Okay, I just wanted to post something I put in another thread about the Srs of Bethlehem here too (particularly as I was writing about the annual Evangelical Month retreat in August, which I don't think I wrote much on in this thread yet):
Guten tag, Desire! Willkommen! (I took German in HS and am German/Irish/Croatian American
) I highly recommend the Sisters of Bethlehem who have a monastery in Germany. We have a pretty long thread about them about here -
http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=56995They are different than many communities, in that they have both a Western and Eastern spirituality, with the icons and everything, (though the Carthusians, which they are very similar to with St. Bruno, also have the icons, but are more Western, with a Latin Office) Their Office and Mass are primarily in the vernacular, with some Latin and sometimes a little Herbrew & Greek, and is the Byzantine Office (though I believe it's their own particular Office, approved by Rome, as the Carthusians have their own office also) Then their Mass is the regular Mass of Pope Paul VI, but with more silence and a few different elements.
They do receive Holy Communion on the tongue, though I didn't see them kneeling, but that may be an option.
I would highly recommend visiting their monastery, and you could ask them about other good orthodox communities in Germany too - which I'm sure they could help you with.
They are truly a wonderful monastic community. And they have this discernment retreat every year at the monastery in Les Montsvoirons, near Geneva, in France, called the Evangelical Month (sounds slightly protestant, but it's not at all, totally solid Catholic).
I went in 2003, and I believe it was the best month I have ever had in my life! It's is such a beautiful retreat! I can't recommend it enough! The conferences were given in French, but all the retreatants from different nationalities had a translator for everything, and it was so incredibly organized. Each retreatant has their own cell, and lots of time in solitude. The conferences are given by the Mother Prioress, Sr. Isabelle, and a few by the Father Prior, through a speaker that each retreatant has in their cell. Then there are times when everyone is together for the Liturgy and Mass in the Church, and other times for adoration, and gatherings for talks, and a couple slideshows - I remember one was of the different places in the Holy Land, where different important events of our Faith took place, like Mount Tabor and the room where the Annunciation was supposed to have happened. And then there was a slideshow about the history of their order, the Monastic Family of Bethlehem of the Assumption of the Virgin and of St. Bruno.
The Sisters in Livingston Manor, NY invited me after my first visit to their monastery in 2003. I wasn't really sure if this was the order God was calling me to, but the Superior, Sr. Amena said this retreat is for everyone discerning their vocation, not only specifically to the Monastic Family of Bethlehem. It is such a beautiful retreat, I can hardly find the words ... I am thinking of going again this year, unless Our Lord has other plans.
There were definitely some sisters from Germany there, I remember & one discerner I remember was from Austria. I was the only American, though there were a few Canadians - but actually I felt really at home with all the people there. The sisters are incredibly friendly. And each retreatant gets what they call an "angel" whom you can talk with personally to ask questions and everything. I got Sr. Marie d'Aire, who was French but spoke English very well, and she was awesome to talk with! Then my translator was a sister from England, from one of the French monasteries.
Even if you are pretty sure you're not called to this community, I still highly recommend this retreat. It gives a whole overview of salvation history, and is great formation for the contemplative life. I remember so many things to this day, that I didn't know before the retreat. Each day covers a different part of salvation history, Sacred Scripture, and other topics relating to monastic life. It's starts with the existence of the Trinity before time & the world, the angels & their Fall, Creation of man, & our Fall, and everything that led up to God's plan of salvation in Christ, though not in every detail, just an overview - like the prophets, Abrahman .. Moses (and relates them to the contemplative life of faith & prayer) And within the month, they celebrate one day as Christmas, and then even have a Holy Week. Their celebration, if celebration is the right word .., of Good Friday in the middle of August, was really my most prayerful "Good Friday" ever. And yes, it's always in the month of August, with the feast of the Assumption right in the middle - the main patronage of their order. And they do not ask for any payment for this retreat. It is just that you have to pay for your plane ticket, but maybe it would not require a plane ticket for you, or least would be much less traveling to get to. I flew to NY and then to Gevena, and they picked me up right at the airport, with a big sign with my name on it. :j ...
Also, I wanted to add, that there is no cost or donation requested for this retreat, only we did give them one, which was accepted with much gratitude. But it seriously is not expected. It's just that you have to pay for your plane ticket.
I felt the same way when I was in Carmel, CA, as their chapel was SOOO cold ! 
I may make a new thread for my photos in Open Mic.
Apart from that, it was fine.
France
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