Now that the fourth annual FOYER type retreat has been successfully achieved, it is time to send another newsletter to the 200 plus Friends on our mailing list. A year ago we described how the first FOYER came about in 1936 with the providential meeting between Marthe Robin, the handicapped French mystic, and Pere Finet, the first Foyer priest; and how all the seventy subsequent Foyers have been founded. Since then we have moved several steps forward towards a first foundation in England.

Let us report first on the September retreat at the Carmelite Priory on Boars Hill, Oxford. This venue turned out to be ideal from every point of view. Some 26 people came - not all for the whole five days - and our Carmelite hosts were most helpful throughout. The meals, prepared by Nigel the chef, were excellent, and the fact that we were involved with the washing-up and re-laying of tables led to a matey spirit which was typical of a real Foyer.

A well-selected series of CDs and cassettes gave the usual musical background to our silent meals. Father Ian Kelly gave us two good conferences each day, and preached inspiring homilies at the daily Mass. We said Morning and Evening Prayer each day, and prayed the Rosary each afternoon.

As is customary in Foyer retreats there was an all night vigil in the chapel before the exposed Blessed Sacrament on Thursday and on Friday we made the Stations of the Cross out of doors. For most of the week the weather was perfect, and we enjoyed the excellent walking around the Priory.

There were various themes suggested by Father Ian, and in all of them he quoted from the life and recorded sayings of Marthe. We all came away feeling a lot closed to the foundress of the Foyers.

We were delighted to have with us Edward and Carmel Donaghy who are the leaders of the team preparing for a Foyer in Ireland, along with Joe Connolly who has done so much to promote it. They told us that their Father Byrne is about to begin a six month stay at Chateauneuf. They also told us about the July retreat there under Fr Bradley from the USA and the pilgrimage they arranged to Paray-le-Monial. They plan to repeat both in 2001, and brochures are included with this letter. We hope both will find support in this country as well as in Ireland.

Joe brought a number of copies of "The Cross and the Joy", an early biography of Marthe by a French priest, which were eagerly snapped up. I hope to have further copies available from him soon; meanwhile the book is now in the list of 'Family Publications' (77 Banbury Road, Oxford 0X2 6LF : 01865 514408) which now has the largest mailing list of Catholic books in the UK, including Ignatius Press.

May we draw your attention once more to the CTS booklets "Marthe Robin: A Chosen Soul" (B 652) and "Apparitions of Mary" by Donal Foley (Do 662); also "What Happened at Fatima" by Leo Madigan (D 651), all priced at £1.95.

Do badger you local box tender to stock these and many other excellent titles which have appeared in the last two years. The CTS is doing a great work for the Church, as always. Remember too that the Foyer magazine "L'Alouette" can be obtained by sending 155 Francs to B.P.17, 26330 Chateauneuf-de-Galaure. With smallish amounts like this it is better to send notes rather than a cheque; any travel agent will give you the francs.

One of the greatest signs of HOPE given us in this Millennium Jubilee Year was the witness of the two million young Catholics who made their war to Rome for the World Youth Days in August. We have read glowing accounts of these wonderful days in 'Alouette', in the St John's Newsletter and in 'Inside the Vatican'.

It was sad that only 2,000 went from the UK Some forty thousand went from France, and the Foyers were well represented. "Live through these days as if they were a week of retreat, reserving times of silence, prayer and recollection", said the Holy Father on their arrival. Is not the retreat the great apostolate of the Foyers? These days were a sign of the 'New Pentecost of Love' foretold by Marthe. A whole series of moving 'Temoignages' were printed in the October 'Alouette' : do subscribe to it if you can read French.

Martin Blake & Donal Foley