Cistercians to leave Roscrea

Bishop of Killaloe Fintan Monahan has expressed “great sadness” over the recent decision of the Cistercian monks to move from Roscrea to Mellifont Abbey in Co Louth.

The Cistercian Community of Our Lady of Silence Abbey, Roscrea (formerly Mount Saint Joseph Abbey), is to relocate to Mellifont, the first Cistercian monastery in Ireland. The Cistercian Abbey in Roscrea was established in 1878 and has been an integral part of the pastoral life of the Diocese of Killaloe.

“It holds a special place in the hearts of the people of Roscrea,” Bishop Monahan stated. “Those who prayed and worshipped there, the generations of pupils and staff associated with the school on the abbey grounds since 1905, and the many people who participated in spiritual retreats while availing of the outstanding hospitality of its welcoming guesthouse. The farm on the college grounds also formed an important part of the fabric of the local hinterland.

“The contribution of the monks and school staff to the life of education through the work of the boarding school is respected and appreciated all over the country and particularly with the strong sporting ethos.

“I and the diocese of Killaloe am grateful that the Cistercians will continue as patrons of the college and the Cistercian spirit will continue to animate its life.

“Perhaps the greatest gift given by Abbey is to the spiritual life of the Church. This has been immense with so many deepening their faith through interaction with the monastery. The constant availability of the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the Abbey has been a great source of sólás always.

“One is particularly mindful of the enduring spiritual legacy of people like Dom Eugene Boylan, OCSO, former Abbot, whose writings continue to be widely read by students of prayer and spirituality throughout the world.

‘PRAYERFUL DISCERNMENT’

“While there is a deep sense of sadness and disappointment at local level, I understand that this decision follows a prolonged period of prayerful discernment and reflects the necessary rationalisation taking place in many areas of Church life at present,” Bishop Monahan stated.

“I express my sincere gratitude to Dom Rufus and to all members of the Cistercian Community, past and present, for their prayerful, contemplative, and pastoral presence in the Diocese of Killaloe. I assure them of my good wishes and prayers as they undertake this transition.

“The motto of Cistercian College, “Insideat coelis animo sed corpore terris” - with the mind fixed on heaven, the body dwelling on earth—aptly captures the enduring witness of this community. May the monks continue to offer a prayerful and pastoral witness to Jesus Christ for as long as they remain in Ireland.”