St. Mary’s Abbey in Glencairn, Co Waterford, is my place of prayer and work for two days.
A few of us have come here for the peace and the light.
The day began with Morning Prayer with the Sisters in their chapel. Morning light was streaming through the windows and spilling onto the floor with colours from the stained glass.
Outside, the housemartins who nest on the roof were whisking with morning energy. A truck came and delivered the milk — all the way from Clóna Dairies, Clonakilty.
inside the chapel the Sisters chanted.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel!
He has visited his people and redeemed them.
The Benedictus Canticle
it’s easy to engage with big questions about faith, about the future, about vocations, in this place where a new pastoral symphony could be written!
After a day of prayer, discourse and shared meals, a visit to friends in Ballyduff was followed by a spin through Lismore as the sun was setting.