On 22 October 2026, during the canonical visit to Wąchock Abbey and on the occasion of the end of his second ten-year term as Abbot of Wąchock, Abbot Eugeniusz Augustyn tendered his resignation from the office of Abbot of Wąchock Abbey, which also resulted in the office of Abbot-President of the Polish Cistercian Congregation becoming vacant. The Abbot General and the Order extend their sincere thanks to Father Abbot Eugeniusz for his twenty years of service as Abbot of Wącho

The next General Chapter of the Cistercian Order will be held in Rome from October 4 to 18, 2027 (arrival on the 4th, departure on the 18th). For those traveling from afar, it will be possible to arrive on October 2 or 3. Thank you. ocist.org

On 26 and 27 September 2026, Schlierbach Abbey in Austria celebrated the 300th anniversary of the consecration of its abbey church. Let us pray for this community and ask God to shower it with His blessings! ocist.org https://www.stift-schlierbach.at/

On Wednesday, September 23 20026, the XXII Ordinary Synod of the Cistercian Order began with the Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit, presided over by the Abbot General, Dom Mauro Giuseppe Lepori. The theme of the Synod is “Truly seeking God: ad quid venisti? Living our vocation in truth.” It aims to assess the current situation in order to help prepare for the upcoming General Chapter and to reflect on the future of the Order, seeking viable paths forward. We invoke the Holy Spir

We inform you of a new scam attempt of fake mails. This is obviously a scam. Please be careful. Below we present the emails that some Superiors have received: De: Sr. Isabelle Thouin OSB <srlisethouinosb@gmail.com> Enviat: dilluns, 14 de setembre de 2026 16:27 Per a:- -------- Tema: Re: Monasterio de Poblet Estimado padre: Buenos días, Soy la hermana Isabelle Thouin, OSB, madre abadesa de la Abadía de Sainte-Marie des Deux-Montagnes, en Canadá. Para obtener más información s

Under the patronage of the Pontifical Academy of Saint Anselm in Rome 24. August – 18. September 2026 in Rome Blog: https://www.cfm-ocist.org/ Chapter by the Abbot General, Dom Mauro-Giuseppe Lepori: https://www.ocist.org/ocist/index.php/abate-generale/capitoli-dell-abate-generale ocist.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

Dear Sisters and Brothers, We warmly invite you to a study day organized by the OCist-OCSO Liturgical Commission. Topic: Liturgical inculturation: definitions, guiding principles, models and criteria Speaker: Abbot Olivier-Marie SARR OSB, Abbot of Keur Moussa Abbey in Senegal, Professor at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute of Sant’Anselmo in Rome. Time: 27 July 2026, 8.30 am–12.00 pm and 2.00 pm–5.30 pm (Rome time). Format: Online via ZOOM with simultaneous translation into

There are 2 Liturgical Courses coming in July and September this year: 1. Liturgical inculturation: definitions, guiding principles, models and criteria (This is a reminder of the news published on May 4) Online course, one day Speaker: Abbot Olivier-Marie SARR OSB, Abbot of Keur Moussa Abbey in Senegal, Professor at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute of Sant’Anselmo in Rome. Time: July 27, 2026, 8:30-12:00 and 14:00-17:30 (Rome time). Format: Online via ZOOM with simultaneo

On June 7, 2026, we celebrated with joy and great thanksgiving the opening of the jubilee year of our monastery. In this jubilee, we mark 75 years since the transfer of the Abbey of Hardehausen to Brazil, in Itatinga — a milestone completed on May 28 — as well as the 100th anniversary of the restoration of the Abbey of Hardehausen, which we will complete on the same date next year. Representatives from several houses were present: the Abbey of Itaporanga, Itararé, Campo Grand

June 12, 2026 The Roman Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life has approved the request to affiliate the Cistercian Priory of St. Mary at Helfta with the Cistercian Abbey of Seligenthal in Landshut, thereby attaching the Helfta community to the Seligenthal community. ocist.org https://www.ocist.org/ocist/images/pdf/HelftaAffiliation.pdf

Rome, May 4-8, 2026 Topic for the Course: "Behold, I make all things new" (Rev 21 :5) - How can Christ renew all things, and how do we open ourselves to this renewal of our monastic life? Course Program: 11:00-11:15 Chapter of the Abbot General Mauro Giuseppe Lepori, OCist 11:20-12:00 and 12:10-12:45 Fr. Carlo Casalone, SJ, Professor of Moral Theology at the Gregorian University: Digital transition and spirituality 14:30-15:10 and 15:20-16:00 Dr. Nina Sofie Heereman, Profess

Martyrdom in the Cistercian Tradition To mark the 30th anniversary of the martyrdom of the monks of Tibhirine, Cîteaux Mater Nostra – ARCCIS is organising a series of events on the theme of martyrdom in the Cistercian tradition. These will take place on 8, 9 and 10 May 2026 at Cîteaux Abbey. The event, which follows on from the ‘Cistercian Culture Days’ organised regularly by ARCCIS since 2005, is aimed at a wide audience. Anyone wishing to learn more about Cistercian life is

By decree of 5 June 2025, the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life ordered an Apostolic Visitation of the Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz and appointed Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder OSB and Sister Christine Rod MC as visitators. Following in-depth interviews with 90 monks and numerous external individuals, the visit concludes today. The Abbot President of the Austrian Cistercian Congregation, Abbot Pius Maurer OCist, read out today,

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

After the death of Mother Mechthild, M. Lucia Kienzler was appointed Prioress Administrator of the Cistercian Monastery of St. Joseph in Thyrnau (Germany). May God bless her service for the benefit of her community. ocist.org

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 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,

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 December 28, 2025, the Feast of the Holy Family, Dom Mauro Giuseppe Lepori erected the sui juris Priory of Our Lady of the Snows, in accordance with the Decree issued by the Holy See on October 3, 2025. The following day, during the Regular Visitation of the community, he presided over the election of the first prioress: Mother Anne Dugas , previously appointed prioress by the founding abbess of Boulaur Abbey. Mother Elisabeth Unal, OCSO, prioress of the Monastery of La P