As members of Frat’ CANA for three years, we had the joy of participating in the CANA week at Hautecombe Abbey in April 2025. After participating two years ago in this week dedicated to couples, we wanted to give back, as this week had been so formative for our life as a couple. CANA week is the most beautiful gift we have ever given each other as a couple!
At first, we thought we would provide a cooking service… Then, during a phone call, Laure and Marc called us at the center to ask us to also prepare a testimony, a teaching session, and a workshop… It seemed like a big challenge for us “young beginners” at CANA… 😊
This week of service brought us immense joy, far beyond what we had imagined. When you serve, you receive five times what you give: we saw couples go through all kinds of emotions during the week, “diving in” as they say in the jargon, reconciling… The Lord was at work, and it was a joy to see Him act in this way. Preparing a summary and a testimony together allowed us to look back more deeply on our life since our marriage. And it has been a very valuable step for our couple.
And then, returning to this place, Hautecombe Abbey, such a beautiful setting overlooking Lake Bourget, was very emotional for us.
Being part of the core group, with Father Christophe, Sister Marie, Laure, and Marc, was powerful and very joyful. We were welcomed in a kind and fraternal way, we laughed a lot, and we also contributed our ideas (having recently experienced the week, the memory of what had touched us was still very vivid). Sometimes we were “pushed” to lead a prayer, a reflection, or to speak at a moment when we weren’t expecting it. But the Lord makes us capable! And the Holy Spirit gave us strength. What seemed complicated at first turned out to be very simple: we let ourselves be guided! We give thanks for that.
During our week of service,we had the grace to receive our Baptism in the Holy Spirit, surrounded by all our brothers and sisters, participants and those serving. We were filled with a strength that will accompany us throughout our lives. Today, we have a deep desire to let ourselves be guided by the Lord and to witness to the Good News and the joy of CANA.
So, for all those who are hesitating or who feel called to service, pray, let yourselves be guided, and you will receive a thousand graces from the Spirit.
Aude and Vincent
A quick recap of the week :