Association of Monasteries of Ireland

We were delighted to welcome eight visiting nuns to Glencairn last Wednesday for a day of prayer, reflection and sharing as part of AMOI. Our guests came from three different communities: the Dominican Contemplative Nuns of the Monastery of St Catherine of Siena in Drogheda, the Benedictine community at Kylemore Abbey, and the Redemptoristine Nuns in Dublin.

It was a lovely opportunity to spend time together as nuns from different traditions and communities, sharing something of the richness of our different ways of living monastic life.

A central part of the day was devoted to presentations on Magnifica Humanitas, followed by a time of group discussion. Sr Máire Bríd (Redemptoristine) introduced some questions arising from Chapter Two of the encyclical, which then provided the starting point for a conversation, facilitated by Sr Marie (Cistercian).

Although we come from different Orders and communities, there is much that we share: the call to seek God, to live in community, and to discern how our particular lives of prayer and witness speak to the world around us.

Our time together was woven into the rhythm of the monastery. We shared in the prayer of the Church at Mass, Sext and None, and enjoyed a talking meal together—always a special occasion in a community whose ordinary meals are usually taken in silence! There was plenty of conversation, laughter and easy fellowship that comes when Sisters are together.

By the time our visitors were preparing to leave, we were already wishing that there had been more time!

We are very grateful to our sisters from Drogheda, Kylemore and Dublin for making the journey to Glencairn and for all that they brought to the day, the reminder of the gift of communion between communities and of the encouragement we receive from knowing that, in our different monasteries and according to our different charisms, we are part of a much wider family seeking to follow Christ.