Location
Official nameO.L. of Bethlehem Abbey
Number61
Address11 Ballymena Road, Portglenone, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, Ireland
Contact Information
Telephone[44] (28) 2582 1211
Community emailinfo@bethabbey.com
Websitewww.bethlehemabbey.com
SuperiorDom Aelred Magee, Superior ad nutum 2024
Other Information
Juridical statusAbbey
DioceseDioecesis Dunensis et Connorensis (Down and Connor)
OCSO regionISLES
OriginsFounded by Mount Melleray in 1948; Abbey in July 1951.
History
- A Georgian mansion (c. 1800) with an estate of about 150 mostly fertile arable hectares situated in Northern Ireland was purchased in 1948. Other buildings were added on prior to the construction of an entirely new monastery in the 1960s, which was necessitated by the increasing numbers joining the community. The numbers peaked around 1970.
- 1967: opening and blessing of the new church.
- The monastery is situated in the Northern part of Ireland where the centuries-old political conflict between the English and Irish (later to have a religious Catholic/Protestant dimension) still simmers and flares up from time to time.
Father immediateMount Melleray (until 2022); *Father Immediate *: Rep. delegated to M. Brigitte Pinot of Tautra
Lay associatesCistercian Lay Associates of Our Lady of Bethlehem Abbey
Past superiors
- Oliver FARRELL, Superior — 01/09/1948 – 08/07-1951, Abbot 08/07/1951-17/09/1958
- Aengus DUNPHY, Abbot — 22/10/1958 – 26/09/1977
- Celsus KELLY, Abbot — 27/09/1977 – 08/11/2019
- Celsus KELLY, Superior ad nutum — 09/11/ 2019 – 17/01/2024
Work/incomeA changing economic climate has meant that the farm no longer provides the community with a viable source of income. This comes mainly from a religious shop, a craftshop and a printery; with something as well from the donations left by the steady stream of visitors.
Guest facilities10 rooms, all of which can be shared if necessary.
Transportation10 rooms, all of which can be shared if necessary.
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