Holy Cross Abbey, Whitland

Introduction

In January 1991, the Community moved from Stapehill to the present location at Whitland in Wales, formerly the site of Waungron Farm Motel. The monastic church was refurbished and dedicated in 2011, completing the building work.

History

The founding group of women was led by Madame Augustin de Chabannes, a professed sister of the Parisian Abbey of Saint Antoine. In 1932 the Stapehill Community founded St Mary's Abbey, Glencairn in Ireland. Building and renovation works gradually transformed the motel into a monastery.

Music and liturgy

The Community cherishes and preserves a life of prayer, lectio divina, and manual work, which are called the three pillars of Cistercian monastic life. Each Office follows a similar pattern of hymn, psalms, scripture reading, and prayers, and the number of psalms allows all 150 to be said in one week. Readings occur during common lunch in the refectory and before Compline in the Church. After Compline, the Grand Silence lasts until Chapter the following day.

Parish life

The community welcomes individuals and groups to visit for the day to enjoy the peace of the Abbey Church and garden. The community welcomes Catholic women of any age who have visited the monastery and feel a call to become a Lay Associate, making a formal commitment to dedicate time each day to prayer, lectio divina and work.

The community has been working since 2006 on ecological merits of different heating systems and in 2008 swapped from oil to a Biomass Boiler using woodchip, renewed in 2015, and uses solar panels for renewable energy. The community planted two fields as woodland in 2008 and replaced old fencing with hedges to benefit wildlife and the environment. The community keeps bees and applies organic principles to the market garden, herb and flower gardens. The community goes on pilgrimage from time to time to visit places with which it has particular associations in West Wales.

Visiting

Visitors can use a small kitchenette for making hot drinks and bring their own sandwiches to enjoy indoors or in the garden. The community is happy to share its Liturgy with everyone who comes to visit.