EVENT

Join us for Mary Ward Week here at Bar Convent.  This is an annual global event that celebrates the life and achievements of Mary Ward between the anniversary of her birth and death (Jan 23 1585- Jan 30 1645).  Against the odds Mary Ward never gave up on her life’s mission to achieve education for girls and thanks to her the first school for girls opened in this country.  The legacy of Mary Ward has certainly lived on through these walls at the Bar Convent. Alongside the highly renowned school, this building has been a beacon of hope, hospitality and refuge for the local, national and international community since the doors first opened in 1686.

Yorkshire Woman Mary Ward’s achievements at a time of enormous conflict for Catholics, led to the founding of the Congregation of Jesus and the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There is now a network of around 200 Mary Ward schools worldwide.  She was declared venerable by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009. This year, we are raising the profile of the campaign to have Mary Ward declared a Saint.

Mary Ward Week celebrations will include:

Family trail, new display in the pop-up exhibition area

• A talk by Dr. Hannah Thomas on Tuesday 23rd Jan, 12:30pm-1:30pm
• The annual Mary Ward Ecumenical Service on Sunday 28 Jan at St Thomas’ Church in Osbaldwick where Mary Ward is buried (all are welcome)
• A new Mary Ward booklet and new items available in the gift shop.

Mary Ward in 1617 wrote that “There is no such difference between men and women that women may not do great things – and I hope in God it will be seen that women in time to come will do much”

As Mary Ward Week also falls on Residents weekend, we are offering a special entry price of 50p to residents. This is for Saturday only. Last admission 4pm.

Illustration by Ellie Lewis