NEWS
of the Benedictine Confederation
and the Cistercian Family

On 25 March 2026, during a solemn Mass celebrated by the diocesan bishop, Mgr. Nuno Almeida, and in the presence of Dom Loris Tomassini, Abbot of Frattocchie, Father Immediate, and of Mother Rosaria Spreafico, abbess of Vitorchiano, the founding monastery, the foundation of Santa Maria Mãe da Igreja, Palaçoulo (Portugal) was officially elevated to the rank of simple priory, according to the decision of the General Chapter 2025. On 26 March 2026, Mother Giuseppina Maffini was

On March 25, 2026, The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, Sister Maria Annunciata Miyoko Nomura made solemn profession at the monastery of Our Lady of Imari (Japan) Sister Annunciata was born in 1983 in Kobe (Japan); she entered Imari in 2015 and made first profession in 2020. ocso.org

Mother Ana Carmen Moneo Castel-Ruíz, titular prioress of Armenteira (archdiocese of Santiago di Compostella, Spain), offered her resignation to the Abbot General. The Abbot General, with the consent of his Council, accepted the resignation, which became effective on 19 February 2026. On 16 March 2026, the community elected Sr. Paula Maria Télles Gonzalés as titular prioress for a six-year term. Mother Paula Maria was born in 1967 in Pontevedra (Spain). She entered the monast

In February 2026 the Abbot General, assisted by M. Fiachra Nutty (abbess of Glencairn), carried out the special visitation at Bethlehem Abbey (Northern Ireland) requested by the General Chapter of September 2025 (vote 49). On 27 February 2026, the Abbot General, with the consent of his Council and in the name of the General Chapter, suspended the exercise of autonomy of the community of Bethlehem and appointed Fr. Joseph Tedesco of Mepkin Abbey as monastic commissary of the

This reading guide aims to assist readers of the circular letter of the Abbot General to the Order of 20 January 2026 by providing questions for reflection and dialogue. https://www.ocso.org/uploads/general-news/documents/Reading-Guide-Dilexit-te-EN.pdf ocso.org

We hereby offer you a short course on prayer. Through brief videos by Dom Olivier Quenardel, former abbot of Citeaux, the program presents questions for personal and/or group reflection. Our thanks to Dom Olivier and the KTOTV team. https://www.ocso.org/uploads/general-news/documents/prayer-is-the-joy-of-life-en.pdf OCSO Formation Commission ocso.org

On March 1, 2026, Brother Toussaints Mwenyezi made solemn profession at Mokoto Abbey (Dem. Rep. of the Congo). Brother Toussaints was born in 1991 in Matanda, DRC; he entered Mokoto in 2020 and made first profession in 2023. ocso.org

The community of Brialmont (Belgium) has been aware for some time of its situation of fragility. The superior, M. Marie-Pascale Dran, and the sisters, with the help of the Father Immediate (Dom Xavier Frisque13, superior ad nutum of Orval) and the Commission for the future, after serious consideration, have judged that it is not possible for the community to recover from this situation, and that it must be closed. The Abbot General and his Council have followed the situation

Diocese press release (17 February 2026) Since 1969, at the Merci-Dieu monastery in Saint-Jean-d'Assé, near Le Mans (France), sisters have been living a life of prayer, hospitality and craftsmanship, weaving and making liturgical vestments (chasubles, stoles, albs, etc.). Their life is governed by the Rule of Saint Benedict. The nuns have realised that the buildings are now unsuitable due to their age and condition. Therefore, after a year of communal discernment, in consulta

On February 11, 2026, Dom Malachias Huijink, abbot of Echt and Father Immediate ad interim of Nunraw, (Scotland) appointed Fr. Benedict Okakpu , monk of Nsugbe, as superior ad nutum of Nunraw. Dom Benedict was born in Abatete, Nigeria in 1966. He was a diocesan priest in Onitsha, Nigeria before entered the community of Nsugbe in 2006, where he made his solemn profession in 2012. This appointment brings to an end the service of Dom Mark Caira, abbot of Nunraw from 2009 and su

On February 13, 2026, Sister Maria Caritas Pham Thi Sen made solemn profession at the monastery of Our Lady of Imari (Japan). Sister Caritas was born in 1992 in Vinh (Vietnam); she entered Imari in 2014 and made first profession in 2019. ocso.org https://www.imari-trappistines.org/

On 26 January, 2026, during a solemn Mass celebrated by the diocesan bishop Most Reverend Stephen Lee, and in the presence of Dom Paul Kao, Abbot of our Lady of Joy, Lantao, Father Immediate, and of Mother Cornelia Ellis Lisnawaty, abbess of Gedono, the founding monastery, the foundation of Our Lady, Star of Hope, Macau was officially elevated to the rank of simple priory , according to the decision of the General Chapter 2025. On 27 January, 2026, Mother Caterina Mazzarelli

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

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 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

On December 28, 2025, Feast of the Holy Family, Brother Godric Hathorn made solemn profession at the monastery of Gethsemani (United States). Brother Godric was born in 1975 in Gulfport, Mississippi (United States). He entered Gethsemani in 2019 and made his first profession in 2021. ocso.org https://monks.org/