Introduction
Hospitality is an essential part of our Cistercian charism. An effective layout of our monastery buildings is important in order to both care for our guests and maintain the silence and solitude necessary for the contemplative life.
Our current guest facilities located in the main monastery building have long been inadequate in serving our guests’ and community needs. Our vision is to re-locate both our guesthouse and hospitality functions in a suitable area which will be separate yet connected to the monastery. This will provide both monastic solitude for the community and ease of access to our hospitality centre. Visitors and guests in turn will have easy access to the Abbey church.
Donations to this project will ensure a continued monastic presence to guests and pilgrims at St. Mary’s Abbey, Glencairn.
New Guesthouse & Hospitality Centre: Proposal & Plan
Reception & Shop
A spacious reception area to welcome all our guests to the Abbey will be situated at the entrance of this building. Accessible toilet facilities and a display area together with a small shop to retail our monastic products will also be included in the ground floor of the building.
Guest Accommodation
Six bedrooms and a small oratory for guests on the upper floor of the new building with a dining room downstairs to cater for day guests together with resident guests.
Large Groups
A large function room to cater for large visiting groups such as school groups and community gatherings with guests (professions, funerals and other large events)
Day Guests
There will be a number of parlours available for sisters to meet with small groups of visitors.