You can support us!

The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
— Psalm 23

Dear guests, dear friends and benefactors,

We would like to thank you for your loyalty… In recent years — thanks to the valuable collaboration of the Dominican Sisters of Bethanien, the Chemin Neuf Community, and all our staff — we have been gradually moving towards financial balance.
Thanks to your support, we have already been able to accomplish many things. We are hopeful that, with further financial help, larger renovations and rebuilding projects will become possible.

Since 2012, we have been living, praying, and working as the Chemin Neuf Community in Bethanien. The Dominican Sisters, the guests, the neighbours, and the monastery have grown very dear to our hearts. We are making great efforts to offer new initiatives. We are especially happy to now offer new types of retreats, made possible by this magnificent location (Hiking & Praying, Father/Son retreats, Snowshoe Experiences, Family Holidays, Fasting & Praying, etc.).

Simplicity must remain. Christ calls us to this. But in order for Bethanien to remain a place of prayer, silence, and rest, we must continue to invest — and we want to do so in an ecologically sustainable way.

– We obtain our electricity from renewable hydropower. This is slightly more expensive, but we see it as a concrete step towards caring for Creation. We are also working toward obtaining the “Grüner Güggel” (Green Cockerel) environmental certification from the oeku Church and Environment organization.

Here is some brief information about completed and ongoing projects:

– All 55 rooms have been fitted with new parquet floors. New quality pillows, wall lamps, and curtain fabrics have been purchased. Together with volunteer friends, we lay the floors and sew the curtains ourselves (you are warmly invited to our “Ora & Labora” workshops — just ask at reception).

– Heating: We are seeking advice on replacing our current oil heating system with a more ecological solution. Predictive control optimization, energy monitoring, and operational supervision are being implemented.

– Kitchen: In need of renovation — pipes and tiles on the walls and floors must be renewed.

– Elevators: Being renovated to meet safety standards.

– Old swimming pool: the creation of the modern exhibition about the lives of Niklaus von Flüe and Dorothee Wyss LUMEUM

– Inner courtyard: Renovated in 2021.

How you can support Bethanien

Through your prayer, so that Bethanien may continue to be a place of prayer, silence, and rest, and continue to grow in this spirit.
Through financial support.
By telling others about our house and its mission.