Sunday, 14 April 2013

Nunraw Pilgrims - Fr. Abbot

Scottish Catholic Observer  Friday  12 2013
Nunraw pilgrims will stay in abbey
under new plans


  • THE Cistercian community at Nunraw will continue to offer retreat facilities to pilgrims, despite the impending sale of its guesthouse, the abbot of Nunraw Abbey has confirmed
  • Abbot Dom Mark Caira OCR (right) told the SCO that the Nunraw guesthouse has been put up for sale, but added that the measure is part of a 'downsizing' operation at Nun­raw and guests will soon be ­able to enjoy an experience 'closer to the monastic life' within the abbey itself
  • ''Plans are in place to move our guest centre to within the . abbey (below)," Abbot Caira
  • c said.  “We are making the move to conserve our energies and use our facilities as best as we can."
  • The abbot added that, 'although the move will result in fewer guests being able to enjoy a retreat at a single time, it is being viewed as a 'positive step' within the community and that the Cistercians are keen to be able to offer the best experience possible to those visiting on retreat.
  • Aine Fahey, a recent visitor to Nunraw over the Easter period, described her retreat as an 'amazing experience and expressed keenness that the sale of the guesthouse would not lead to the end of pilgrims making a visit to Nunraw.
  • "1 have just had the privilege to visit Nunraw for the first time these last few days and it was without doubt one of the 'most amazing experiences of my life in terms of the people 1 met," Ms Fahey told the SCO. "The fathers and brothers of the abbey are there for one and all, regardless of religion. They seek to help those in need of . truth to find it and do so with an incredible clarity of mind, word and love. They do not cater exclusively for Catholic people and I was in the company of those of other faiths who found peace, solace and solution whilst there as well as myself"

Nunraw Abbey, consecrated in 1948, on the southern edge of East Lothian, was the first Cistercian house to be founded in Scotland since the Reformation.

Nunraw Abbey
  

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