)
Tel. +33 (0)4 75 68 79 00
E-mail: contact@lesfoyersdecharite.com
