Entries by Fiachra Nutty

Artists Answer Call to Design a Christmas Card

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. […]

Insights on Retreat: Part 2

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 […]

Insights on Retreat

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 […]

Ora et Labora: Our Contribution to the World Meeting of Families 2018

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 […]

Cloister Garden Renewal: Update

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 […]

Reflection for Pentecost Sunday

  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 […]

Cloister Garden Renewal at Glencairn

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 […]

A Call to Joy: Vocations Sunday 2018

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, […]

Entrance Antiphon Reflection for the Third Sunday of Easter

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 […]

Former Chaplain of Glencairn, Fr Bonaventure Cumiskey RIP

  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 […]

Reflection for the Second Sunday of Easter

  Like newborn infants, you must long for the pure, spiritual milk, that in him you may grow to salvation, alleluia.  (1 Pet 2:2 – sung with verses from psalm 80) Easter is the time par excellence for baptism, especially of adults.  All over the world, new Christians were born into the family of the […]