On 29 July 2026, bells rang out across the campus of Saint Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama, to announce the election of the Right Reverend Brendan J. Seipel, OSB, as the eleventh abbot in the community’s 135-year history. The election chapter was presided over by the Right Reverend Jonathan R. Licari, OSB, Abbot President of the American-Cassinese Congregation. The proceedings commenced on 15 June with a Mass of the Holy Spirit and were temporarily recessed for canonical re

Mother Marie-Christine Villmain, Abbess of N.D. du Rivet, who currently exercises the responsibility of Father Immediate for the community of N. D. de Bon Secours, Blauvac (archdiocese of Avignon, France) requested that a monastic commissary be appointed for the community of Blauvac. The Abbot General thoroughly investigated the matter and, on 28 July 2026, with the consent of his Council and acting in the name of the General Chapter, suspended the exercise of autonomy of the

The community of Trappist monks at Mont-des-Cats (France) is celebrating the 200th anniversary of its foundation this year (1826–2026). Saturday 20 June was a day of celebration with families and loved ones: a Mass presided over by the Abbot; a festive meal in the refectory; and a talk by Mr Jean-Pascal Vanhove on ‘The History of the Abbey’. On 11 July, a celebration was held with monks and nuns and the Abbot General of the Order, Dom Bernardus Peeters. montdescats.fr ocso.or

On 23 July 2026, Dom Vincent Rogers completed his six-year mandate as abbot of St Joseph’s Abbey, Spencer (diocese of Worcester, USA). On the same date the community elected Fr. Timothy Scott as abbot of Spencer for a six-year term. Dom Timothy was born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA in 1960. He entered Spencer in 1988 and made his solemn profession in 1994. At the time of his election he was novice master in the community. ocso.org

Mother Rosaria Spreafico, abbess of the monastery of Nostra Signora di San Giuseppe, Vitorchiano (diocese of Viterbo, Italy) since 1988, offered her resignation to the Abbot General in the light of ST 40.A of our Constitutions. With the consent of his Council, the Abbot General accepted the resignation, which became effective on July 3rd, 2026 On 22nd July 2026, the community of Vitorchiano elected Sr. Maria Giovanna Locatelli as abbess for a six-year term. Mother Maria Giova

This morning at 11:00 a.m., Pope Leo XIV arrived at the Abbey . It was a private visit, requiring the utmost confidentiality. From the early hours of the morning, the arrival of an illustrious figure was evident. A Head of State was suspected, a presence to which the Monastery of San Benedetto has always been accustomed. The emotion was intense when, from the dark car that had driven up to the entrance door, the white robe, symbolizing the leader of the Catholic Church, desce

Press Release Conception Abbey Communications Department On Saturday, 11 July 2026, the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey, in Conception, Missouri, elected Fr Paul Sheller OSB, as their new abbot. He becomes the 11th abbot in Conception Abbey’s 153-year history, succeeding Abbot Benedict Neenan OSB, who has retired after 10 years of abbatial service. The election of Abbot Paul took place within a private meeting of the monks of Conception Abbey on Saturday, 11 July. Befor

On July 11, 2026, at the end of his third term as Abbot, Dom Elias Dietz was re-elected Abbot of Gethsemani (USA) for a new six-year term. ocso.org

On July 11, 2026, The Solemnity of Saint Benedict, Sister Beatrice Brady made solemn profession at St Mary’s Abbey of Glencairn (Ireland). Sister Beatrice was born in Cavan (Ireland) in 1995. She entered Glencairn in 2018 and made first profession in 2021. ocso.org

On Saturday 11 July 2026, on the Solemnity of Saint Benedict, monks from Le Barroux will take up residence at Bellefontaine Abbey. • 10.00 am: Solemn Mass celebrated by Dom Louis-Marie de Geyer d’Orth, Abbot of Le Barroux, in the presence of Bishop Emmanuel Delmas of Angers; • around 12.30 pm: buffet open to all; • from 2.30 pm to 4.00 pm: open house for a tour of the cloister; • 4.30 pm: Vespers and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The Trappist monks, who have been here

On June 24, 2026, The Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, Sister Marie-Théophane Van Hattum made solemn profession at the Abbey of Our Lady of Good Help, Blauvac (France). Sister Marie-Théophane was born in Leiden (The Netherlands) in 1970. She entered the monastery in Arnhem in 2016, made her first profession in 2019, and transferred her stability to Blauvac in 2022. ocso.org https://abbaye-blauvac.com/

On June 7, 2026, we celebrated with joy and great thanksgiving the opening of the jubilee year of our monastery. In this jubilee, we mark 75 years since the transfer of the Abbey of Hardehausen to Brazil, in Itatinga — a milestone completed on May 28 — as well as the 100th anniversary of the restoration of the Abbey of Hardehausen, which we will complete on the same date next year. Representatives from several houses were present: the Abbey of Itaporanga, Itararé, Campo Grand

On June 13, 2026, Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Sister Marie Madeleine Beverly made solemn profession at the Mississippi Abbey (USA). Sister Madeleine was born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA in 1989; she entered Mississippi in 2018 and made first profession in 2021. ocso.org

On Wednesday 10 June 2026, the Benedictine Abbey of Montserrat welcomed Pope Leo XIV, 44 years after the visit of Pope Saint John Paul II. Nearly 8,000 people were present and took part in the recitation of the Rosary, focusing on the Glorious Mysteries, traditionally meditated upon on Wednesdays. Pope Leo XIV was welcomed by 1,200 children from various Christian schools in Catalonia, to the sound of the monastery’s ceaseless bells. After speaking with the children, the Pope

After more than thirty-one years of devoted service in the abbatial office, Dom Isidoro Anguita Fontecha presented his resignation to the Abbot General. With the consent of his Council, the Abbot General accepted the resignation, which took effect on 21 March 2026. On 20 May 2026, the community of Santa María de Huerta (Diocese of Osma-Soria, Spain) elected Fr. Francisco Rivera Jiménez as abbot for a term of six years. Dom Francisco was born in Granada, Spain, in 1979. He ent

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

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

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