On August 23, 2026, like an old lady with a young heart, Ile Blanche is enveloped in light. She welcomes us in a green amphitheater where an air of celebration resonates thanks to the musicians already at work.
Sr. Thérèse Revault, the head of the community, welcomes everyone by greeting and thanking in particular Bishop Dognin of Quimper and Léon, the mayor of Locquirec and his deputies, and the delegation from the municipality of Plestin-les-Grèves. She thanks all the kingpins who, for more than a year, have been working to prepare this day and those who animate it on that day when they will gather “the fruits of the road traveled”.
Sr. Ann Almodovar, Superior General of the Congregation of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, officially opens the day. His poetic language describes the beauty of well-maintained places by various groups. It highlights the hidden beauty of this place-source “which offers something to recharge spiritually and discover the One who makes us live”. She talks about how house and community have expanded the space of their tent to “participate in the birth and growth of communities animated by the Gospel”.
The time of “memory” is coming. Sr. Anne Marie Tromeur, archivist, retraces, with images, the history of the House. It is first of all the first 40 years when Ile Blanche was a Juvénat, a school that welcomed young girls attracted by religious life among the Daughters of the Holy Spirit. They need a solid human, professional and Christian formation: the teachers, all the daughters of the Holy Spirit and the chaplain (Father Brinquin for 24 years) contribute greatly to this. The educational climate, austere at first, evolved over the years. The Juvénat closed in 1966 due to insufficient staff.
But the White Island continues to live! Major work was carried out to make it the “Hostellerie du Bon Accueil”* : welcoming tired sisters for a time of rest, people seeking training and spiritual retreat. The requests are coming in… And the house adapts to needs: creation of a management association, approval for temporary accommodation during the winter… etc. The construction of the new chapel in 1996 reflects the priority given to retreatants and passing guests seeking silence and prayer… But groups of diverse inspirations are knocking at the door: They are welcomed as they are: the White Island wants to be faithful to its mission of openness to the needs of the world and the Church today, a mission received from the congregation, redefined in 2013, reviewed 10 years later… Now, representatives of all the partners and groups come successively to the podium to testify about how they are located at Ile Blanche : community, board of directors, management (secular since 2008), GAEW association (“le vin de l’Ile Blanche”), animation commission, various training groups (yoga, qigong, taïchi chuan), Islamic-Christian collective “Hope”, a holiday maker…. All say the happy collaboration, the spirit of kindness and respect for and among everyone that reigns there, the dynamism or the joy regained
The basket is full of the fruits of yesterday and today, these fruits, result of human action supported by the presence and strength of the divine Spirit. Together, we could give thanks. A large group of young believers (“En Hent” camp) and their leaders, who have been walkers for a week, join us for the Eucharist presided over by Bishop Dognin, assisted by many priests and deacons. A time when we bless God for all that has been given to live in this place, time when the symbols brought in procession reflect this recognition: let’s note that the consecrated wine is that of the vineyard of the White Island! A time of communion of minds and hearts that invites us to live it daily. This is how the bishop sends us, especially the group of young people, to continue our march toward the future.
Then comes the time of the sending by the superior general, a sending “that turns us towards tomorrow, moved by the Spirit”. She particularly sends the people who work for the proper functioning of the house: they symbolically receive a bouquet of ears of wheat, “sign of the good grain that springs from this fertile land, maintained with so much goodwill, kindness and love.”
Thus, everyone leaves happy for the mission that continues in all our places of life.
Sister Armandine BAGOT, DHS. Béthanie Community. Maison-Mère- Saint-Brieuc. FRANCE
Published on 26 August 2026
Other articles will later give more precise details about the house and its mission.
“L’Hostellerie du Bon Accueil”: Title of a collection of poems submitted to the Ile-Blanche by an anonymous artist
