Abbot Presidents Meet at Montserrat

The Synod of Abbot Presidents met in Montserrat, 15–19 September, uniting Benedictine leaders in prayer, fraternity and dialogue. Highlights included collaboration with the CIB and preparations for the Benedictine Jubilee of 2029.

The Synod of the Abbot Presidents convened at Montserrat, 15-19 September, gathering the leaders of the Benedictine Confederation for days of deliberation, fraternity and shared prayer. Two new members were present: Abbot Javier Aparicio of the Ottilien Congregation and Abbot Jayawardena Shamindra of the Silvestrine Congregation. Their presence brought fresh voices and perspectives into the conversations. Reports from the Abbot Primate and the individual congregations gave a clear picture of the diversity of situations faced by Benedictine monasteries across the world, ranging from flourishing communities to those facing serious challenges.

A highlight of the Synod was the shared day with the Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum (CIB), the global organisation of Benedictine nuns and sisters. The atmosphere was great, and many topics of mutual concern were discussed. Sister Lynn McKenzie offered an overview of the CIB’s latest developments, which include new initiatives for formation and the institutional development of the CIB into a stronger organisation.

The shared day also featured a presentation on preparations for the Benedictine Jubilee of 2029, marking 15 centuries since Saint Benedict established Montecassino. It was given by Adam Simon, the global jubilee coordinator. His talk captured the imagination of those present, outlining both the vision and the practical steps needed to prepare an international celebration of Benedictine life and witness. Following the presentation, participants divided into discussion groups, where they explored ideas for how the Jubilee might be lived out locally and globally. These conversations were paired with a second theme: the reality of fragile communities. The assembled leaders reflected together on pastoral, canonical and practical ways to accompany monasteries that are struggling, seeking strategies that combine solidarity with realism.

The Synod also included an outing beyond Montserrat, when the participants traveled together to Barcelona. The day allowed them to visit the Hospital Sant Pau, a modernist masterpiece by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, and to experience the grandeur and spiritual depth of the Sagrada Família, Antoni Gaudí’s still-unfinished basilica. Sharing the day in the city deepened the bonds among the abbot presidents and reminded them of the ways in which Benedictine life is nourished by art, architecture and the wider cultural heritage of the places where monasteries are rooted.

By the end of the Synod, many participants felt reinvigorated with a renewed sense of unity, purpose and hope. The joint sessions with the CIB revealed how much strength can be drawn from collaboration between the two branches of the order. The Jubilee of 2029, though still on the horizon, already emerged as a galvanizing focus for the entire Benedictine family. The days in Montserrat left the Abbot Presidents more deeply connected in their shared mission of service to the monastic communities entrusted to their care.

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