Susan GatelyThe iconic Benedictine Abbey at Kylemore last week became a new Education Centre in partnership with a top US Catholic University, Notre Dame.
Kylemore Abbey was a secondary boarding school until August 2010.
Around 40 students have already attended the Notre Dame-sponsored courses this summer, including an environmental law conference, a two-week retreat for the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) and a three-week creative writing seminar.
While initial plans were to run courses from May to September each year, Director Lisa Caulfield told The Irish Catholic that such has been the interest in the new centre that “it looks like we can run courses throughout the year”.
Ownership of Kylemore Abbey remains with the Benedictine Sisters, some of whom will be involved in courses like patristics and monastic studies.
“The Catholic ethos is central to the whole place,” said Ms Caulfield.
Mass
“We are a Catholic university. Every programme opens and closes with mass and course participants are encouraged to pray with the Benedictine community.”
A weeklong course at Kylemore is expected to cost around €1,200 for tuition, accommodation and meals.