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.
The only monastic town in W.A. is unique and contains many historically important buildings. It is located north-east of Perth on the Great Northern Highway.
New Norcia is the only monastic town in Australia. The abbey was founded by a Spanish Benedictine, Salvado, in 1846, New Norcia Mission was the name for the St Mary's Mission girls school and the St Josephs native school and orphanage. The Benedictine community, is where the monks live, work and pray. There are 11 monks living in the monastery now. They live according to the guidance and the Rule of St Benedict, which has been followed by monks since the sixth century AD. Monks who do so are referred to as ‘Benedictines’. Unlike many priests and nuns, monks do not join an ‘order’ as such, but instead join an autonomous monastery where they promise to remain for the rest of their lives.
New Norcia is a town in Western Australia, 132 km north of Perth, near the Great Northern Highway. It is situated next to the banks of the Moore River, in the Shire of Victoria Plains. New Norcia is the only monastic town in Australia, with its Benedictine abbey founded in 1848.
Good Samaritan Sisters have lived in the city of Bacolod on Negros Island in the Philippines for over 25 years. They work alongside and in support of families living in the squatter settlements of Boulevard and Mambuloc and those whose home is on the street.