NEWS
of the Benedictine Confederation
and the Cistercian Family

The international academic conference, “The Testimony of the Monks of Tibhirine,” will take place in Oxford on Tuesday, 30 June, and Wednesday, 1 July 2026. Hosted by the Dominican community at Blackfriars, the event will feature bilingual presentations and film screenings exploring the spiritual legacy of the martyred Algerian monks. https://www.ocso.org/uploads/general-news/documents/ColloqueTibhirine-30ans-Oxford2026-EN.pdf ocso.org

On April 25, 2026, Feast of St. Mark, Sister Eve Marie Aragona made solemn profession at the monastery of Crozet (USA). Sister Eve Marie was born in New York in 1979; she entered Crozet, USA in 2018 and made first profession in 2021. ocso.org

Mass on 8 May 2026 at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris (France) to mark the 30th anniversary of the murder of the seven Trappist monks of Thibirine, presided over by Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, Archbishop of Algiers. Mass on 10 May 2026 at Aiguebelle Abbey (France) to mark the 30th anniversary of the murder of the seven Trappist monks of Thibirine, presided over by Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, Archbishop of Algiers. ocso.org

On 18 April 2026, the new Benedictine mission center was inaugurated in Dodoma. Rooted in the Gospel and Benedictine spirituality, the mission integrates education, sustainable agriculture and pastoral care to serve the local community. The Benedictine mission continues to unfold across regions and contexts, integrating social, spiritual and pastoral work rooted in the Gospel. In Tanzania, Ndanda Abbey is expanding its presence to meet urgent local needs. On 18 April 2026 the

On April 19, 2026, Sister Barnabé Mukawizeyimana made solemn profession at the monastery of Kibungo (Rwanda). Sister Barnabé was born in Zaza, Kibungo (Rwanda) in 1982; she entered Kibungo in 2017 and made first profession in 2022. ocso.org

On April 27, 2026, Feast of St. Rafael Arnáiz Barón, Sister María José Castro Maradiaga made solemn profession at the monastery of Sora (Panama). Sister María José was born in Honduras in 1989; she entered Juigalpa, Nicaragua in 2018 and made first profession there in 2021. When the community had to leave the country, she chose to remain with it in its new home in Panama. ocso.org

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

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 monaste

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 c

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.