NEWS
of the Benedictine Confederation
and the Cistercian Family

The monastic community of São Geraldo Abbey in São Paulo, Brazil, has elected Dom Geraldo González y Lima, OSB, as its fourth abbot. The election took place on 15 January 2026, coinciding with the liturgical memorial of Saints Maurus and Placid, the first disciples of Saint Benedict. Dom Geraldo succeeds to the abbatial chair of this community, a member of the Hungarian Congregation, after two decades of distinguished service to the wider confederation in Rome. Born in Hava

On 31 January 2026, under the chairmanship of the Abbot General and in the presence of the superiors of the Congregation of the Immaculate Conception, the community of Lérins (France) elected Dom Jean-Marie Gervais as its new abbot. Dom Gervais thus becomes president of the Congregation of the Immaculate Conception. Born in 1960, Father Jean-Marie entered the monastery of Lérins in 1981 and has held various positions of responsibility in the service of monastic life. In 1997

On 26 January, 2026, during a solemn Mass celebrated by the diocesan bishop Most Reverend Stephen Lee, and in the presence of Dom Paul Kao, Abbot of our Lady of Joy, Lantao, Father Immediate, and of Mother Cornelia Ellis Lisnawaty, abbess of Gedono, the founding monastery, the foundation of Our Lady, Star of Hope, Macau was officially elevated to the rank of simple priory , according to the decision of the General Chapter 2025. On 27 January, 2026, Mother Caterina Mazzarelli

On 25 January 2026, following the resignation of Father Jean-Pierre Flachaire, the community of Midelt (Archdiocese of Rabat, Morocco) elected Dom Mikaël Ziolo as prior for a six-year term. Dom Mikaël was born in 1961 in Tarnobrzeg (Poland). He entered the Tibhirine annex house in Fez (Morocco) in 1996, completed his monastic formation at Aiguebelle, the mothernouse, where he made his solemn profession in 2000. Then he returned to Midelt in 2022 where he transferred his stabi

On 15 January 2026, the community of Mepkin (Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina, USA) elected Dom Gerard Jonas Palmares as abbot for a six-year term. Dom Gerard was born in 1964 in Lipa City (Philippines). He was was ordained a priest in the Philippines in 1991 before entered Mepkin in 2010, where he made his solemn profession in 2017. ocso.org

On November 24th, 2025 during a solemn Mass, celebrated by the Most Reverend Bishop Lee, the diocesan bishop, and in the presence of Dom Francisco Yoshimoto Kunihiko, Abbot of Phare and Father Immediate, the simple priory of Sujong (Rep. of Korea) was officialy elevated as an abbey , according to the decision of the General Chapter 2025. Mother Emmanuel Hong was elected the first Abbess of the Community on 26th November 2025 for a term of six years. Mother Emmanuel was born

Mother Paola Pavoletti, abbess of Humocaro (Archdiocese of Barquisimeto, Venezuela) since 2008, having reached the retirement age mentioned in ST 40.A of the Constitutions, presented her resignation to the Abbot General. The Abbot General, with the consent of his Council, accepted the resignation, which became effective on 1 November 2025. On 22 November 2025, the community elected Sister Sonia Timaure Rodríguez as abbess for a six-year term. Mother Sonia was born in 1964 i

On 7 Oktober 2025,  Mother Pascale Fourmentin  completed her six-year term as Abbess of Arnhem (Diocese of Utraiectensis, in The Netherlands). On the same day, she was re-elected Abbess of the Community for an indefinite term. ocso.org https://abdijkoningsoord.org/

We are pleased to announce that today, September 17, 2025, the feast day of Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Father Ignatius FRITSCH OCist was elected the 53rd Abbot of Marienstatt (Germany). The Abbot's blessing will take place on Sunday, 26 October 2025, at 10:30 a.m. ocist.org https://www.abtei-marienstatt.de/

On 30 September 2025, Mother Katharina Michiels completed her six-year term as Abbess of Nazareth (Diocese of Antwerp, Belgium). On the same day, she was re-elected Abbess of the Community for a new six-year term. ocso.org

On the morning of September 18, 2025, the Dominus Tecum monastic community of Pra 'd Mill (Italy) reelected Brother Emanuele Marigliano as prior, confirming him for a further 10-year term. May the Lord accompany the community's journey and Brother Emanuele's service. ocist.org

On 11 September 2025 the community of Melk Abbey (Austria) elected Fr Ludwig Wenzl as their 68th abbot. The election was presided over by Abbot President Johannes Perkmann. Abbot Ludwig succeeds Abbot Georg Wilfinger, who has led the Abbey since 2001. Born Karl Wenzl in 1985 in Waidhofen an der Ybbs, the new abbot entered Melk in 2011 and made his solemn profession in 2014. He was ordained priest in 2021. Within the Abbey he has worked in education, culture and tourism, and

The Holy Father has officially confirmed the election by the monastic chapter of Einsiedeln Abbey of the Reverend Fr. Urban Federer , OSB, as ordinary Abbot of the Territorial Abbey of Maria Einsiedeln, Switzerland. The election took place on 30 August 2025, and Fr. Federer was chosen for a second term, also of 12 years. This marks a historic moment: for the first time in the Abbey’s history an incumbent abbot has been re-elected. Born 17 August 1968 in Zürich-Fluntern, in th

On August 17, 2025, Mother Maria Francesca Righi completed her term of six years as Abbess of Valserena (Diocese of Volterra, Italy). On the same day, Mother Maria Francesca was re-elected Abbess of the Community for a new six-year term. ocso.org https://www.valserena.it/

On 06 August 2025, the community of Guimaras (Diocese of Jaro, Philippines) elected Dom Kevin John Lipasan as abbot for a six-year term....

On 26 July 2025, the community of Miraflores (Diocese of Rancagua, Chile) elected Dom Lucas Marckmann Soto as Abbot of the Community for...

On 10 July 2025, at the end of her second abbatial term, Mother Hortense Mituga was re-elected Abbess of Clarté-Dieu (Archdiocese of...

On June 17, 2025, Dom Bento Gonçalves de Oliveira , OCist, Abbot of Nossa Senhora da Santa Cruz, in Itaporanga, was elected Abbot...

Mother Alberica Ueno Chiaki, abbess of Imari (Diocese of Fukuoka, Japan) since 2023, reached the age of retirement mentioned in ST 40.A...

The Benedictine monks of Mariastein Abbey have elected Father Ludwig Rudolf Ziegerer OSB as their new abbot. The election, held on 18...