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 […]
Introducing….Chives! Not much is actually growing in the soil of the cloister garden yet, but the north-west plot has a border. Along the west side stands a row of chives, their purple flowers in bloom at the moment. Chives have both ornamental and culinary properties; we can enjoy them first in the garden, and later […]
The Spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world and that which contains all things understands what is said, alleluia (Wis 1:7, sung with verses from psalm 67). The opening of the book of Wisdom, from which this text is taken, is a reflection on what it is to seek God and to […]
A traditional monastery is built around four cloisters (covered walkways, or simply corridors) which form a rectangle. The space in the middle of this rectangle is the cloister garden. Accessible only from inside the monastery, a cloister garden is an enclosed, sheltered, oasis where the nuns can enjoy nature, contemplate, read, or just relax. It […]
Men of Galilee, why gaze in wonder at the heavens? This Jesus whom you saw ascending into heaven will return as you saw him go, alleluia. (Acts 1:11 – sung with verses from psalm 46) Angels are speaking here – and when angels speak, something astounding is going on. An angel announced to Mary that […]
Today, on Vocations Sunday, we reflect on Pope Francis’ message for Vocation Sunday 2018 in which he offers three ‘steps’ that can guide us in our vocational discernment: The Importance of Discernment: Vocation is for All ‘We are not victims of chance’ says Pope Francis in his message. In stressing discernment as he often does, […]
Sr Eleanor continues her series on the Entrance Antiphon for the Mass during the season of Eastertide. Cry out with joy to God, all the earth; O sing to the glory of his name. O render him glorious praise, alleluia. (Ps 65 [66]:1-2 – sung with verses from the same psalm) Psalm 65 is […]
Father Bonaventure Cumiskey, or Fr Bon, as he was fondly known, was chaplain in Glencairn from 1981 to 1990. Born in Kells, Co. Meath, in 1922, he entered Mount Melleray Abbey in 1941, made his solemn profession in 1946 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1948. Short in stature (“like Zacchaeus,” as he […]
