Summer District Gathering L’Hermitage 2026

Coming Home to the Hermitage

Nourishing Our Inner and Shared Marist Spirituality

At the District Gathering in June 2026, over fifty participants representing schools and projects from the District of West Central Europe gathered together for a long weekend in a L’Hermitage. Welcomed by Brother PJ, Chairperson of the District Mission Council, facilitated by Alastair Callaghan  and Eli McKeown ( Kinharvie) and coordinated by Leigh Ellis, (Director of Marist Education) and Maria Rauscher, (Assistant Director of Marist Education)  participants had a fruitful three days of workshops,connection and prayer together.

To get to know each other better, the participants had the opportunity to talk and share their personal thoughts and expectations about the gathering.

The first evening was used to provide an orientation and overview of the weekend and to spend a social evening together.

On Saturday, five different workshops were offered, and participants were able to choose three of them based on their interests.

A: In the Footsteps of Marcellin Champagnat: This workshop explores the key challenges facing Marist education today and reflects on Marcellin’s educational vision. (Br. P.J. McGowan)

B: Traces of Presence: This workshop offers educators a quiet and restful space – an opportunity to slow down, reconnect with their inner selves and engage in reflectionthrough simple creative exercises. (Leigh Ellis and Maria Rauscher)

C: Fruits of the Spirit: Through a guided meditation exercise on the Fruit of the Spirit and the flow of life, we learn to integrate these experiences into our daily lives. (Maaike Marissink)

D: Marist Spirituality: Exploring our own experiences of spirituality to discover what resonates with us and to identify which characteristics of a living, contemporary Marist and spiritual path we can take away from this workshop for ourselves and our working reality. (Br. Brendan Geary)

E: Lectio Divina – Words that Open: A meditative form of reading theBible an experiential workshop on presence, mindfulness and inner listening. (Conny Stuart)

During the following reflection, participants were able to share their experiences and insights in small groups to recognise the significance of their own spiritual journey.

This was followed by a report from Br. Gabriel Villa Real Tapias and Br. Xavier Giné Arnella on the XXIII General Chapter, from 8 September to 8 October 2025 in Tagaytay (Philippines). 

After a break, we gathered in the atrium of the house to share our impressions with an aperitif and shared table conversations. 

Five groups hosted the showcase event and projects taking place in the District. 

 Westerhelling and the Accompaniment Programme, CMI and the volunteering programme, Marist Student Leadership and Dr Eileen O’Neil and the Advent Book project. 

Participants learned about the impactful work taking place and are encouraged to share the information about District opportunities with their Core Teams in their home countries. 

These projects are promoted on the District Website - www.maristeducationwce.com and Social Media - Instagram @maristeducation. 

These conversations and the sense of community were further deepened during a barbecue that continued into the evening.

Sunday began with a Marial prayer service hosted by representatives from each of the five countries of the District through French, German and English.  Andrea Penuela and Br Eduard Olive kindly coordinated the translations during the weekend. 

Former Education Director, Aisling Demaison joined the group for lunch and it was wonderful to have her join us. 

Afterwards, our regional groups worked together to generate visions for the next steps on our journey in our schools, projects and communities. We can support one another in carrying forward these commitments and objectives and in sharing the experiences gained here.

After Sunday Mass and lunch, we drove to Lyon to visit Notre-Dame de Fourvière. 

Pledges made by each school/project group were placed on the alter as an offering. 

The group had some free time in Lyon and shared a final community meal together afterwards. 

Enriched by the discussions and workshops, we return to our countries fulfilled by the connections and Family Spirit felt by all throughout the weekend. 

Brigitte Riedmaier, Communications Coordinator

for the District West Central Europe