23 August 2022

A Lesson from the Nuns of Kylemore

From Our Minister / By /
As you may have read elsewhere on our website, on Sunday 21st August, Irish Unitarians held an historic service in the chapel of Kylemore abbey, a service at which I was honoured to deliver the sermon. As well as a major tourist attraction, the Abbey is primarily home to a community of contemplative Benedictine nuns. Living their lives within the abbey grounds they do so in the spirit of the Benedictine motto; Ora et Labora– Pray and Work. After and during the service, I couldn’t help be struck by a number of things as I chatted to Abbess and members of her community. First, their openness to other faiths, their sense of God as the God of all people, their humility, warmth and kindness but most of all their smiles and humour, all blending wonderfully to make a group of Irish Unitarians feel welcome and at home. People often ask; well what is the point of monks and nuns who lock themselves away to live a life of prayer away from the world? That question misses the whole point; they are not removed from life but are very much a part of it, what’s more they offer a powerful witness as to the depth and joy of life, if only we take a moment to stop and recognise it.

All the best for now

Rev Mike

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Historic Service held at Kylemore Abbey

Announcements / By /
On Sunday, 21st of August with the kind permission of the resident Benedictine community of nuns, Unitarians from Cork and Dublin were joined by members of the Non Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland for an historic service in the chapel at Kylemore Abbey in the heart of Connemara. The service was led by the Rt Rev. Lena Cockroft, Moderator of the NSPCI. The homily was preached by Rev. Mike O’Sullivan, minister of Cork Unitarian church. During the service readings were read by Teresa Goggin and Neal Dunnigan with music by Pearse O’Donoghue and Clair McHugh who sang; ” Closer to Fine” and “Amazing Grace”. Doreen Groocock performed ” My Lagan Love” as a flute solo. In attendance at the service were; The Very Rev. Robert McKee, Clerk of General synod along with the Abbess of the Benedictine community; Rev. Mother Marie Hickey, O.S.B. and nuns from her community.

Kylemore was built by Mitchell Henry, a Unitarian and the Gothic chapel was built by him as a memorial to his wife Margaret who died at the age of 45. The abbey was purchased by the Benedictine nuns in 1920 and is now one of Irelands most treasured tourist attractions as well as being home to a community of contemplative sisters.

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