NEWS
of the Benedictine Confederation
and the Cistercian Family

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

The General Chapter of September 2025 asked for a special visitation at the community of Rochefort (vote 42). This visitation was carried out and, on the recommendation of the visitors, the Abbot General with the consent of his Council suspended the exercise of autonomy of the community of Rochefort and appointed Dom Xavier Frisque , superior ad nutum of Orval, as monastic commissary of Rochefort. This nomination became effective on 28 October, 2025. Dom Xavier was born in 1

On November 01, 2025, Solemnity of All Saints, S ister Marie Jitka Heřmana Gregorovičová made solemn profession at the monastery of Naši Paní (Czech Rep.). Sister Marie Heřmana was born in 1982 in Brno (Czech Rep.). She was a transitus, entered Naši Paní in 2019 and received her habit in 2020. ocso.org https://www.trapistky.cz/

Dom Joseph Wittstock (abbot of Berryville), who has been monastic commissary of New Melleray since December 2024, offered his resignation as monastic commissary of New Melleray. The Abbot General, with the consent of his Council, accepted the resignation, which became effective on 21st October 2025. On the same date, the Abbot General with the consent of his Council appointed Fr Jerome Machar , monk of Genesee, as monastic commissary of New Melleray. Dom Jerome was born in Cl

After more than two centuries of Cistercian presence, the community of monks at Port du Salut (diocese of Laval, Mayenne, France) has decided, after much prayer and discernment, to leave the abbey. Due to a lack of new vocations, the brothers felt that it was becoming difficult to maintain a sustainable monastic life at this site. On Sunday, 19 October 2025, the monks of the Abbey of Notre-Dame-du-Port-du-Salut handed over responsibility for their abbey to a team of volunteer

On 30 September 2025, Mother Katharina Michiels completed her six-year term as Abbess of Nazareth (Diocese of Antwerp, Belgium). On the same day, she was re-elected Abbess of the Community for a new six-year term. ocso.org

The General Chapter of the Trappist Order will take place at the General House from 3 to 24 September 2025. Let us pray for our brothers and sisters during these weeks of sharing, reflection and fraternity. You can consult the blog created by the young brothers and sisters of the Order: https://ocsogc2025.blogspot.com/ ocso.org

Dom Raphaël García Pelayo, secretary to the Abbot General, was appointed Superior ad nutum of Acey and he is replaced by Brother Cassant...

On June 8, 2025,  Dom Alexis Vergon, superior ad nutum of Aiguebelle and Father Immediate of the community of Acey (diocese of...

Dom Dom Gilbert Degros, abbot of Rochefort (Diocese of Namur, Belgium) since 2006, reached the age of retirement mentioned in ST 40.A of...

Mother Marie-Josée Stocker, abbess of Notre-Dame de Baumgarten (diocese of Strasbourg, France) since 2018, presented her resignation to...

On May 7, 2025, Dom Roberto de la Iglesia completed his second term of six years as Abbot of Cardeña (Archdiocese of Burgos, Spain). On...

On April 27, 2025, Divine Mercy Sunday Sister Eutropia Firmin Sukum s made solemn profession at the monastery of Vico (Spain). Sister...

This morning, 30 April 2025, as the State of Israel commemorated its fallen soldiers, a succession of fires broke out across the country....

Dom Thomas Georgeon, abbot of La Trappe and Father Immediate of the community of Tre Fontane (diocese of Rome, Italy), has appointed...

Dear brothers and sisters, On Easter Monday, early in the morning, we were all surprised by the death of Pope Francis. His Easter wishes...

So for the monk it an always be Easter, just as it is also always Lent. Of the new man, born of the Passover of Jesus, prayer is the...

Here is the new newsletter published by the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (OCSO) on training: https://ocso.org/wp-content...

Dom Peter McCarthy, abbot of O.L. of Guadalupe (diocese of Portland in Oregon, USA) since 1994, presented his resignation to the Abbot...

On March 25, 2025, Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, Sister Francesca Mráčková made solemn profession at the monastery of Naši...