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May 29 2020toMay 31 2020
Guesthouse Retreat
The Sacrament of Silence- Meditation Retreat
Love of silence is a quality emphasised and affirmed in the Rule of St. Benedict and a traditional value of monastic life. Yet the cultivation of silence is something very difficult in our modern world, and often not understood or appreciated...
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Jun. 19 2020toJun. 21 2020
New Norcia Guesthouse
Benedictine Experience Weekend
Benedictine spirituality is more readily experienced than defined. These weekends in the monastery guesthouse (beginning with Vespers at 6.30pm on Friday, concluding after lunch on Sunday) provide the opportunity to enter fully into the monastic rhythm and balance of prayer, work, lectio divina, hospitality and community life. There will be opportunities to ponder the riches of the scriptures and monastic literature, both in group discussions and personal silence and solitude, bringing from the ‘storeroom, things both new and old.’
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Jun. 19 2020toJun. 21 2020
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Jul. 10 2020toJul. 12 2020
Study Weekend
Female Benedictine Mystics of the Middle Ages: Sts. Hildegard of Bingen, Elizabeth of Schonae, Gertrude the Great and Mechtilde of Hackeborn
While monasteries and convents of Benedictine nuns flourished throughout Europe during the entire Middle Ages, the amount of writings left to us, in comparison with male Benedictines of the same period, is relatively small. Yet among these writings are many treasures, expressing the life of mystical prayer, remarkable visions and revelations, and an ardent love for God.
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Aug. 14 2020toAug. 16 2020
Guesthouse Retreat
'Letting Go'
As we journey through life, we are in a continual process of ‘letting go’, in many different ways. This letting go can be the result of the loss of loved ones, of the process of aging, of relationship changes, and families growing up, etc. On the other hand, there can be things in our hearts- anger, regret, grief, attachment- which we would like to let go of, but find it difficult to do so.
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Sep. 25 2020toSep. 27 2020
Study Weekend
A Course in Reading Gregorian Notation for Musicians
The term ‘Gregorian chant’ is often used to generically refer to all the non-polyphonic repertoire of the Latin Church. This large and varied body of repertoire by no means represents a single or unified style, tradition or approach; and the performance and notational practices of Gregorian in current use emerged as a result of a 19th Century reform movement...
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Oct. 9 2020toOct. 10 2020
Archives, Library and Collections
New Norcia Archives, Library and Collections Study Day
More information will be made available about New Norcia's Archives, Library and Studies Day closer to the event date.
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Nov. 6 2020toNov. 8 2020
New Norcia Guesthouse
Benedictine Experience Weekend
Benedictine spirituality is more readily experienced than defined. These weekends in the monastery guesthouse (beginning with Vespers at 6.30pm on Friday, concluding after lunch on Sunday) provide the opportunity to enter fully into the monastic rhythm and balance of prayer, work, lectio divina, hospitality and community life. There will be opportunities to ponder the riches of the scriptures and monastic literature, both in group discussions and personal silence and solitude, bringing from the ‘storeroom, things both new and old.’
Contact Us
Main Office
T: +61 8 9654 8018
F: +61 8 9654 8097
E: information@newnorcia.wa.edu.au
Hostel
T: +61 8 9654 8034
E: hotel@newnorcia.wa.edu.au
Friends of New Norcia / Volunteering
Museum & Art Gallery
T: +61 8 9654 8056
E: museum@newnorcia.wa.edu.au
Group Accommodation & Education Centre
T: +61 8 9654 8018
E: groups@newnorcia.wa.edu.au
Media & Communications
Visit New Norcia
People visit New Norcia for many reasons; for spiritual retreat, to join a tour and see inside the magnificent buildings or sometimes just to walk around the town and enjoy the peace and beautiful scenery.
In this section you will find all the information you need for your visit to New Norcia. Details of places to eat and places to stay, details of the town tours and information about some of our favourite things to do in Australia’s only monastic town.
We recommend your first port of call is the Museum & Art Gallery to speak to one of the staff about all the attractions and experiences New Norcia has to offer. The Museum & Art Gallery is also a Visitor Information Centre and is the point from which the town tours leave.
Stay at New Norcia
There are so many different options for accommodation at New Norcia.
The Hostel, with its comfortable simple rooms, home cooked meals and neo-classical architecture is a perfect place for couples and families. With its scenic deck and heritage veranda it is a perfect place to enjoy the sunset with a New Norcia Abbey Ale or a wine from the Abbey range. The Guesthouse is perfect for a quiet, retreat like experience - a world away from the rigours of modern life. You can join a Benedictine retreat here or be housed in the Hermitage for a silent retreat. Groups of 15 -100 can be accommodated in the Old Convent or the historic boarding school colleges.
Please click on the individual areas for more information.
Eat & Drink
Hospitality is a tenet of the Rule of St Benedict, the Rule by which the monks of New Norcia live, so wherever you choose to eat in town, our aim is for you to experience warm monastic hospitality.
Education & Research
From the earliest days of its foundation New Norcia has been focussed on education. The first Abbot, of New Norcia (Rosendo Salvado) established the Aboriginal girls and boys schools and the second Abbot of New Norcia, Fulgentius Torres built and opened the European girls and boys schools, which closed in 1991.
Since the closing of the schools, New Norcia's school buildings have been utilised for camps and groups and this section contains all the information you need if your group is interested in staying in one of the colleges or undertaking one of the education programmes.
However, New Norcia also has a tradition of research and academia, with its impressive archival records and library collection, and scholars and researchers alike have delighted over the years in the information available in the town's records.
This section also provides information on the archives and library and provides link to forms which will give you access to the records of New Norcia.
Protecting a Unique Heritage
New Norcia is Australia’s only monastic town and has a unique heritage. Founded in 1847 by Spanish Benedictine Monks, the town has had many purposes; a mission, a monastery, a provider of education and now as a place of spiritual retreat.
Delve into the town's unique history, discover the ongoing and completed work necessary for the upkeep and restoration of this special part of Australia.
But it is not only the majestic buildings set amongst the Australian bush that sets New Norcia apart; its history is also encapsulated in the archival records of New Norcia and in the library and museum collections.
In this section we also have information about how you can donate to New Norcia to help the Community restore and maintain this treasure.
What's Happening at New Norcia
We hold a diverse array of events throughout the year at New Norcia.
Each year we host a full programme of events including a spiritual retreat programme presented by the Institute for Benedictine Studies, an Archives Library and Collections Study Day in October, and a few other surprises!
Watch this space for all the updated information about "What's on at New Norcia".