NEWS
of the Benedictine Confederation
and the Cistercian Family

The Synod of Abbot Presidents met in Montserrat, 15–19 September, uniting Benedictine leaders in prayer, fraternity and dialogue. Highlights included collaboration with the CIB and preparations for the Benedictine Jubilee of 2029. The Synod of the Abbot Presidents convened at Montserrat, 15-19 September, gathering the leaders of the Benedictine Confederation for days of deliberation, fraternity and shared prayer. Two new members were present: Abbot Javier Aparicio of the Otti

On 3 October 2025, Father Mauritius Wilde has been appointed by the Holy See as the new Abbot of Maria Laach. We congratulate the new abbot and also the community of Maria Laach. From 2016 to 2025, Fr. Mauritius served as prior of our house community of more than 100 monks, students, and professors. Abbot Mauritius is 59 years old. He comes from Münsterschwarzach Abbey in Franconia, which belongs to the Congregation of Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien. Before his ser

For the first time since 2011, the International Commission on Benedictine Education (ICBE) held a youth congress at Sant’Anselmo in Rome, 20–25 September. More than 30 students took part, representing Chile, Brazil, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, Austria, Germany and the United States. The gathering brought students together for prayer, shared experiences of Benedictine education across cultures, and visits to places significant for Benedictine history, as well as

From September 5–7, 2025, the Benedictine Abbey of Lubiń celebrated the 450th anniversary of the birth of the Servant of God, Fr. Bernard of Wąbrzeźno OSB. The Jubilee was combined with the meeting of the superiors of the Benedictine family from Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine. During these days, the Lubiń monastery hosted the superiors of the Benedictine nuns from Staniątki, Żarnowiec, Przemyśl, Jarosław, Krzeszów, Wołów, and Lviv-Solonka; the Benedictine monks from Tyniec, Bi

September 24, 2025, we joyfully marked the 140th Foundation Anniversary of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing. The Community had a Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder, OSB. Followed by a festive common breakfast. In the afternoon at 2:00, the whole Congregation had a synchronized prayer and the launch of the Togo Community. With the theme “Rekindling the Gift of God as Pilgrims of Hope,” we remembered with gratitude the vision o

On 11 September 2025 the community of Melk Abbey (Austria) elected Fr Ludwig Wenzl as their 68th abbot. The election was presided over by Abbot President Johannes Perkmann. Abbot Ludwig succeeds Abbot Georg Wilfinger, who has led the Abbey since 2001. Born Karl Wenzl in 1985 in Waidhofen an der Ybbs, the new abbot entered Melk in 2011 and made his solemn profession in 2014. He was ordained priest in 2021. Within the Abbey he has worked in education, culture and tourism, and

The Holy Father has officially confirmed the election by the monastic chapter of Einsiedeln Abbey of the Reverend Fr. Urban Federer , OSB, as ordinary Abbot of the Territorial Abbey of Maria Einsiedeln, Switzerland. The election took place on 30 August 2025, and Fr. Federer was chosen for a second term, also of 12 years. This marks a historic moment: for the first time in the Abbey’s history an incumbent abbot has been re-elected. Born 17 August 1968 in Zürich-Fluntern, in th

On 11 July 2025, Sister Marena Hoogland made her profession at the Monastery of the Annunciation (Bismarck, USA). Sister Marena entered...

On 26 July 2025, the community of Miraflores (Diocese of Rancagua, Chile) elected Dom Lucas Marckmann Soto as Abbot of the Community for...

During the Eucharist on Sunday, 10 August 2025, Sister Jeanne-Emilie, Sister Anne-Foucauld and Sister Claire-Bénédicte will take their...

From 1 to 8 June, the abbesses of five communities: Maredret (Belgium), Sovu (Rwanda), Zhytomyr (Ukraine) and Saint Lucia (online), as...

The Benedictine monks of Mariastein Abbey have elected Father Ludwig Rudolf Ziegerer OSB as their new abbot. The election, held on 18...

The community of Saint Lambrecht Abbey in Austria has elected Alfred Eichmann OSB as its new abbot. His 12-year term will begin on 10...

This article was a response to a request from Abbot Primate Jeremias, who wrote, “I wanted to do a brief tour of the war-torn areas where...

On 30 May 2025, the Austrian Benedictine Congregation commenced its 400th anniversary celebrations with a pilgrimage to Mariazell...

We are delighted to announce the election of Most Reverend Father Shamindra Jayawardena as the new Abbot General of the Sylvestrine...

On Saturday 17 May 2025, Sister Mary Placid Joseph and Sister Maurice Mary Kamari will make their perpetual profession at the priory in...

On 9 April, Abbot Szymon Hiżycki of the Abbey of Tyniec (Congregation of the Annuntiation) resigned. Fr Bernard Alter, emeritus abbot of...

The Monastery of São Bento in Fortaleza is now officially part of the Benedictine Congregation of Brazil. Founded by Dom Beda Pereira de...

On Tuesday 11 March 2025, Sister Marie-Christine Messin succeeded Sister Anne-Sophie Robitaillie as Prioress of the community of...