20th October 2013 - 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) - Cistercian Nuns of Glencairn (Part 2)

On this weeks programme, we have part two of a two part special programme on the Cistercian nuns of St Mary's Abbey, Glencairn Co Waterford. Lorraine has a discussion about the Cistercian life and what it means to be an enclosed nun in Ireland today with Mother Marie Fahy, Sr Mairead McDonagh and Sr Clothilde Anamizu.

You can listen to this weeks programme podcast HERE.
 
Cistercian Nuns of Glencairn

The Cistercian Community of St Mary's Abbey Glencairn

St Mary’s Abbey, Glencairn is the only Cistercian monastery for women in Ireland.  The monastery is located in the Blackwater Valley, about 3 miles upstream from Lismore, County Waterford.

"At the heart of the monastic life is the search for God; here at Glencairn, we seek God and follow Christ in a life of prayer and community, solitude and simplicity, work and hospitality. We follow the Rule of St Benedict, an ancient source of monastic wisdom that continues to guide many people in search of an authentic spiritual path in today’s world."

We had part 1 of a two part interview with the nuns broadcast on 21st July and on this weeks programme we have the second part of that interview. Our blog post from 21 July had details of the Cistercian way of life and also some videos and photos as well which can all be viewed HERE.

Mother Marie Fahy reflects on her current role of abbess which is at the service of the community. She discusses the gift and challenge of monastic culture to our more secular culture holding out its gift of stability, witness, conversion and simplicity.

Sr Mairead tells us of her "late vocation" and the journey to Glencairn. She also tells us about the sisters work of producing a range of greeting cards for all occasions in both Irish and English are designed and produced in their Card Department here in Glencairn. Our range of cards also includes personalised cards and a selection of individually handcrafted cards with pressed flowers grown in our monastery gardens. Mortuary cards are also produced in a range of sizes designed to meet customer specifications.
  

Sr Clothilde Anamizu speaks to Lorraine of her journey and challenges to becoming a christian in Japan and then her further journey to joining the Cistercians in Japan and ultimately to joining the community in Glencairn.


You can listen to this weeks programmes podcast HERE.

The music on this weeks programme is taken from the Abbey's most recent CD Laudamus which  you can get HERE.
 
Gospel - Luke 18:1-8 - Mission Sunday

Today is Mission Sunday and we covered it on the programme a couple of weeks back with an interview with Fr Derek Leonard about mission and his experience of mission in Peru. You can see all our blog posts about mission HERE.
 

 
And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man; and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, `Vindicate me against my adversary.' For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, `Though I neither fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.'" And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

 

 Pray without ceasing - don't lose heart! A simple poem today to aid your reflection on this Sundays Gospel. (H/t Limerick Diocese Weekly Newsletter)

 A life without purpose is barren indeed
There can't be a harvest unless you plant seeds
There can't be attainment unless there's a goal
A man's but a robot unless there's a soul

If we send no ships out
No ships will come in
and unless there's a contest
nobody can win

For games can't be won unless they are played,
and prayers can't be answered unless they are prayed.

So whatever is wrong with your life today,
you'll find a solution if you kneel down and pray.
Not just for pleasure, enjoyment and health,
Not just for honours, prestige and wealth

but pray for a purpose to make life worth living.
And pray for the joy of unselfish giving
for great is your gladness and rich is your reward
when you make your life's purpose the choice of the Lord

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Sunday Reflections
Word on Fire
Centre for Liturgy
English Dominicans

Liturgical odds and ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter Week 1 29th Week in Ordinary time

Saints of the Week

21 October - St Laura of St Catherin of Siena
22 October - Bl John Paul II
23 October - St John of Capistrano
24 October - St Anthony Mary Claret
25 October - Bl Thaddeus McCarthy (Martyr)
26 October - Forty Martyrs of England and Wales

Come, follow me: forthcoming Monastic Experience Weekend

 

Are you looking for something deeper in your life? A way of life that is more God-centred? A way of greater simplicity and truthfulness? A way of life in a community of faith and prayer?

 

Then you might like to consider and pray about attending our next Monastic Experience Weekend taking place from 25 to 27 October, 2013.
 
This is an event for women aged 20-40 who would like to experience our Cistercian way of life at Glencairn.
Monastic Experience Weekends have been held twice a year at St Mary’s Abbey, Glencairn since 2001.

What happens on a Monastic Experience Weekend?:
The weekend begins on Friday evening with welcomes and introductions, supper and Vespers. Participants stay in the Abbey guesthouse and join the community for the Liturgy of the Hours in choir.
 
Throughout the weekend our guests have the opportunity to experience something of the rhythm of liturgy, silence, meditation on scripture, monastic work and community life that together make up the essentials of a balanced monastic life.

There will be input on the Cistercian life, together with personal testimonies from some of our sisters on their own monastic journey and an opportunity to meet the community. We also offer guidance on how to discern one’s own religious vocation and an opportunity to talk one-to-one with one of the sisters.

The Monastic Experience Weekend ends on Sunday afternoon but participants are welcome to stay until Monday if they wish.

Contact Us:
If you would like more information, please contact our Vocation Director Sr Sarah here at the Abbey at: vocations@glencairnabbey.org or at 087 1909 830

Alternatively, if you would like to make a visit to the Abbey at another time for personal prayer and retreat to discern your vocation please contact Sr Sarah or the Guestmistress Mother Agnes at 058 56168 .