We were happy to take advantage of both a sunny summer’s evening recently and the presence of a professional photographer who was staying with us, to organise a community photo under our great oak tree overlooking the Abbey Church here at Glencairn. There are twenty-seven of us in community, with an additional two sisters joining […]
The Pastoral Sharing meeting of the superiors of the OCSO Region of the Isles together with our new Abbot General Dom Bernardus Peeters has just concluded at Brownshill Monastery, Slough, England. The Cistercian Region of the Isles consists of the Cistercian houses of monks and nuns in Ireland, the U.K. and Norway. Mother Marie, Abbess […]
There was a wonderful atmosphere at this year’s gathering of contemplative nuns of Ireland at Ballyvaloo Conference and Retreat Centre in Co. Wexford, from 9 – 12 May, 2022. Sr Fiachra and Sr Nuala of Glencairn were among the twenty-eight nuns that participated from various communities including Poor Clares, Carmelites, Benedictines, Redemptoristines, and other contemplative […]
The Permanent Deacons of Cork and Ross had their first diocesan retreat here in Glencairn Abbey from Friday 6th May to Sunday 8th May. It was led by Bishop Michael Duignan, the new Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Clonfert. Fr. Bernard Cotter (Co-ordinator of the Diaconate Programme) joined them for the weekend and Bishop Fintan Gavin joined […]
We had a joyful day of celebration at Glencairn with our brothers from Mt Melleray Abbey on Easter Thursday last week, including a warm welcome home too to Dom Eamon from Rome following his recent retirement as Abbot General of our Order. We were happy to reunite, pray and celebrate this holy season together after […]
Dear Friends, We regret to inform you that our Mass and liturgies remain closed to the public due to the continuing rise of Covid in Ireland at this time. We will also will not be opening our Easter Triduum services to the public once again this year, 2022. Due to the small size of our […]
On 14th March 2022, we were delighted to welcome Laura Cullen as a new Postulant in our community. A 29 year old social worker based in Dublin, Laura is originally from County Meath. Laura began her journey of vocation discernment when she participated on our Monastic Experience Weekend in October 2020 and had a number […]
A core group meeting of the Irish Female Contemplatives Association was held at Glencairn on the 15th March to prepare for the annual Gathering of Irish Contemplative Nuns to be held in May of this year at Ballyvaloo Retreat Centre in Wexford. Attending this meeting were Sr Gabrielle from the Poor Clares of Ennis, Sr […]
Yesterday evening after first Vespers of the First Sunday of Lent, the community gathered for the Abbess’ Sunday Chapter talk. The practice of Lenten reading in the Rule of St. Benedict continues to be followed in many monasteries today, including here at Glencairn. The distribution of each sister’s chosen book took place after the Abbess’ […]
What guidance do St. Paul’s letters offer to today’s monks and nuns in our cloistered way of life? A recent online scripture course held for monks and nuns in our region of monasteries addresses this topic, taught by Sr Anne Elizabeth Sweet OCSO, a Cistercian nun of Tautra Mariakloster in Norway. Sr Anne Elizabeth holds […]
This year’s General Chapter of our Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance opened in Assisi, Italy, on Monday 7th February 2022. This was the first General Chapter to take place in the last five years, having been postponed for two years due to the pandemic. The unprecedented proposal to gather for two sessions this […]
Greetings and blessings of peace and joy to you at Christmas. As we arrive at the end of this year of 2021 we look back and share with you some of the main events of this year at Glencairn Abbey. A second year of living with Covid-19 has meant for us at Glencairn as for […]
