Silverstream Priory St Benedict’s Sons in Ireland

Regina Magazine ^ | May 8, 2014

[Diago]

Silverstream Priory

St Benedict’s Sons in Ireland

Dom Mark Daniel Kirby, 62, was born and raised in Connecticut. Today, he is the Prior of a newly-established Benedictine monastery in Stamullen, Ireland. The Monastery of Our Lady of the Cenacle has an amazing vocations problem: they have far too many young monks (plus interested young men) for their meager means. Here’s their story:

Q. Dom Kirby, tell us how  Silverstream Priory began. 
The seed of Silverstream Priory was planted in my heart in 2004-2005. 

Profoundly moved by Saint John Paul II’s apostolic letter, ‘Mane nobiscum Domine,’ I resolved to live the mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist and to preach that mystery every day during that year.

Q. Tell us how Our Lord called you to a this vocation within a vocation.

I understood then that Our Lord was calling me to a “vocation within a vocation”: Not only to the pursuit of the traditional Benedictine life, but also to adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament, in a spirit of reparation and intercession for the sanctification of priests.

An indult from the Holy See dispensed me from my obligations to the abbey of my profession, and freed me to renew my vows, under the Rule of St Benedict, into the hands of the Most Reverend Edward J. Slattery of Tulsa. 

Another series of providential circumstances led our embryonic community from Tulsa to County Meath in Ireland, where we found a property and buildings.

Q. How did you find your priory in County Meath?
We made a novena to St Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, and prayed to Blessed Columba Marmion.

Upon arriving at Silverstream, I discovered hanging above the sacristy vesting cabinet, a framed document in Latin attesting to the dedication of the little church and its altar to St Thérèse.

On October 19, 2011, I met with the Most Reverend Michael Smith, Bishop of Meath, and laid our project before him. He graciously welcomed us to the Diocese of Meath.

And so, with the fatherly blessing of Bishop Slattery, Dom Benedict Andersen and I set out for the Isle of Saints and Scholars to implant traditional Benedictine life at Silverstream, committed to the traditional forms of the sacred Liturgy, celebrated in Latin with Gregorian chant.

See Rest of article here: http://reginamag.com/silverstream-priory/

[Diago]

Great effort. Really hope these monks can make this work. God bless them.

[Diago]

More of the interview and photos here:
http://reginamag.com/silverstream-priory

[Tax-chick]

Are they a foundation from the traditional Benedictine monastery at Clear Creek in Oklahoma? That would explain the connection with Bishop Slattery.

[Bigg Red]

Wow! Prayers for these monks.

[Jeff Chandler]

No, wait . . .

[Nordic Breed]

No, they were a special foundation by Bishop Slattery himself in Tulsa. Father Mark Kirby was selected from another abbey to establish the monastery of Our Lady of the Cenacle, a contemplative Benedictine house for the express purpose of Eucharistic Adoration and to pray for priests. They were in Tulsa for a few years until the bishop from Ireland asked Bishop Slattery to allow him to take them to Silverstream and Bishop Slattery said yes.

[Tax-chick]

Thanks for the information. We lived in Tulsa for four years, around the time Clear Creek was founded, and got to know Bishop Slattery pretty well. When I send donations to Clear Creek, I label them, “For Bishop Slattery’s room,” because I figure he plans to retire there.