Chemin Neuf Community
Canada
St. Charles Retreat Centre Rooted in christ: the journey continues

In 2005 Ted and Nancy Wood, both pastoral workers in the St. Boniface Archdiocese, learned about the com-munity and visited the house in England during the summer. After a year of discernment, they moved to England in 2006 to explore life with Chemin Neuf and became members in August, 2009.

Chemin Neuf begins in a new place only at the invitation of the local bishop. At the invitation of the former Archbishop of St. Boniface, Emilius Goulet, and the new Archbishop, Albert LeGatt, the Woods returned to Winnipeg to explore possibilities for Chemin Neuf to take root in Winnipeg. Although there is the Cana mis-sion in Toronto and Boston, this is the first community venture in English-speaking North America.

In the spring of 2011 the Missionary Oblate Sisters gave the community the St. Charles Retreat Centre in the west end of Winnipeg. This means moving to the Archdiocese of Winnipeg and has received the approval of Archbishop James Weisgerber.
During the summer it will be available for personal and group retreats. Beginning in September Chemin Neuf will sponsor a residential program for students en-rolled in a college or university who want to pursue their studies while living with others in a Christian com-munity.

For more information and detailed brochures, please contact us:
Ted and Nancy Wood: 204-885-2260
stcharlesretreat@hotmail.com

Born from a prayer group in 1973 in Lyon, France, the Chemin Neuf Community is a Catholic community with an ecumenical vocation.  It is composed of more than 1500 members in 25 countries.  Couples, families, singles and celibates, men and women have chosen the adventure of community life to follow Christ poor and humble, in order to serve the church, the Gospel and the world. 

Around the community has grown up the Chemin Neuf  “Communion,” an apostolic body of more than 6000 people around the world. 
The Chemin Neuf Community is an apostolic community, influenced by the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the Charismatic Renewal. 

Most members work professionally outside the community.  Others serve full time in ministries entrusted to the community by the Church.  The income from the professional work covers the community’s daily needs, while it depends on the Lord, on providence and on donations to provide what is necessary to carry out God’s plan for mission.  Members live in one of two ways: “neighbourhood” fraternities (in their own homes) or “common life” fraternities (members live under one roof).