NEWS
of the Benedictine Confederation
and the Cistercian Family

Father Martin Neyt, a monk at Clerlande Monastery (Congregation of the Annunciation, Belgium), passed away during the night of 25 November 2025. Monk since 1963, he was president of AIM from 1997 to 2013. Father Martin was appointed president of the AIM in 1997, at a time when the new Abbot Primate, Marcel Rooney, was restructuring the AIM to better adapt it to the international service that this organisation is called upon to provide. His secretary general was Father Jacques

On November 22, 2025, on the eve of Solemnity of Christ the King, Sister Helene Amblaye made solemn profession at the monastery of Mvanda (RD of Congo). Sister Helene was born in 1980 in Bokoro (RD of Congo). She entered Mvanda in 2015 and made her first profession in 2018. ocso.org

Bulletin of Abbot Primate The biggest event – not just of the past month but really for a long time – was the visit of Pope Leo XIV here at Sant’Anselmo on 11 November. The occasion was the 125th anniversary of the dedication of our abbey church in 1900. At that time, Pope Leo XIII surely would have wanted to be there, but as the Roman question, i.e., the relationship between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy, had not yet been resolved, he couldn’t leave the Vatican. We t

On November 23, 2025, Solemnity of Christ the King, Sister Emily Mostajo made solemn profession at the monastery of Matutum (Philippines). Sister Emily was born in 1970 in Urdaneta, Pangasinan (Philippines). She entered Matutum in 2017 and made her first profession in 2020. ocso.org

Mother Paola Pavoletti, abbess of Humocaro (Archdiocese of Barquisimeto, Venezuela) since 2008, having reached the retirement age mentioned in ST 40.A of the Constitutions, presented her resignation to the Abbot General. The Abbot General, with the consent of his Council, accepted the resignation, which became effective on 1 November 2025. On 22 November 2025, the community elected Sister Sonia Timaure Rodríguez as abbess for a six-year term. Mother Sonia was born in 1964 i

An initiative inspired by a meeting between the Sisters of Matutum and M. Eleanor Campion during her 2024 visit: https://colloquium.trappistinesmatutum.org/ ocso.org

The members of the AIM met at Maredsous Abbey (Belgium) from 12 to 15 November 2025. Those present were: Dom Bernard Lorent Tayart, OSB, President of the AIM; Dom Charbel Pazat de Lys, OSB, Secretary General of the AIM; Dom Jeremias Schröder, OSB, Abbot Primate (via video link); Dom Mauro-Giuseppe Lepori, OCist, Abbot General of the Cistercian Order; Dom Bernardus Peeters, OCSO, Abbot General of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance; Dom Ignasi Fossas, OSB, Abbot

• On 19 November, Fr. Laurentius Eschlböck of Schottenstift in Vienna, of the Austrian Congregation, was reappointed as vice-rector of Sant’Anselmo Atheneum, a function he held already earlier. • On 4 November, the General Chapter of the Slav Congregation re-elected Abbot Jeronim Marin of Cocovac in Croatia as Abbot President, for another four-year term. The Chapter coincided with the 80th anniversary of the Congregation, established in 1945. • On 27 October, the Benedictine

November 12, 2025 The celebration of the dedication and consecration of our new church and altar on Sunday, Aug. 24th was a day of grace and blessing for all of us. We are deeply grateful to God and all to who joined us in the journey of bringing our new monastery to completion. Our desire in this journey and now and always is that in all things God may be glorified. ocist.org https://build.valleyofourlady.org/

On November 01, 2025, Solemnity of All Saints, Brother Ismael Lasanta Vanhoutteghem made solemn profession at the monastery of Cardeña (Spain). Brother Ismael was born in 1995 in Madrid (Spain). He entered Cardeña in 2020 and made his first profession in 2022. ocso.org https://www.cardena.org/

On 25 October 2025, Brother Gerardo María Krutský took his solemn vows at the monastery in Vyšší Brod (Czech Republic). The community currently consists of eleven brothers and two candidates for admission. In order for the Cistercians of Vyšší Brod to elect an abbot, the community must have thirteen members who have taken solemn vows. Within the entire Cistercian Order, Vyšší Brod has the community with the lowest average age. The traditional liturgy is celebrated there in L

On Monday 27 October 2025, for their jubilee pilgrimage, the Cistercian nuns of San Giacomo di Veglia visited the ancient Abbey of Santa Maria (Follina), built by Cistercian monks in the 13th century and located near the nuns' monastery. Founded by the Abbey of Chiaravalle (Milan), it remains one of the best preserved and restored Cistercian abbeys in Italy, a place where beauty and simplicity still speak today with the voice of the founders of Cîteaux. Here is the article th

On November 01, 2025, Solemnity of All Saints, Brother Donatus Chigozie Odo made solemn profession at the monastery of Illah (Nigeria). Brother Donatus was born in 1996 in Nsukka (Nigeria). He entered Illah in 2018 and made his first profession in 2021. ocso.org

The General Chapter of September 2025 asked for a special visitation at the community of Rochefort (vote 42). This visitation was carried out and, on the recommendation of the visitors, the Abbot General with the consent of his Council suspended the exercise of autonomy of the community of Rochefort and appointed Dom Xavier Frisque , superior ad nutum of Orval, as monastic commissary of Rochefort. This nomination became effective on 28 October, 2025. Dom Xavier was born in 1

New Bulletin of AIM, no. 129: Communities in Areas of Conflict. https://www.aimintl.org/en/communication/report/129 Contents   Editorial Dom Bernard Lorent Tayart, OSB, President of AIM   Meditations • Peace in the Rule of St Benedict The Editorial Team   • “Peace I leave you, my peace I give you.” (Jn 14, 27) Dom Maksymilian R. Nawara, OSB   • The mosaic in the apse of the basilica of St Clement in Rome Fr. Alex Echeandía, OSB   Opening on the world • Map showing conflicts i

On November 01, 2025, Solemnity of All Saints, S ister Marie Jitka Heřmana Gregorovičová made solemn profession at the monastery of Naši Paní (Czech Rep.). Sister Marie Heřmana was born in 1982 in Brno (Czech Rep.). She was a transitus, entered Naši Paní in 2019 and received her habit in 2020. ocso.org https://www.trapistky.cz/

October 27, 2025 During the Audience granted to His Eminence Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, the Supreme Pontiff authorized the same Dicastery to promulgate the Decrees regarding, among others, the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Maria Evangelista Quintero Malfaz (born Maria), a professed nun of the Cistercian Order, born on 6 January 1591 in Cigales (Spain) and died on 27 November 1648 in Casarrubios del Monte (Spain). ocis

Dom Joseph Wittstock (abbot of Berryville), who has been monastic commissary of New Melleray since December 2024, offered his resignation as monastic commissary of New Melleray. The Abbot General, with the consent of his Council, accepted the resignation, which became effective on 21st October 2025. On the same date, the Abbot General with the consent of his Council appointed Fr Jerome Machar , monk of Genesee, as monastic commissary of New Melleray. Dom Jerome was born in Cl

On November 01, 2025, Solemnity of All Saints, Father Basilio Masashi Goto made solemn profession at the monastery of Phare (Japan). Father Basilio was born in 1954 in Hokkaido (Japan). He was a diocesan priest, entered Phare in 2020 and made his first profession in 2022. ocso.org https://www.trappist.or.jp/home/index-English.html