Discover a new way of living

About Us

The Abbey is a sacred online retreat experience for women who are searching, seeking a New Way of Living.

Throughout this retreat, three women will guide you in an experience of discovery, opening your senses in order to make sense of who we are, and what we are doing here. Asking questions; Why am I here? Who am I? Where do I go next? How come I so need to feel loved, and to love? Am I created for love? To answer these deep questions we need our ears, eyes, touch, smell and taste to be open to seeing beyond what we normally see.

You will hear from Sister Marie- Lys who will share about the Cistercian life. She and her sisters live in an Abbey in the South of France, following the Rule of St Benedict.

You will be introduced to Virginie Comte Robert who has known the sisters for over 18 years and partnered with them in developing their unique essential oils, balms, and toilet waters. Virginie is a wife, mother of three beautiful children, and a massage therapist.

Deborah Protter will be your host and guide during this retreat. Deborah is a wife and mother and alongside her husband, Deborah leads The Values Partnership in Perth. She is a trained Spiritual Mentor and has been leading retreats for women at the Abbey with Virginie for many years.

This unique Online Retreat is the result of  a special relationship these women have developed over many years.  

We hope this experience will enable you to discover a new way of living that is more balanced, in harmony, and filled with the love of God.

“You have embarked on a most wonderful journey. It is clearly rooted and is taking its time, which is excellent and just as it should be. More and more I turn to the Cistercians and the way in which they wrote about the Rule of St Benedict and lived it out.  Cistercian women are magnificent”
Esther De Waal

 "Listen and attend with the ear of your heart." - St Benedict of Nursia