The International Chapter is a meeting of the Pilgrims which takes place, annually, at Pentecost. It is a weekend of workshops, discussions, worship, walks – exploring ideas in a variety of ways.
In 2023 it will be held in Belgium from May 27 to May 29.
The venue is Foyer St Charles in the small village of Wez Velvain, 6 km from Tournai and 6 km from the French border. Lille is about 30 km.
The theme for this year is ‘Whom do we follow?’ and we shall have opportunities to explore this theme through a variety of activities, alongside the sharing of an ecumenical Pentecost Eucharist and a walk.
The Foyer is a large house with lovely grounds and is owned by the sisters of the St Charles Borromeo community. The accommodation is simple and has bedrooms of various sizes. 20 rooms are single and the others are rooms/dormitories with a number of beds. There are stairs to all the bedrooms and no lifts.
Beds with pillows and blankets are provided but you must bring bed-linen or you can hire sheets etc. Plates/cups etc are provided.
You will be able to arrive the night before (Friday 26th) but no food will be available until Saturday evening. There is a small kitchen available for self-catering. There are no local restaurants or shops but a supermarket 3 Km away. There are many places to eat in nearby Tournai.
This area is in the gentle Flanders landscape of Belgium. An area steeped in the international history of Europe for over 2000 years. A landscape which has seen much – claimed by the Romans, the French, the English, the Spanish, . . and now simply a quiet rural area of Belgium.
If you have time, before or afterwards then Tournai is worth exploring. Now it is a quiet town on the border of France and Flanders but with a long and famous history. It was founded by the Romans on the banks of the Escault (Scheldt) and is thought to be the oldest town in Belgium. It remained strategically important, flourishing in the Middle Ages as a centre for tapestry, embroidery and goldsmith’s works.
There are camping sites in the area for those who wish to extend their time in this lovely area..
Address: Foyer Saint Charles, rue du Chauchoir, 37 7620 WEZ-VELVAIN (Belgium)
| Tel. in case of emergency: | Dominique & Monique Lesart: +33 (0)6 26 85 09 37 |
| Sylviane Le Ny (Jeanson): +33(0)6 86 59 31 86 |
| Programme | Friday 26 May | do your own thing |
| Saturday 27th May | From 1.00 pm: Welcome, registration | |
| 2.30 pm Opening of the chapter | ||
| Monday 29th May | 14.00: End of the chapter after lunch |
Public transport to Wez Velvain is very limited but there are frequent trains from Lille/ Brussels/ Paris to Tournai. If
necessary, we can pick you up at the station but please specify your arrival time at Tournai station.
By car – the village is very close to major auto-routes.
Remember to bring :
- Bed linen (sheets, pillowcase) or duvet (Possibility to rent sheets: 5 euros)
- Indoor shoes
- possibly a ball, frisbee, a musical instrument…
Costs (Payment in cash in euros on arrival)
| 27 -29 May | Night before (26 May ) | |
| Adults | 85,00 € | 15,00 € |
| Young people over 12, Students, Apprentices, Unemployed/Difficult circumstances | 50 ,00 € | 12,00 € |
| Children 5 – 12 | 20,00 € | 10,00 € |
| under 5 | Free | Free |
Please send your application form, by post or email, together with the deposit before March 31 2023 to:- Ian Mason 92 Bodmin Ave. Stafford ST17 0EQ , ianmason@talktalk.net T. 01785 662194
In case of cancellation, please inform immediately
Dominique Lesart +33 (0)6 26 85 09 37 lesart.dominque@wanadoo.fr