On 22 October 2026, during the canonical visit to Wąchock Abbey and on the occasion of the end of his second ten-year term as Abbot of Wąchock, Abbot Eugeniusz Augustyn tendered his resignation from the office of Abbot of Wąchock Abbey, which also resulted in the office of Abbot-President of the Polish Cistercian Congregation becoming vacant. The Abbot General and the Order extend their sincere thanks to Father Abbot Eugeniusz for his twenty years of service as Abbot of Wącho

Storm Austen, which struck on 23 and 24 October 2026, damaged part of the roof of the porch tower at the church of the Cistercian Abbey of Timadeuc (France). Work is currently underway to secure the area. The church remains open to anyone wishing to attend the community’s services. Signposting has been put in place. https://www.facebook.com/abbayetimadeuc/posts/pfbid02ckfe2WH7L6xne37g8Sh32HVPvyKom2Wvw7Q93WpQPCYkSCzZWFv7ohTuXK5r7vrdl?locale=fr_FR

The conventual chapter of Pannonhalma Archabbey has re-elected Archabbot Cirill Hortobágyi OSB for a further term as Archabbot. He also remains Abbot-President of the Hungarian Benedictine Congregation. Photo courtesy of Pannonhalma Archabbey. At its meeting on 19 October 2026, the conventual chapter of Pannonhalma Archabbey confirmed Archabbot Cirill Hortobágyi OSB in the abbatial office following the conclusion of his first nine-year term. The confirmation was conducted in

On October 10, 2026, Sister Maria Rafael Arnaiz Jin young Lee made her Solemn Profession at the Monastery of Our Lady of Sujong (Republic of Korea). Sister Maria Rafael Arnaiz was born in Seoul (Republic of Korea) in 1979; she entered Sujong in 2017 and made her first profession in 2021. ocso.org

Dom Manu van Hecke, abbot of the monastery of Sint Sixtus (diocese of Brugge, Belgium) since 1996, offered his 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 September 11th, 2026 On October 8th, 2026, the community of St Sixtus elected Dom Guido van Belle as abbot for an indefinite term. Dom Guido was born in 1959 in Ninove (Belgium). He enter

On 26 and 27 September 2026, Schlierbach Abbey in Austria celebrated the 300th anniversary of the consecration of its abbey church. Let us pray for this community and ask God to shower it with His blessings! ocist.org https://www.stift-schlierbach.at/

Mother Maria Francesca Righi, abbess of the monastery of Nostra Signora di Valserena (diocese of Voltera, Italy) since 2019, 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 September 12th, 2026. On 29th September 2026, the community of Valserena elected Sr. Valeria Carolo as abbess for a six-year term. Mother Valeria was born in 198

At the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Fidélité in Jouques (France), Mother Abbess Marie-Monique Guttin has stepped down from her post having reached the age limit of 75. On 15 September 2026, the conventual chapter elected Mother Marie-Noël Pelletier as the community’s new abbess. She will receive the abbatial blessing from Monsignor Christian Delarbre, Archbishop of Aix-en-Provence and Arles, on Thursday 22 October 2026 at 10.00 am, on the feast day of Saint John Paul II. https://ww

On September 8, 2026, Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Sister Annina Satta made solemn profession at the monastery of Our Lady of Valserena (Italy). Sister Annina was born in Cecina (Italy) in 1981; she entered Valserena in 2018 and made first profession in 2021. ocso.org

The General Chapter of September 2025 recommended (Vote 92) that the community of Victoria (diocese of Masaka, Uganda) consider the possibility of affiliation to Tilburg. The possibility was studied in Victoria and in Tilburg, and both communities rejected the idea. After a further special Visitation by two superiors of the Order, and in the light of the ongoing situation in the community, Dom Isaac Majoor, abbot of Tilburg and Father Immediate of Victoria, asked the Abbot Ge

Maredsous Abbey, a Benedictine abbey located in Denée, in the municipality of Anhée in the Province of Namur, is one of Belgium's leading spiritual and tourist destinations. The site employs more than 200 people during the high season and is also home to a school and a visitor centre. The Maredsous Sound Festival is organised by the monastic community in partnership with the Diocese of Namur. For its very first edition, held on 28 and 29 August 2026, the Maredsous Sound Festi

On 30 August 2026, the Solemnity of the Dedication of our Church, Brother Alex Hooft made solemn profession at St. Sixtus Abbey (Belgium). Brother Alex was born in Dendermonde (Belgium) in 1971. He entered St. Sixtus Abbey in 2020 and made first profession in 2023. ocso.org

Dom Guillaume Jedrzejczak has been monastic commissary of the community of Latroun (Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Israel) since August 2022. The General Chapter of 2025 heard his report about the evolution of the community during that time, and the steps which remain to be taken so that the community can return to the exercise of its autonomy. A recent regular visitation confirmed both the good evolution of the community and the further steps which must be taken, and suggested t

On 15 August, 2026, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Brother Pacôme Assocle made solemn profession at Our Lady of Kokoubou Abbey (Benin). Brother Pacôme was born in Porto Novo (Benin) in 1988. He entered Kokoubou in 2019 and made first profession in 2022. ocso.org

On 15 August, 2026 the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sister Delis Yohana Dávila Bastidas made solemn profession at Our Lady of Coromoto Abbey (Humocaro - Venezuela). Sister Yohana was born in Mérida-Venezuela in 1993. She entered Humocaro in 2018 and made first profession in 2021. ocso.org

On 15 August, 2026 the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Brother Philippe Menetrier made solemn profession at Our Lady of Tamié Abbey (France). Brother Philippe was born in Dole dans le Jura (France) in 1963. He entered Tamié in 2021 and made first profession in 2023. ocso.org

On August 6, 2026, The Feast of Transfiguration, Sister Aurore Huo Hong Xia made solemn profession at the Abbey of Our Lady of Good Hope, Échourgnac (France). Sister Aurore was born in Beijing (China) in 1972. She previously belonged to the Contemplative Sisters of St. John, where she had already made perpetual profession in 2001. She began her transitus at Échourgnac in 2022. ocso.org https://www.abbaye-echourgnac.org/

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