The 2026 Cyclical Europe Retreat in Sofia, Bulgaria
The first Cyclical Europe Retreat was a success! We are grateful for all the participants. People came from France, Germany, Netherlands, Greece,the United States, and around Bulgaria for this gathering. Over the weekend’s events, nearly 50 people participated.
It was a beautiful realization of how online communities can come full circle into hybrid communities (a combination of online and in-person) that can enhance vision and participation.
Our retreat hopes were to:
1) Enjoy community (new and old friendships)
2) Increase mental health awareness and learning
3) Inspire innovation and resilient faith
Cyclical Europe’s growing team of mental and spiritual health professionals led a series of 6 main sessions that invited participants to engage at their own pace.
Topics included:
* Lessons in Mental Health, Community, & Culture (Jen & Lawrence)
* Tolerating Distress in Life: Inspiring Resilient Faith (Katherine)
* Creative Fitness for the Soul (Maia & George)
* Learning through Small Groups
* Individual & Collective Resilience for Adults, Youth, & Family Systems (Lawrence)
* Enough Is Enough: The Microjoys & Challenges of Life & Relationships (Jen & Lawrence)
Additionally, we had a fantastic program for the youth during the weekend. Led by child specialist and school director, Iva Keskinova, the students enjoyed many awesome activities, including:
* Getting to know one another with an m&m game
* A scavenger hunt
* Making and playing with slime (a favorite)
* Basketball shooting raffle prize game
* A movie night with ice cream
* Mask painting
* Frisbee golf
* Free time in the park
* and reflective activities in their personal Sketchbooks
The whole program ended with 45 people gathering for a family-celebration night at a kids’ play center!
The weekend even exceeded our hopes and expectations.
We are grateful for the many people who helped us organize this event, something that may just turn into an annual opportunity.
For anyone interested in learning more about Cyclical Europe or even seeing some of our shared resources from the retreat, visit our website: https://cyclicaleurope.com/resources-blog/
If you are interested in connecting with Cyclical Europe’s WhatsApp group or email list, send us an email at: cyclicaleurope@gmail.com
The Cyclical Europe Faith Community branched off from the Colloquy Communities Faith Community in 2023, and it has now become a specialized community of the Cyclical Europe Counseling Center, which launched in 2025 as an initiative that focuses on providing professional mental health counseling or coaching to people of faith, cross-cultural workers, or people who have been wounded by the church or religion.
