The New Norcia Institute for Benedictine Studies is delighted to invite you to the ‘Annual Institute Day’ for 2019. Our theme for this year is ‘Benedictine Spiritual and the Search for God ’.

 We are very happy to introduce two keynote speakers this year. One is Fr. Araliya Jayasundara, osb, a Benedictine monk of the Sylvestrine Congregation, from Sri Lanka. A notable scholar, formator and spiritual leader in the Benedictine world, he is currently Director of the Sylvestrine Benedictine Minor Seminary, Sri Lanka, as well as Vice-Rector of St. Anthony’s College, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

 Our keynote speaker is Dr. Anna M. Silvas, a world-class researcher in Greek, Latin and Syriac patristic. She is a leading authority on the Rule of St. Basil, which strongly influenced and informed the Rule of St. Benedict, and will share ways in which the ancient Church offers us useful insights into the spiritual issues of our own times.

In the afternoon, there will be an opportunity for discussion on the  themes and issues raised in the lectures. This will be followed by a talk and musical recital on the remarkable life and work of Padre Antonio Soler, a Spanish Benedictine monk of the 18^th Century, who was an outstanding harpsichord virtuoso in his time, and a highly innovative and original composer.

 A splendid lunch and morning and afternoon tea is included within the programme of the day, as well as a pass to our museum and art gallery.

The day commences with registration and morning tea at 10:00am, at St. Gertrude’s College, and will conclude at 3:15pm.