On the Occasion of the Restoration of the Basin in front of the Château de Saint-Donatien en Derval, Brother Bernard Bourigault, Head of the “Saint-Donatien” Reception Center, presented to us what it has become today.
And first of all a Little History….
A little over 70 years ago, the Brothers of Ploërmel acquired that Property to create a Juniorate that would welcome young people with a Vocation for around Forty years. After the Middle School Years, Students could continue their Studies in Ploërmel. Since the End of the 1990s, the Site hosted a Secondary School under an Association Contract with the State, where a Few Brothers and Teachers from the Saint Joseph College in Derval still taught.
At the beginning of the School Year 2020, the College closed, but the Congregation decided to preserve the Site to make it a “Reception House”.
3 Types of Public are actually interested in the Site: Firstly the Parishes of the Diocese of Nantes which organize Youth Retreats (Confirmation, Profession of Faith, etc.) or Adult Meetings (ALPHA Group, Spiritual Movements, Marriage Preparation Meetings, etc.). We also responded to local Requests for Family Events (Weddings, Birthdays, Retirements, etc.). Then we hosted the “VILLAGE des SOURCES” which consisted of receiving Classes of Students over two consecutive days to work on Interpersonal Relationships and Group Cohesion Tools.
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Apart from the “Village des Sources” which takes place on Thursdays and Fridays, it was the Weekends which are very busy with a Booking Calendar which was full 8 to 10 Months in Advance.
Since January 1st, 2024, the Management of the Maison Saint-Donatien has been entrusted to the “ESTIVAL” Association, which for 20 years has taken over from the Brothers in Terms of Holiday Stays. The ESTIVAL Association has subsequently developed Extracurricular Activities for Schools (Discovery Classes, Training Courses for Student Delegates, Eco-Delegates, Training Courses for Holiday Center Leaders, etc.). The ESTIVAL Association was involved in other Locations: the Palandrin Center (Pénestin in Morbihan), Créac’h Balbé in Finistère. The Project in Derval was now to develop Weekday Youth Receptions around Three Themes: Psychosocial Skills, Citizenship, Ecology and Biodiversity.
An Estival Animator has been on Site since November 2024 to implement those Projects. A Community of Four Brothers was responsible for the Daily Upkeep of the Property and Welcoming Groups. The Pond in front of the Castle was recently renovated. Students from the Lycée Saint-Clair in Derval were asked to help with that Activity. We Thank them!
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Brother Bernard Bourigault – Saint-Donatien House – Derval.