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

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