Daylesford Abbey is located approximately 20 miles west of Philadelphia located in Paoli, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. It is a Roman Catholic community of men of the Norbertine Order, also known as Canons Regular of Premontre. The Norbertines of Daylesford Abbey live a semi-monastic life, coupled with active ministry in a variety of apostolates. A singular aspect of Norbertine community life is the commitment to the liturgy and common prayer, and specifically the chanting of the Divine Office, or Liturgy of the Hours. “Communio”, or “Communion in Christ”, would be the charism that these canons aspire to live out. They follow the Rule of St. Augustine which calls them to be of “one heart and mind on the way of God.”
History
The Norbertines, also known officially as Canons Regular of Prémontré, are a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Norbert in the northern French village of Prémontré in 1121. Vowing themselves to a life of ongoing conversion, Norbert and his followers made a further commitment to work for that same kind of renewal in the larger Christian community. Soon Norbertine houses spread throughout medieval Europe. Shortly after Norbert’s death in 1134, the Abbey of Berne was founded in the Netherlands. For centuries to come, that Abbey would minister in nearby parishes and eventually send forth missionaries to spread the Gospel and share Norbert’s vision of the importance of continuing renewal.
In 1893, Father Bernard Pennings and two other Norbertines from Berne Abbey came to the United States to minister to Belgian immigrants in Northern Wisconsin. Blessed with American vocations, DePere became the site of the St. Norbert Abbey, the first Norbertine Abbey in the new world. In 1925, Bernard Pennings became the first abbot.
The Delaware Valley
In 1932, Abbot Pennings sent a handful of Norbertines to open Archmere Academy, a college preparatory school for boys in Claymont, Delaware. Two years later, in 1934, the Norbertines were asked to open an archdiocesan high school for boys in South Philadelphia. Originally called Southeast Catholic, the name was later changed to Saint John Neumann High School.Responding to the vocations coming especially from these two schools, the community started a novitiate-seminary in 1954 at the Cassatt Estate at Daylesford in Chester County, PA. In 1956, the community was further invited to open and staff the newly founded Saint Norbert Parish in Paoli, PA. In 1963, the Norbertine Community moved from the Cassatt Estate to Pinebrook, its present site, an 88 acre farm in Paoli. The Abbey Church and Residence buildings were completed in 1966. The church was blessed on August 15, 1967 and dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption.
Leadership
Daylesford Abbey is currently headed by Abbot Domenic Rossi, O.Praem. Abbot Domenic is the 5th Abbot of Daylesford Abbey. Abbot Domenic hails from South Philadelphia. He was educated by the Norbertine’s at Bishop Neumann High School Abbot Domenic joined the community in 1966 and was ordained in 1974 He was elected to the position of Abbot in January of 2018.
Abbot Domenic's Crest
An Abbatial Coat of Arms identifies the Abbey in which an Abbot belongs, as well as something of his personal background. The Miter and Crozier at the top of the shield identifies his status as an abbot. The sudarium, or flowing scarf on the crozier distinguishes an abbatial coat of arms from that of a bishop. The triangle of three fleurs de lis, on a background of blue, represents the Daylesford Abbey Coat of Arms - indicating the Order's origins in France and Mary as its patroness. The circle in the center of the shield shows Christ hidden in the disguise of a homeless man sitting on a city grate. This reflects Abbot Domenic’s recognition of and call to serve the Lord among the marginalized and abandoned poor. The Easter Candle, in the lower-left quadrant, recalls that Jesus Christ is the Light for a world in darkness, hence the motto, Christ Our Light. It also reaffirms the faith of the entire Christian community in its Savior who defied death and gives us all hope that with Him, we too will rise again. The Dove with the olive branch, in the upper right quadrants, reminds us of the Order’s founder, Saint Norbert, and recommits us to his ministry of peace and reconciliation. The red background in the last two quadrants hints at the meaning of the Rossi surname.
Coat of Arms of Daylesford Abbey
Ministries
The Norbertines at Daylesford Abbey are active in many ministries throughout the Delaware Valley. Norbertines serve at St. Norbert Parish, in Paoli, PA and at St. Gabriel Parish in South Philadelphia. Abbot Domenic Rossi, O. Praem., founded Bethesda Project, a ministry to the homeless of Philadelphia. The Norbertine community at Daylesford Abbey continues to be actively engaged in this ministry today. Norbertines from Daylesford Abbey work in education as well, serving at Archmere Academy.
Spirituality and Retreat Center
The Spirituality Center at Daylesford Abbey offers a variety of faith-nurturing experiences and programs, such as private and group retreats, seminars and other in-person and online programs,in an environment of hospitality and inclusivity — in the spirit and charism of the Order’s founder, St. Norbert, known as a minister of peace & reconciliation.
