Location
Official nameAbbaye N.-D. de la Paix
Number13
AddressChaussée de Trélon, 1, Chimay, Belgium
Contact Information
Telephone[32] (60) 21.11.64
Community emailndlapaixchimay@gmail.com
SuperiorMère Pascale Fourmentin, Abbesse d’Arnhem, Commissaire monastique 2024
Other Information
Juridical statusAbbey
DioceseDioecesis Tornacensis (Tournai)
OCSO regionCNE
OriginsFounded in 1207 under the name Gomerfontaine; suppressed in 1792; restored in 1802; affiliation to the Congregation of La Trappe in 1878; transferred to Fourbechies (diocese of Tournai) in 1904 and to Chimay in 1919; erected as an abbey in 1927.
History
- The abbey N.D. de la Paix is the continuation of the ancient abbey Gomerfontaine, founded in 1207. The monastery had the title of a royal abbey.
- One counts 33 Abbess from 1207 to the Revolution. The number of religious rose to around 20 in 1792. Madame de Sarcus was abbess.
- In 1802, ten years after the suppression, they took the first steps to reunite and had designs to educate young girls as long as this did not impinge upon the observances of Gomerfontaine.
- 1804, 3 May: the sisters are installed at Nesle.
- 1805, 16 January: Mère M. Pauline Ducastel is elected superior. She had made vows at Gomerfontaine in 1779. She was a founder of the monastery St. Paul-aux-Bois in June 1816. The community counted 18 religious who came from Nesle to St. Paul.
- As early as 1817 they took steps to affiliate with the Trappists, but not until 1878 did the Bernardines of St Paul-aux-Bois become definitively affiliated with the Congregation of La Trappe (New Reform). Dom Etienne Salasc, abbot of Désert, Father Immediate of the Trappist nuns of Blagnac, was given the task of this incorporation.
- R.M. Marie-Adelaïde Hodé was prioress of St. Paul-aux-Bois when they were expelled on 4 October 1904. The community took refuge at Fourbechies. Dom Norbert Sauvage, abbot of Scourmont, received the community when they arrived in Belgium, and was named Father Immediate. He became Procurator general of the Order September 17, 1913 and was replaced October 24 by Dom Anselme Le Bail, who oversaw the transfer of the community to Chimay on 14 August 1919, taking the title Notre Dame de la Paix.
- The consecration of the church took place on 13 October 1925. This day was the 659th anniversary of the dedication of the church of Gomerfontaine, the first church of this community of N.D. de la Paix.
- 1940: In May, the community was evacuated and found refuge at the abbey of N.D. de Bonne Garde at Ste-Anne-d’Auray until 18 August 1940.
- 1952 pronouncement of solemn vows.
Father immediateDésert, 1878-1904; then Scourmont
Past superiors
- Pauline DUCASTEL — Supérieure — 16/01/1805 – 31/07/1835
- Stéphanie d’ALINCOURT — Supérieure — ?/ ?/1835 – ?/ ?/1854
- Joséphine DUPLAQUET — Supérieure — 1854 – 1860
- Placide CANAPPE — Supérieure — 1860 – 1866
- Joséphine DUPLAQUET (2) — Supérieure — 1860 – 1872
- Rose COUREUR — Supérieure — 1872 – 1878
- Marguerite-Marie DORBE — Prieure — 29/04/1878 – 20/10/1883
- Adélaïde HODÉ — Prieure — 13/11/1883 – 20/03/1919
- Madeleine SCHOCKAERT — Prieure — 05/04/1919 – 19/05/1925
- Beatrix PIRNAY — Prieure — 14/08/1925-27(Ch.Gén.)
- Beatrix PIRNAY — Abbesse — 1927 – 06/08/1934
- Gertrude DEMARREZ — Abbesse — 15/09/1934 – 31/07/1937
- Emmanuel DUJARDIN — Abbesse— 31/07/1934 – 10/09/1946
- Scholastique DAL — Abbesse— 12/09/1946 – 26/09/1949
- Anne-Marie LE BERRE — Abbesse— 26/09/1949 – 30/08/1957
- Hedwige MARTINET — Abbesse— 27/09/1957 – 06/08/1981
- Marie-Thérèse DEVOS — Supérieure ad nutum — 08/08/1981 – 07/07/1982
- Elizabeth CONNOR — Supérieure ad nutum — 07/07/1982 – 11/09/1984
- Pascale TROISGROS — Abbesse— 11/09/1984 – 23/12/1985
- Roza VAN DEN BOSCH — Supérieure ad nutum — 1986
- Roza VAN DEN BOSCH — Abbesse 1989-2011
- Catherine PAGANO — Supérieure ad nutum 02/01/2011 – 04/10/2024
Work/incomeLiturgical vestments, Cookies, Bread, Jam, Monastic shop
Guest facilities10 Rooms ; 11 Beds
Incorporated1878
FoundationsBerkel (Arnhem), 1937
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