This year’s feast of our Cistercian Founders, Saints Robert, Alberic and Stephen was particularly special as we celebrated the 25 year ‘Silver Jubilee’ of Sr Stephen’s monastic journey here at Glencairn. A teacher of mathematics and english, Sr Stephen began her Cistercian journey in her native India, entering the community of Makkiyad (now located in […]
Following a raised awareness of the ongoing and detrimental effects of plastic pollution in our environment and in a response to the Pope’s encyclical, Laudato Si, on care for our common home, we as a community began looking at ways to reduce our non-recyclable waste. With this in mind and thanks to Karen Nicholson of […]
It’s time to buy Christmas cards! This year the Glencairn Abbey Christmas card catalogue includes ten English language and eight Irish language designs. As well as sisters from the community, our artists include Gillian Brady, Ken Buggy, Margaret Byrne, Alina Cojocaru, Clodagh Creedon, Nodlaig Ryan Donegan, Hélène Garetta, and Valerie O’Sullivan. Browse through our catalogue […]
On the 8th September, 2018 we were delighted to welcome Emma Brady from Co. Cavan as a new Postulant to our community. Emma began her vocation discernment with us during her college years, where she studied Law and German at university before applying to enter St. Mary’s Abbey, Glencairn. Emma’s entrance day was the Feast […]
Monks and nuns following the Rule of St. Benedict take a vow of stability to their community and ordinarily remain in the monastery they have entered all their monastic life. One monk who takes his stability with him on the road is Fr. Mark Butlin OSB of Ampleforth Abbey, who has been serving on the […]
Just eight days after Sr. Angela’s Solemn Profession day on 20th of August, we again had reason for great rejoicing in Glencairn with the final vows of Sr. Elizabeth Deasy. Her vows were received by Mother Marie Fahy, Abbess of St. Mary’s Abbey, Glencairn, who clothed her in the monastic cowl and black veil, […]
Cistercian monks and nuns, representing Glencairn, Mt Melleray and Roscrea, travelled to Dublin yesterday to attend the papal mass. Eight sisters from Glencairn left at six a.m. in heavy rain to make sure they were on time to negotiate the traffic and the long walk to their seats. The joy of all the participants making […]
There was great joy at St. Mary’s Abbey, Glencairn as we witnessed and celebrated the Solemn Monastic Profession of Sr. Angela Finegan on the feast of St. Bernard, 20th August 2018. The whole monastic community, together with Sr. Angela’s parents, family and friends gathered to witness the dedication of her life to God in the […]
Earlier this year our Card Department sent out a “Call to Design a Christmas Card”, inviting submissions from artists for designs which we might include in our 2018 range of Glencairn Abbey Christmas cards. There was a lot of interest in the idea, and from the many submissions received, we have chosen to use seven. […]
Sister Michele here concludes her article on this year’s community retreat which took place in June, given by Fr Michael Casey, Cistercian monk and spiritual author. Our Core values Our prime values of course are: Prayer in all its stages and degrees, Lectio Divina and Liturgy, Community life/communion, manual labour and service. Many good […]
Sr Michele Slattery gathers the graces from this year’s community retreat as she reflects, in the first of a two part article, on key points that stood out for her. The subject preached this year on Grace sheds much light on aspects of the spiritual journey and the different ways in which God is ever […]
As a monastic community ‘wholly ordered to contemplation’ (OCSO Constitutions) it is a welcome opportunity to be in a position to give something practical as well as spiritual in our outreach. In addition to our charism of witness, prayer and hospitality we work to support our community and share what we can with those in […]
