Ecology, Education & Eucharist

Monday 18th August - Friday 22nd August 2008

The aim of this week is to lead participants to an understanding of the world as God’s work of art. Our role, as fellow artists, is to bring this artwork to completion.

Ecology [from the greek word for a ‘house’] is understanding the world as God’s temple. The abbey gardens, forests and geological sites will be used to introduce participants to the planet as a living and breathing organism, an extension of our bodily selves rather than an object for our exploitation.

Education is the key to exchanging our natural biological domineering way of being in the world for a more enlightened appreciation of our appropriate place and posture on the planet. Workshops for developing such attitudes and artistry will include nature walks, approaches to the development of sacred spaces such as gardens, sanctuaries, labyrinths, appreciating nature as a work of art. Here the emphasis should be on imagination, imagining the world as God dreamt it might be. We ourselves are also God’s work of art and education should help us to achieve the beauty which is our goal as human beings; alongside maintenance of the heritage we should be handing on to our children.

Eucharist means to give thanks – the goal of education is to teach us to give thanks for everything that exists in the universe, to change what may appear to be drudgery into gratitude, the ordinariness of our lives transformed into the marvellous, water changed into wine. Every fragment of the planet is potentially an element of the Eucharist and every day we should be celebrating a Mass of the universe. A study will be made of the various kinds of eucharistic liturgies - their forms and rites etc. – and an attempt will be made to connect these with various artistic and cultural manifestations:rituals, literature and artworks of various kinds.

COURSE PROGRAMME (PROVISIONAL)

Day 1: Monday 18 August, 2008
4.00 pm: Tea in Reception
4.30 – 5.45: Introduction. Mark Patrick Hederman and Noirin ni Riain Ph.D. [Library O’Brien Room]
6.00 pm: Vespers. [Abbey Church]
6.30 pm: Departure

Day 2 : 19 August, 2008
10.00 am: Ecology and Education, Fr Simon Sleeman [Library O’Brien Room]
11.00 am: Coffee [Library, Ground floor]
11.20 am: Discussion [Library O’Brien Room]
12.10 pm: Mass [Abbey Church]
1.00 pm: Lunch
2.00 pm: Sounds of Nature: The Natural Choir Singing God’s Praises, Theosonic walk with Noirin ni Riain Ph.D.
4.00 pm Tea [Library]
4.30 – 5.45 pm Ecology and Sustainability, Mary Rose Logue & Fr James McMahon
6.00 pm: Vespers. [Abbey Church]
6.30 pm: Departure

Day 3 : 20 August, 2008
10.00 am: Ecology and Sustainability, Sr Nora Macnamara [Library O’Brien Room]
11.00 am: Coffee [Library, Ground floor]
11.20 am: Discussion [Library O’Brien Room]
12.10 pm: Mass [Abbey Church]
1.00 pm: Lunch
2.00 pm: Cultivated nature: A visit to the walled garden with Fr Brian Murphy OSB.
4.00 pm Tea [Library]
4.30 – 5.45 pm Ecology & Sustainability, Jennifer Sleeman and Fr Fintan Lyons OSB
6.00 pm: Vespers. [Abbey Church]
6.30 pm: Departure

Day 4 : 21 August 2008
10.00 am: Ecology, Education & Eucharist, Professor Peadar Kirby
11.00 am: Coffee [Library, Ground floor]
11.20 am: Discussion [Library O’Brien Room]
12.10 pm: Mass [Abbey Church]
1.00 pm: Lunch
2.00 pm: Uncultivated nature: The Forest and the Glen. Guided walk with Anthony Keane OSB
4.30 – 5.45: Education and Eucharist, Abbot Celestine Cullen OSB [Library Room]
6.00 pm: Vespers. [Abbey Church]
6.30 pm: Departure

Day 5: 22 August 2008
10.00 am: Ecology, Education and Eucharist, Gregory Collins OSB [Library O’Brien Room ]
11.00 am: Coffee [Library, Ground floor]
11.20 am: Discussion  [Library O’Brien Room]
12.10 pm: Mass [Abbey Church]
1.00 pm: Lunch
2.00 pm: Departure
4.00 pm Tea [Library]

Cost: €350 (TBC) for course and lunch each day.

Special concessions for those taking the CERTIFICATE IN THEOLOGY & RELIGIOUS STUDIES.

Limited accommodation available in the monastery Guesthouse email: guestmaster@glenstal.org.

There are also hotels and B&Bs in the locality. We recommend Rinnaknock B&B at the entrance to our back avenue: Tel. 061-386189; email: walshseaver@eircom.net ). Book early to avoid disappointment.

Credits: 12

Registration: TBC

A registration fee for the College Certificate of €150 is also payable – this covers registration for all modules taken by students in the coming year, and entitles students to library access, and other general facilities.

Contact: courses@glenstal.org