NEWS
of the Benedictine Confederation
and the Cistercian Family

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

After more than two centuries of Cistercian presence, the community of monks at Port du Salut (diocese of Laval, Mayenne, France) has decided, after much prayer and discernment, to leave the abbey. Due to a lack of new vocations, the brothers felt that it was becoming difficult to maintain a sustainable monastic life at this site. On Sunday, 19 October 2025, the monks of the Abbey of Notre-Dame-du-Port-du-Salut handed over responsibility for their abbey to a team of volunteer