OCSO newsletter n. 40: https://www.ocso.org/uploads/resources/formation/newsletter/Newsletter-40-EN.pdf Or: 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 6 August 2026, Father Ignasi Fossas, President of the Congregation of Subiaco-Montecassino, was appointed consultant to the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Official text: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2026/08/06/0624/01161.html#vita In addition, Father Giordano Rota, Abbot of Pontida, has been reappointed to his post for a further five years. https://www.benedettinisublacensicassinesi.org

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 11 July 2026, Sister Paz Vital made her perpetual monastic profession before the community, the oblates and friends of Saint Placid Priory (USA). The ceremony was streamed on Zoom for those who were unable to attend in person. A dinner and a celebration followed. https://fedstben.org/2026/07/16/perpetual-monastic-profession-at-saint-placid-priory/ https://stplacid.org/

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

On Sunday 19 July 2026, at the Sanctuary of the Sacro Speco in Subiaco (Italy), the Abbot President of the Congregation of Subiaco-Montecassino, Father Ignasi M. Fossas, presided over the Eucharistic celebration to mark the feast of Saint Benedict, abbot and patron saint of Europe. Following the celebration, a Eucharistic procession took place, culminating in the blessing of the town. https://www.benedettinisublacensicassinesi.org/news/a-subiaco-per-i-festeggiamenti-di-san-be

"Benedictine Education, a Foundation for Life" AIM-USA: aim-usa.org

From 6 to 13 July 2026, a group of Vietnamese monks and nuns from monasteries belonging to the Congregation of Subiaco-Montecassino undertook a pilgrimage to Rome and to the main Benedictine sites in Lazio. These monks and nuns, who are living in France whilst pursuing their studies, were welcomed by the Abbot President, Father Ignaci M. Fossas, at the Curia of Saint Ambrose. During this pilgrimage, they visited the Abbey of St Paul Outside the Walls, the Abbey of Subiaco and

On 11 July 2026, the Feast of Saint Benedict, Patron of Europe, the monastic community of Montecassino marked a significant transition in its spiritual preparation for the abbey’s 1,500th anniversary in 2029. To mark this occasion, Abbot Luca Antonio Fallica, OSB, has shared an address with the Benedictine Confederation. In his address, entitled By Your Light We See the Light, Abbot Luca reflects on the famous vision of Saint Benedict recorded by Saint Gregory the Great, in w

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 the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, a significant step forward was taken in building our global network for the Jubilee via a shared Zoom call. For the first time, Regional Promoters (monks and nuns leading the process) and Coordinators (monks, nuns, or laypeople in support roles) gathered to align on their shared mission: “To animate, connect and support regional contribution to the Benedictine Jubilee 2029, helping monasteries, congregations and Benedictine-inspired comm

On 11 July, the Abbot of Le Barroux established a new dependent priory at Bellefontaine Abbey. Bellefontaine was previously inhabited by a Trappist community that has now left the monastery and made it available to the Benedictines. In a message, Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder thanked the Trappists for their generosity and emphasised the clear witness of the monks of Le Barroux, who live out their attachment to the traditional liturgy in clear fidelity and obedience to the H

The lockdowns and most of the restrictions of the coronavirus pandemic were over, but Benedictine monasteries across the United States were left with a new problem. They could gather in groups inside their monasteries again, but travel and gathering in larger groups with sisters from other monasteries was still not safe, so they needed to hold hybrid meetings, where some participants were face-to-face and others joined by video conferencing. The pandemic made almost all of us