NEWS
of the Benedictine Confederation
and the Cistercian Family

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

The Abbot General of the Cistercian Order presided over the celebration marking the 900th anniversary of the presence of the Cistercian Monastery of San Benito in Talavera de la Reina (Spain). Following the Eucharist, the Ars Antiqua Choir—composed of alumni of the Valle de los Caídos School of Chant—performed a concert of Gregorian chant. (March 21, 2026) ocist.org

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 monast

In February 2026 the Abbot General, assisted by M. Fiachra Nutty (abbess of Glencairn), carried out the special visitation at Bethlehem Abbey (Northern Ireland) requested by the General Chapter of September 2025 (vote 49). On 27 February 2026, the Abbot General, with the consent of his Council and in the name of the General Chapter, suspended the exercise of autonomy of the community of Bethlehem and appointed Fr. Joseph Tedesco of Mepkin Abbey as monastic commissary of the

Abbot Javier Aparicio Suárez OSB Abbot President Congregation of Sankt Ottilien News of Cuba has been flooding the newspapers for weeks. Following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that “the next country to fall will be the Cuban regime”. There is no doubt that life for Cubans has become even more difficult since then, if that is possible... But if they fall, it will not be “from very high”, as the situation in recent

Diocese press release (17 February 2026) Since 1969, at the Merci-Dieu monastery in Saint-Jean-d'Assé, near Le Mans (France), sisters have been living a life of prayer, hospitality and craftsmanship, weaving and making liturgical vestments (chasubles, stoles, albs, etc.). Their life is governed by the Rule of Saint Benedict. The nuns have realised that the buildings are now unsuitable due to their age and condition. Therefore, after a year of communal discernment, in consulta

On Sunday, 15 February 2026, on the anniversary of the dedication of the church of the monastery of Our Lady of Koubri (Burkina Faso), Sister Nok-Wende Judith Maria Laetitia will make her solemn profession during the Eucharist presided over by Archbishop Prosper Kontiebo, Metropolitan Archbishop of Ouagadougou, at 9 a.m.

On January 26, 2026, the Solemnity of our Founders, Brother Moses Jeon and
 Brother Peter Stefanski made solemn profession at Tarrawarra Abbey (Australia). Brother Moses was born in 1968 in South Korea; he entered Tarrawarra in 2019 and made first profession in 2022. Brother Peter was born in 1972 in Poland; he entered Tarrawarra in 2020 and made first profession in 2022. ocso.org

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

January 15, 2026 Abbot General Mauro-Giuseppe celebrated his name day in Ethiopia during several days of fruitful meetings with all the Cistercian monastic communities in Addis Ababa, organized by Apostolic Commissioner Monsignor Angelo Pagano, OFMCap. Ocist.org

On January 10, 2026, Sister Gennifer Gadian made solemn profession at the monastery of Our Lady of Mt. Matutum (Philippines). Sister Gennifer was born in 1989 in Polomolok, South Cotabato (Philippines); she entered Matutum in 2016 and made first profession in 2020. ocso.org

6 December 2025 We are brothers and sisters, one body in Christ, and we do not leave any of them alone, especially those who are in difficult situations, but bear one another’s burdens in charity. Thank you for all the uplifting congratulations and prayers! ocso.org

In accordance with Cst. 69.2, the Abbot General, with the consent of his Council, has granted permission for the opening of novitiates in the following foundations: Munkeby (Diocese of Trondheim, Norway) Bàdi (Diocese of Tambacounda, Senegal) Porta Coeli, Akokwa (Diocese of Orlu, Nigeria) We commend these communities to the Lord and support them with our prayer, imploring His blessing upon their future growth, perseverance, and flourishing in monastic life. ocso.org Munkeby.

On December 13, 2025, Memorial of St. Lucy, Virgin and Martyr, Sister Clarisse-Marie Tovalou made solemn profession at the monastery of L’Étoile Notre-Dame (Benin). Sister Clarisse-Marie Tovalou was born in 1982 in Cotonou (Benin). She entered L’Étoile Notre-Dame in 2017 and made first profession in 2021. ocso.org

The community of Rougemont (Canada), in thanksgiving, celebrated the solemn profession of Brother Joseph-Aimé , which took place on Sunday, November 16, 2025. Surrounded by many young friends, our community immersed itself in this beautiful liturgy of monastic consecration, which renews each of us in the great yes to Christ, the ideal of the monk. We also take this opportunity to thank each and every one of those who held our community and our Abbot in prayer during his conva

On November 22, 2025, on the eve of Solemnity of Christ the King, Sister Helene Amblaye made solemn profession at the monastery of Mvanda (RD of Congo). Sister Helene was born in 1980 in Bokoro (RD of Congo). She entered Mvanda in 2015 and made her first profession in 2018. ocso.org

On November 23, 2025, Solemnity of Christ the King, Sister Emily Mostajo made solemn profession at the monastery of Matutum (Philippines). Sister Emily was born in 1970 in Urdaneta, Pangasinan (Philippines). She entered Matutum in 2017 and made her first profession in 2020. ocso.org

November 12, 2025 The celebration of the dedication and consecration of our new church and altar on Sunday, Aug. 24th was a day of grace and blessing for all of us. We are deeply grateful to God and all to who joined us in the journey of bringing our new monastery to completion. Our desire in this journey and now and always is that in all things God may be glorified. ocist.org https://build.valleyofourlady.org/

On 25 October 2025, Brother Gerardo María Krutský took his solemn vows at the monastery in Vyšší Brod (Czech Republic). The community currently consists of eleven brothers and two candidates for admission. In order for the Cistercians of Vyšší Brod to elect an abbot, the community must have thirteen members who have taken solemn vows. Within the entire Cistercian Order, Vyšší Brod has the community with the lowest average age. The traditional liturgy is celebrated there in L

On November 01, 2025, Solemnity of All Saints, Brother Donatus Chigozie Odo made solemn profession at the monastery of Illah (Nigeria). Brother Donatus was born in 1996 in Nsukka (Nigeria). He entered Illah in 2018 and made his first profession in 2021. ocso.org