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 A

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

Dom Niko Verkley, superior ad nutum of Southern Star Abbey, Kopua (diocese of Palmerston North, New Zealand) since 2016, offered his resignation to the Father Immediate, Dom Steele Hartman, abbot of Tarrawarra Abbey (Archdiocese of Melbourne, Australia). Dom Steele accepted the resignation which became effective in December 2025. Since then, the brothers of Kopua and the Father Immediate, aided by the Abbot General and his Council, have sought the most life-giving path for th

By decree of 5 June 2025, the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life ordered an Apostolic Visitation of the Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz and appointed Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder OSB and Sister Christine Rod MC as visitators. Following in-depth interviews with 90 monks and numerous external individuals, the visit concludes today. The Abbot President of the Austrian Cistercian Congregation, Abbot Pius Maurer OCist, read out today,

On April 12, 2026, Divine Mercy Sunday, Sister Martina Mansi made solemn profession at the monastery of Our Lady of St. Joseph in Vitorchano (Italy). Sister Martina was born in Andria (BA) in 1990; she entered Vitorchiano in 2017 and made first profession in 2021. ocso.org

On April 12, 2026, Divine Mercy Sunday, Brother Charles-Emmanuel Bourgin made solemn profession at Tamié (France) . Brother Charles-Emmanuel was born in 1965 in Saint-Etienne (Loire), France; he entered Tamié in 2020 and made first profession in 2023. ocso.org

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

The Abbot General of the Cistercian Order presided over the celebration marking the 900th anniversary of the presence of the Cistercian Monastery of San Benito in Talavera de la Reina (Spain). Following the Eucharist, the Ars Antiqua Choir—composed of alumni of the Valle de los Caídos School of Chant—performed a concert of Gregorian chant. (March 21, 2026) ocist.org