Monastery of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart,
St. Bernard's Convent, Slough

St. Bernard's Senior School

The Monastery of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (St. Bernard's Convent), which is situated on the West side of Slough, was founded in 1897. Set in extensive grounds with fields, a vegetable garden, orchard and cemetery, the monastery provides an oasis of peace and prayer for those who visit. The two schools on the site are fortunate to share this very pleasant environment. The Monastery is home to a community of 17 nuns who belong to an Order called the Bernardine Cistercians.

The Bernardine Cistercians are part of the larger Cistercian family. They live according to the Rule of St. Benedict, seeking God as a community in a spirit of prayer, simplicity, service and silence. Work in education and hospitality has always been an integral part of their life. There are about 140 sisters world-wide, living in 7 communities.

Daily Life in the Community
The Sisters' daily life is balanced between prayer, work, rest and time spent together as a community.

Prayer Each day, the Sisters meet together in the Chapel to praise God in prayer (the Divine Office) and for Mass. Each Sister also spends time in personal prayer and reflective reading of scripture. The Sisters keep the needs of the world in their prayer, remembering especially those known to them and those living round about them. Anyone is welcome to join in the services. (Please phone to find out times).

Sisters The sisters are of all ages and backgrounds. They live a simple life together as community, keeping nothing for themselves, sharing what they have and supporting each other in good times and bad.

Work:
Education
Beginning with a school for 12 French students in 1897, the educational work of the Bernardines at Slough has evolved enormously, and there are now an independent mixed primary school for about 200 pupils, and a large mixed Voluntary Aided Grammar School for about 900 students aged 11 -18. Both schools aim to provide a strong Christian caring environment in which our young people can grow up in an atmosphere of trust love and respect. The development of the whole person is of the utmost importance. Several sisters work in a variety of capacities in the two schools.

Junior School


Hospitality:
A large house - Stella Maris - in the monastery grounds has recently been established as a small pastoral centre, and is available for prayer groups, bible study, training days, retreats, school away days etc. The Sisters wish to welcome the guest as though it was Christ himself. Anyone wishing to use these facilities with a School (or other) group, should contact the Guest Mistress. For further information, please contact:

St. Bernard's Convent
1, Langley Road
Slough SL3 7AF
Tel 01753 523612