On 28 October 2026, the community of Boschi (diocese of Mondovi, Italy) elected Father Giovanni Gazzera as Titular Prior of the Community for a six year term. Dom Giovanni was born in 1969 in Benevagienna (Italy). He entered Boschi in 1994, made his solemn vows in 2000 and was ordained priest in 2012. At the time of his election, he was Superior ad nutum of the community. ocso.org

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 6 October 2026, the Abbot President of the Subiaco-Cassinese Congregation, Father Ignasi M. Fossas, presided over the election of the conventual prior of Thien Binh Monastery (Vietnam). Father André Kim was elected prior of the community; he currently also holds the office of visiting abbot of the Vietnamese province. https://www.benedettinisublacensicassinesi.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

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 12, 2026, under the presidency of the Abbot General, Mother Pilar Avellaneda Ruiz, a nun of the Abbey of La Encarnación in Córdoba and Promotrix of the General Chapter of the Cistercian Congregation of St. Bernard (CCSB), was elected Abbess President of the Congregation. She succeeds Mother Angelines de Frutos Benito as Abbess President. She has served as Abbess President since 2013. The Brothers and Sisters of the Order wish God’s blessing upon the new Abbess Pr

During the Chapter of the Cistercian Congregation of Casamari (July 17, 2026), Dom Loreto M. Camilli was reconfirmed as Abbot President of the Congregation. Let us pray that God blesses his ministry for the good of the entire Congregation. ocist.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

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

General Chapter of Monastic Congregation of Saint Scholastica: June 25 - July 1, 2026, at Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center, Marriottsville, MD (USA). The Monastic Congregation of St Scholastica is happy to announce the election of Sr Kimberly Porter as Congregation President. Sr Kimberly is a member of St Walburga Monastery in Covington, Kentucky. The Congregation Council was also elected. They are Sr Andrea Westkamp (Bistow, Virginia), Sr Charlotte Zalot (Erie, Penns

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

In accordance with the decision of the Chapter of the Pannonhalma Archabbey, the General Chapter of the Hungarian Benedictine Congregation elevated the Monastery of St. Maurice in Bakonybél to the status of a conventual priory on 29 May 2026. With this decision, the Benedictine monastery in Bakonybél has become an independent member of the Hungarian Benedictine Congregation. On 1 June 2026, the Convent of St. Maurice Monastery elected Father Dr. Izsák Zsolt Baán as its first

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

Following the Discernment Process facilitated by Sister Aileen Bankemper, OSB, and the election on April 18 facilitated by Sister Lynn McKenzie, OSB, President of the Monastic Congregation of St. Scholastica, the Benedictine Sisters are happy to announce that Sister Shelly (Michele) Farabaugh is the Prioress Elect. Installation will occur in June. www.osbpgh.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

Mother Ana Carmen Moneo Castel-Ruíz, titular prioress of Armenteira (archdiocese of Santiago di Compostella, Spain), offered her resignation to the Abbot General. The Abbot General, with the consent of his Council, accepted the resignation, which became effective on 19 February 2026. On 16 March 2026, the community elected Sr. Paula Maria Télles Gonzalés as titular prioress for a six-year term. Mother Paula Maria was born in 1967 in Pontevedra (Spain). She entered the monaste

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 Havana