The Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore has been hosting WCCM retreats for years, but for the first time the community held the Deep Silent Retreat (formerly called School Retreat) at the Benedictine Olivetan mother house. It took place from 6th to 13th October, led by Vladimir Volrab (WCCM Academy Director and Czech Republic Coordinator).You can watch Vlad and some participants sharing their experiences of this retreat:
The Deep Silent Retreat is an intensive week-long meditation retreat. It is most suitable for those who have been meditating for some time in our tradition and who have begun to integrate meditation seriously into their daily lives. It is not required, but it is helpful to have attended the Essential Teaching Workshop.On each day of the retreat there are up to 8 periods of meditation. In between these there are periods of contemplative walking, a short talk in the morning by the retreat leader and a 15-minute meeting with one of the team directing the retreat. A contemplative Eucharist with meditation takes place in the early evening. The day is otherwise a time of complete silence, including abstaining from digital communication.In 2025,
Bonnevaux will host a Deep Silent retreat in the last week of January. Monte Oliveto will host the same retreat again from 5th to 12th October. Registrations will open soon at wccm.org.
