Nestled in Jamberoo and named after the same, Jamberoo Abbey is a Benedictine Abbey in Australia. The history of this abbey can be traced back to as early as the 1840s when it was located in Rydalmere. The abbey was relocated to its current location after 1957 and has been a place of worship since then. The interiors of this abbey are adorned with beautiful artefacts, the stained glass window and the altar being the highlights of them all. The abbey also features nine hermitages that can accommodate up to 32 guests who take interest in spiritual retreats
Our community was founded from England in 1849. Our two founding mothers – Dame Magdalen le Clerc and Mother Scholastica Gregory – left England in 1847 and arrived in Australia in 1848. The community was founded at Rydalmere New South Wales in 1849.
On top of a small mountain in the middle of lush rainforest, there's a simple brick building. Its floor is uneven slate, its walls are bare. A large window stretches across one side of it, looking out over the bush.
Just before 5am, the 24 people who live here begin to stir. There are whispers of scuffling feet, tinkling cutlery and other gentle sounds of busy-ness.
What isn't audible is the sound of anyone talking.
This is Jamberoo Abbey, a monastery that is home to a community of Benedictine nuns living largely in silence.
Seeing in a whole new way.
Enjoy the beauty of God's creation at Jamberoo Abbey accompanied by the music of St Hildegard of Bingen.
The Abbey puts the monastic life to the test in this special three-part Compass presentation, as we follow five ordinary Australian women who spend 33 days and nights living the life of an enclosed Benedictine nun. Never before has the outside world entered the cloisters of the Abbey, until they allowed the ABC unprecedented access within their monastery walls.
Compass puts the monastic life to the test in this extraordinary three part series - a first for Australian television. The Abbey, home to Australia's oldest enclosed order of nuns, agreed to let ABC TV invite five ordinary women to live in their cloister 24/7 for just over a month.
Episode Three and crunch time as our five women learn what it is the nuns want them to share. It's produces unexpected revelations. Even the unshakable Sister Hilda is shocked. As the women prepare to leave it's now clear each will be taking with them something they didn't expect to find at The Abbey.
Jamberoo a community of twenty two sisters living the full monastic life in the rainforests of southern New South Wales. We were brought to Australia by Bishop Bede Polding osb, Mother Magdalen Le Clerq of Stanbrook and Mother Scholastica Gregory of Princethorpe 1848. Since then we have relocated twice, the latest to Jamberoo has given us the opportunity to widen our ministry to include accommodation for retreat guests, spiritual direction and various teachings by the Sisters.