NEWS
of the Benedictine Confederation
and the Cistercian Family

Here we give recent news from the different Orders of the Benedictine Family

or other news related to the life of our communities

and everything that revolves around it.

All news
OSB
OCSO
OCist
Specials

The affiliation of the Priory of Helfta to the Monastery of Seligenthal

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

OCist

5 days ago1 min read

Priory of Bakonybél

In accordance with the decision of the Chapter of the Pannonhalma Archabbey, the General Chapter of the Hungarian Benedictine Congregation elevated the Monastery of St. Maurice in Bakonybél to the status of a conventual priory on 29 May 2026. With this decision, the Benedictine monastery in Bakonybél has become an independent member of the Hungarian Benedictine Congregation. On 1 June 2026, the Convent of St. Maurice Monastery elected Father Dr. Izsák Zsolt Baán as its first

OSB

May 301 min read

The Priory of Palaçoulo

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

OCSO

Mar 271 min read

Priory of Macau

On 26 January, 2026, during a solemn Mass celebrated by the diocesan bishop Most Reverend Stephen Lee, and in the presence of Dom Paul Kao, Abbot of our Lady of Joy, Lantao, Father Immediate, and of Mother Cornelia Ellis Lisnawaty, abbess of Gedono, the founding monastery, the foundation of Our Lady, Star of Hope, Macau was officially elevated to the rank of simple priory, according to the decision of the General Chapter 2025. On 27 January, 2026, Mother Caterina Mazzarelli

OCSO

Jan 301 min read

Notre-Dame des Neiges raised to the status of a Priory sui juris

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

OCist

Jan 131 min read