NEWS
of the Benedictine Confederation
and the Cistercian Family

On December 28, 2025, Feast of the Holy Family, Brother Godric Hathorn made solemn profession at the monastery of Gethsemani (United States). Brother Godric was born in 1975 in Gulfport, Mississippi (United States). He entered Gethsemani in 2019 and made his first profession in 2021. ocso.org https://monks.org/

On December 13, 2025, Memorial of St. Lucy, Virgin and Martyr, Sister Clarisse-Marie Tovalou made solemn profession at the monastery of L’Étoile Notre-Dame (Benin). Sister Clarisse-Marie Tovalou was born in 1982 in Cotonou (Benin). She entered L’Étoile Notre-Dame in 2017 and made first profession in 2021. ocso.org

On December 8, 2025, The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Sister Ilaria Cerra made solemn profession at the monastery of Vitorchiano (Italy). Sister Ilaria Cerra was born in 1991 in Salerno (Italy). She entered Vitorchiano in 2016 and made first profession in 2020. ocso.org https://www.trappistevitorchiano.it/

The community of Rougemont (Canada), in thanksgiving, celebrated the solemn profession of Brother Joseph-Aimé , which took place on Sunday, November 16, 2025. Surrounded by many young friends, our community immersed itself in this beautiful liturgy of monastic consecration, which renews each of us in the great yes to Christ, the ideal of the monk. We also take this opportunity to thank each and every one of those who held our community and our Abbot in prayer during his conva

On November 22, 2025, on the eve of Solemnity of Christ the King, Sister Helene Amblaye made solemn profession at the monastery of Mvanda (RD of Congo). Sister Helene was born in 1980 in Bokoro (RD of Congo). She entered Mvanda in 2015 and made her first profession in 2018. ocso.org

On November 23, 2025, Solemnity of Christ the King, Sister Emily Mostajo made solemn profession at the monastery of Matutum (Philippines). Sister Emily was born in 1970 in Urdaneta, Pangasinan (Philippines). She entered Matutum in 2017 and made her first profession in 2020. ocso.org

On November 01, 2025, Solemnity of All Saints, Brother Ismael Lasanta Vanhoutteghem made solemn profession at the monastery of Cardeña (Spain). Brother Ismael was born in 1995 in Madrid (Spain). He entered Cardeña in 2020 and made his first profession in 2022. ocso.org https://www.cardena.org/

On 25 October 2025, Brother Gerardo María Krutský took his solemn vows at the monastery in Vyšší Brod (Czech Republic). The community currently consists of eleven brothers and two candidates for admission. In order for the Cistercians of Vyšší Brod to elect an abbot, the community must have thirteen members who have taken solemn vows. Within the entire Cistercian Order, Vyšší Brod has the community with the lowest average age. The traditional liturgy is celebrated there in L

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

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/

On November 01, 2025, Solemnity of All Saints, Father Basilio Masashi Goto made solemn profession at the monastery of Phare (Japan). Father Basilio was born in 1954 in Hokkaido (Japan). He was a diocesan priest, entered Phare in 2020 and made his first profession in 2022. ocso.org https://www.trappist.or.jp/home/index-English.html

On August 23, 2025, Sister Clotilde Gennet made solemn profession at the monastery of N.-D. de La Coudre (France). Sister Clotilde was born in 1987 in Saint-Malo (France). She entered Laval in 2017 and made first profession in 2020. ocso.org https://www.abbaye-coudre.fr/

On the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the patronal feast of the entire Order, Our Lady of Thien Phuoc Abbey joyfully celebrated the profession of vows of 11 brothers: 6 making temporary profession and 5 making solemn profession. In communion, we give thanks to God and pray that these brothers may remain faithful and persevere in their monastic vocation, and that the Lord may continue to bless the Order with vocations. ocist.org

On August 20, 2025, Solemnity of Saint Bernard, Sister Jitka Pacíková made solemn profession at the monastery of Naši Paní (Czech Rep.). Sister Jitka was born in 1988 in Znojmo (Czech Rep.). She entered Naši Paní in 2017 and made first profession in 2020. ocso.org https://www.trapistky.cz/

On August 18, 2025, Brother Alberic Henry made solemn profession at the monastery of Gethsemani (USA). Brother Alberic was born in 1975 in Cleveland, Ohio (USA). He entered Gethsemani in 2020 and made first profession in 2022. ocso.org https://monks.org/

On August 15, 2025, Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Brother, Stefano Santini made solemn profession at the monastery of Azul (Argentina). Brother Stefano was born in 1989 in Paraná (Argentina). He entered Azul in 2019 and made first profession in 2022. ocso.org https://www.trapenses.com.ar/#!/-inicio/

On July 26, 2025, Brother Fabrice Ahandessi and Brother Gontran-Marie Koudenou made solemn profession at the monastery of Kokoubou (Benin). Brother Ahandessi was born in 1985 in Cotonou (Benin). He entered Kokoubou in 2017 and made first profession in 2020. Brother Koudenou was born in 1993 in Azohouè-Aliho (Benin). He entered Kokoubou in 2018 and made first profession in 2020. ocso.org

On August 09, 2025, Feast of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Sister Anne-Elisabeth Janicot made solemn profession at the monastery of Notre-Dame de La Coudre (France). Sister Anne-Elisabeth was born in 1970 in Tulle (France). She entered La Coudre in 2017 and made first profession in 2020. ocso.org

On August 6, 2025, Feast of the Transfiguration, Brother Juan Martín Godoy Villasante made solemn profession at the monastery of Paraíso...

On July 25, 2025, Solemnity of Saint James the Apostle, patron of Spain, Brother Pablo María Colmenar Vázquez made solemn profession at...