The Benedictine community of New Norcia is celebrating a significant milestone in 2026 as it opens its doors to welcome interested parties to its 30th anniversary New Norcia Studies Day.
To commemorate the historic occasion, the 2026 Studies Day will be held on a Friday (2 October) rather than the customary Saturday event.
The move to Friday will allow librarians, archivists, and other eligible attendees to claim a professional development day, particularly now that the traditional professional development Library Day is held on alternate years following the merger of the archives and library departments.
This year’s engaging program will include translator Judy McGuinness’ s review of the second published volume of the Santos Salvado letters (although the first, chronologically), Spain and Italy 1849-1868, together with an update on the last phase of the Santos letters.
Abbot John will provide an update on the restoration works at New Norcia, and Mexico-based Sarah Connor will provide an audio-visual presentation detailing her work on the joint New Norcia – Perth Catholic Archdiocese project, the Bishop Griver correspondence.
Additionally, two musically themed papers will be presented.
New Norcia’s new Music Collections curator and former Abbot Placid scholar and soprano, Allegra Giagu, will present her research into Bishop Salvado’s music, while current Abbot Placid scholar, Paul Watt, will present a paper on Gregorian Chant.
There may even be a live performance if a couple people can be convinced!
The papers will be delivered in the stunning chapel of St Gertrude’s College with lunch in St Ildephonsus’ dining room.
Morning and afternoon teas will be served in St Gertrude’s and entry to the museum and art gallery will be free to those displaying their name tags.
Geoff Moor will facilitate a demonstration of printing techniques in the Abbey Press and will print the Studies Day bookmarks ‘hot off the press’.
The general admission cost for the day is $100; $85 for seniors and students. Tickets can be purchased from New Norcia’s Web Shop Site.
Registration will commence at 9.00am in St Gertrude’s College foyer and the first paper will be presented at 10.15am following Abbot John’s welcome.
The New Norcia Studies Day was inaugurated in 1991.
