On April 19, 2026, Sister Barnabé Mukawizeyimana made solemn profession at the monastery of Kibungo (Rwanda). Sister Barnabé was born in Zaza, Kibungo (Rwanda) in 1982; she entered Kibungo in 2017 and made first profession in 2022. ocso.org

On April 27, 2026, Feast of St. Rafael Arnáiz Barón, Sister María José Castro Maradiaga made solemn profession at the monastery of Sora (Panama). Sister María José was born in Honduras in 1989; she entered Juigalpa, Nicaragua in 2018 and made first profession there in 2021. When the community had to leave the country, she chose to remain with it in its new home in Panama. ocso.org

Dear Sisters and Brothers, We warmly invite you to a study day organized by the OCist-OCSO Liturgical Commission. Topic: Liturgical inculturation: definitions, guiding principles, models and criteria Speaker: Abbot Olivier-Marie SARR OSB, Abbot of Keur Moussa Abbey in Senegal, Professor at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute of Sant’Anselmo in Rome. Time: 27 July 2026, 8.30 am–12.00 pm and 2.00 pm–5.30 pm (Rome time). Format: Online via ZOOM with simultaneous translation into

Rome, May 4-8, 2026 Topic for the Course: "Behold, I make all things new" (Rev 21 :5) - How can Christ renew all things, and how do we open ourselves to this renewal of our monastic life? Course Program: 11:00-11:15 Chapter of the Abbot General Mauro Giuseppe Lepori, OCist 11:20-12:00 and 12:10-12:45 Fr. Carlo Casalone, SJ, Professor of Moral Theology at the Gregorian University: Digital transition and spirituality 14:30-15:10 and 15:20-16:00 Dr. Nina Sofie Heereman, Profess

Following the Discernment Process facilitated by Sister Aileen Bankemper, OSB, and the election on April 18 facilitated by Sister Lynn McKenzie, OSB, President of the Monastic Congregation of St. Scholastica, the Benedictine Sisters are happy to announce that Sister Shelly (Michele) Farabaugh is the Prioress Elect. Installation will occur in June. www.osbpgh.org

On August 20, 2025, Solemnity of Saint Bernard, Sister Jitka Pacíková made solemn profession at the monastery of Naši Paní (Czech Rep.). Sister Jitka was born in 1988 in Znojmo (Czech Rep.). She entered Naši Paní in 2017 and made first profession in 2020. ocso.org

This year marked the 30th anniversary of the kidnapping of the seven monks of Tibhirine (March 26, 1996), in Algeria, whose murder was announced on May 21. They were beatified with the other martyrs of Algeria on December 8, 2018. Their Liturgical Feast (Memorial) is celebrated on May 8. Please find the Abbot General’s letter on their Liturgical Feast this year: https://www.ocso.org/uploads/general-news/documents/The-Abbot-General-Letter-on-Thibirine-Anniversary-EN.pdf ocso.o

Martyrdom in the Cistercian Tradition To mark the 30th anniversary of the martyrdom of the monks of Tibhirine, Cîteaux Mater Nostra – ARCCIS is organising a series of events on the theme of martyrdom in the Cistercian tradition. These will take place on 8, 9 and 10 May 2026 at Cîteaux Abbey. The event, which follows on from the ‘Cistercian Culture Days’ organised regularly by ARCCIS since 2005, is aimed at a wide audience. Anyone wishing to learn more about Cistercian life is

Following the departure of the Trappist monks in November 2025, the abbey is currently in a transitional phase and closed to the public whilst preparations are made for the arrival of the new community, which will comprise a dozen monks from the Benedictine Abbey of Le Barroux. The abbey will officially reopen its doors on 11 July 2026 at 10 am with a solemn Mass celebrated by Dom Louis-Marie de Geyer d'Orth, Abbot of Le Barroux, in the presence of Bishop Emmanuel Delmas of

Discernment in Monastic Life From Monday 4 May to Friday 5 June 2026, the latest edition of the online course in continuing monastic formation in Italian will take place, on the theme ‘Discernment in Monastic Life’, organised by the Faculty of Theology and the Monastic Institute of the Sant'Anselmo. Five new courses will be delivered, one per weekday, from 3.30 pm to 5.00 pm. https://www.anselmianum.com/it/news/1722-formazione-monastica-permanente-online