NEWS
of the Benedictine Confederation
and the Cistercian Family

On January 25, 2026, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle, Sister Agata Sidoti made solemn profession at the monastery of Vitorchiano (Italy). Sister Agata was born in 1993 in Rome (Italy); she entered Vitorchiano in 2017 and made first profession in 2021. ocso.org

On January 26, 2026, the Solemnity of our Founders, Brother Moses Jeon and
 Brother Peter Stefanski made solemn profession at Tarrawarra Abbey (Australia). Brother Moses was born in 1968 in South Korea; he entered Tarrawarra in 2019 and made first profession in 2022. Brother Peter was born in 1972 in Poland; he entered Tarrawarra in 2020 and made first profession in 2022. ocso.org

On 25 January 2026, following the resignation of Father Jean-Pierre Flachaire, the community of Midelt (Archdiocese of Rabat, Morocco) elected Dom Mikaël Ziolo as prior for a six-year term. Dom Mikaël was born in 1961 in Tarnobrzeg (Poland). He entered the Tibhirine annex house in Fez (Morocco) in 1996, completed his monastic formation at Aiguebelle, the mothernouse, where he made his solemn profession in 2000. Then he returned to Midelt in 2022 where he transferred his stabi

ocso.org

On 15 January 2026, the community of Mepkin (Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina, USA) elected Dom Gerard Jonas Palmares as abbot for a six-year term. Dom Gerard was born in 1964 in Lipa City (Philippines). He was was ordained a priest in the Philippines in 1991 before entered Mepkin in 2010, where he made his solemn profession in 2017. ocso.org

January 15, 2026 Abbot General Mauro-Giuseppe celebrated his name day in Ethiopia during several days of fruitful meetings with all the Cistercian monastic communities in Addis Ababa, organized by Apostolic Commissioner Monsignor Angelo Pagano, OFMCap. Ocist.org

On January 10, 2026, Sister Gennifer Gadian made solemn profession at the monastery of Our Lady of Mt. Matutum (Philippines). Sister Gennifer was born in 1989 in Polomolok, South Cotabato (Philippines); she entered Matutum in 2016 and made first profession in 2020. ocso.org

On December 28, 2025, the Feast of the Holy Family, Dom Mauro Giuseppe Lepori erected the sui juris Priory of Our Lady of the Snows, in accordance with the Decree issued by the Holy See on October 3, 2025. The following day, during the Regular Visitation of the community, he presided over the election of the first prioress: Mother Anne Dugas , previously appointed prioress by the founding abbess of Boulaur Abbey. Mother Elisabeth Unal, OCSO, prioress of the Monastery of La P

On January 10, 2026, Sister Marie-Marthe Cogan made solemn profession at the monastery of N.-D. de La Coudre (France). Sister Marie-Marthe was born in 1976 in Angers (France); she entered Laval in 2018 and made first profession in 2020. ocso.org

aim-usa.org

With great joy, shortly before Christmas, we learned that the Italian abbess Noemi Scarpa OSB of the Abbey of Bastia Umbra was appointed on 15 December as Pontifical Commissioner for the monastery of Tor de’ Specchi. Tor de’ Specchi is the monastery of the *Oblates of Saint Frances of Rome*, a Benedictine foundation established by the saint in 1433. The previous pontifical commissioner had shown little understanding of Benedictine tradition and most recently, in September, ex

I am writing these lines on the feast of the Epiphany. The Holy Year ended today, and at the same time a gathering of cardinals is beginning here in Rome, at which Pope Leo will presumably discuss some guiding ideas of his pontificate. We are quite eager to see what emerges. The political events of recent days have once again made it clear that we are living at a turning point in history. What will the role of us Catholics be? Everywhere we are loyal citizens of our states, b