St. Mary's AI, Glencairn
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Welcome to St. Mary's Abbey, Glencairn
St Mary’s Abbey, Glencairn is the only Cistercian monastery for women in Ireland. Our monastery is located in the Blackwater Valley, about 3 miles upstream from Lismore, County Waterford.
At the heart of the monastic life is the search for God; here at Glencairn, we seek God and follow Christ in a life of prayer and community, solitude and simplicity, work and hospitality.
We follow the Rule of St Benedict, an ancient source of monastic wisdom that continues to guide many people in search of an authentic spiritual path in today’s world.
There are three key elements in our day: Lectio Divina, Liturgy and Work.
Rule of St. Benedict
“The goal of the monastic journey is a gradual transformation into the likeness of Christ through the action of the Spirit of God.” – Ratio Institutionalis
Our Community
Our community was founded in 1932 by Holy Cross Abbey, Stapehill, England with the support of the monks of Mount Melleray Abbey, County Waterford, Ireland.
The community quickly grew and in 1949 Glencairn founded the first Cistercian monastery for women in the United States; Mount Saint Mary’s Abbey, Wrentham, Massachussetts.
Saint Justina’s monastery, a second foundation of Glencairn, was founded in Abakaliki, Nigeria in 1982.
Today, we are a community blessed with 37 sisters from all over Ireland and different parts of the world, with a wide range of age groups represented, from the thirties to the nineties!
Latest News
Solemn Profession of Sr Mairead, Saturday 5 June, 2010 at Glencairn
Happy indeed are they
whose delight is the law of the Lord
and who ponder his law day…
Junior course on Caldey Island, 3-11 May, 2010
The Cistercian Region of the Isles annual course for Junior Professed (monks & nuns) and second…
Gallery
Community
Events
News
Monastic Life
Calendar
ORDINARY TIME
23rd Week Ordinary Time
Next Monastic Weekend: 15-17 October, 2010