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

Around 160 educators from five continents gathered at Melk Abbey for BENET 2026, exploring monastic stability, hospitality and the enduring mission of Benedictine schools in a changing world. Photos courtesy of Carmen Schoebert, Stift Melk and ICBE Melk Abbey in Austria hosted the tenth World Conference of Benedictine Educators from 6 to 10 October 2026, bringing together around 160 monastic and lay participants from 25 countries across all five continents. Organised under th

On 20 October 2026, during the day, the sisters of Soke (Angola) were struck by a severe storm that completely destroyed the roof of their building for welcoming groups. The building includes a meeting hall accommodating more than 100 people, a kitchen, a dining room and toilets. The entire roof must be replaced, and the floor, damaged by falling roofing materials, must also be repaired. Our sisters of Soke would be deeply grateful for any help you can offer. Donations may be

The website dedicated to the jubilee of Benedictine life publishes a monthly feature on a different monastery, showcasing how Benedictine life is lived in communities around the world: jubilee.osb.org – Inkamana abbey, South Africa We journey to Inkamana Abbey in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Founded as a Benedictine mission in 1922, Inkamana has grown into a monastic and educational centre, running a boarding school alongside workshops, farming, hospitality and retreat minist

MONASTIC AGGIORNAMENTO 3-23 july 2027 The language of the course is English. Participation limit : 20 monks and nuns Fees : €2,950 (euro) https://www.collegiosantanselmo.com/en/curia-of-the-benedictine-order/monastic-aggiornamento/ OBLATE MONASTIC SUMMER STUDIUM Gebet, Studium, Gemeinschaft, Besinnung 4-24 july 2027 The language of the course is English. Participation limit : 20 people. Fees : €2,750 (euro) https://www.collegiosantanselmo.com/en/curia-of-the-benedictine-order

On October 17, 2026, Sister Consuelo de los Ángeles Villarreal Zhunio made her Solemn Profession at the Monastery of Our Lady of Esmeraldas (Ecuador). Sister Consuelo was born in Quito (Ecuador) in 1973; she entered Esmeraldas in 2018 and made her first profession in 2021. ocso.org

On 6 October 2026, the Abbot President of the Subiaco-Cassinese Congregation, Father Ignasi M. Fossas, presided over the election of the conventual prior of Thien Binh Monastery (Vietnam). Father André Kim was elected prior of the community; he currently also holds the office of visiting abbot of the Vietnamese province. https://www.benedettinisublacensicassinesi.org

The next General Assembly of the Service aux Oblatures Bénédictines en France (Benedictine Oblates Service in France Meeting - SOB) will take place from 16 to 18 October at the Abbey of Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire. The members of the Council will meet on 14 and 15 October at the same abbey for a time of retreat and preparation. It is an opportunity to savour these beautiful and inspiring surroundings. The President of the AIM, Father Abbot Bernard Lorent Tayart, has been invited t

On 28 September, Pope Leo XIV spoke in Metz, in the presence of numerous abbots and superiors, about his vision for Europe, with strong references to Saint Benedict. More on this is available in this issue of NEXUS. On 17 September, Pope Leo XIV confirmed the election of Dom Antonio Bran Tecun as the new Abbot General of the Olivetan Congregation. Papal confirmation is necessary because the Abbot General also serves as the Territorial Abbot of Monteoliveto. The Synod of Abbot

10 October 2026 At the Roots of Europe: Notes from the Aventine and the Rest of the World Over the past few months, I have repeatedly reflected on how we Benedictines should deal with the fact that our founder is the principal patron saint of Europe, while today our monasteries are located on all continents and often flourish better outside Europe than here on the Old Continent. This question occupied me back when I was President of the Missionary Benedictines, and even more

10 October 2026 The past few months have revealed an unmistakable Benedictine thread running through the papal calendar. From his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV worked a pair of seemingly impromptu excursions into his holiday itinerary. Whether these visits reflected a quiet appreciation for the monastic charism or merely the irresistible appeal of un buon pranzo benedettino, the Holy Father’s presence has offered warm encouragement to the Confederation. Th

On October 10, 2026, Sister Maria Rafael Arnaiz Jin young Lee made her Solemn Profession at the Monastery of Our Lady of Sujong (Republic of Korea). Sister Maria Rafael Arnaiz was born in Seoul (Republic of Korea) in 1979; she entered Sujong in 2017 and made her first profession in 2021. ocso.org

Dom Manu van Hecke, abbot of the monastery of Sint Sixtus (diocese of Brugge, Belgium) since 1996, offered his resignation to the Abbot General in the light of ST 40.A of our Constitutions. With the consent of his Council, the Abbot General accepted the resignation, which became effective on September 11th, 2026 On October 8th, 2026, the community of St Sixtus elected Dom Guido van Belle as abbot for an indefinite term. Dom Guido was born in 1959 in Ninove (Belgium). He enter

https://servantesdespauvres-osb.org: A group of youth leaders from the Patronage welcome Pope Leo XIV to Paris – An account by Constance and Laetitia Saturday 26 September 2026 will remain a special day for us, a day we will cherish in our hearts for a long time to come, says Constance. After several hours’ drive, we finally arrived in Paris. And what a thrill it was to see that huge crowd! Nearly 800,000 people had gathered at the Place de la Concorde to attend the Mass cele

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/

Mother Maria Francesca Righi, abbess of the monastery of Nostra Signora di Valserena (diocese of Voltera, Italy) since 2019, offered her resignation to the Abbot General in the light of ST 40.A of our Constitutions. With the consent of his Council, the Abbot General accepted the resignation, which became effective on September 12th, 2026. On 29th September 2026, the community of Valserena elected Sr. Valeria Carolo as abbess for a six-year term. Mother Valeria was born in 198

On September 24, 2026, the Solemnity of Our Lady of Boa Vista, Sister Liege Zem Zancanaro made her Solemn Profession at the Monastery of Our Lady of Boa Vista (Brazil). Sister Liege was born in Cascavel, Paraná (Brazil) in 1982; she entered Boa Vista in 2017 and made her first profession in 2021. ocso.org

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

By Abbot President Javier Aparicio Suarez, Ottilien Congregation Once a year, the Abbot Primate convenes all the Presidents of the Benedictine Confederation for the Synod. This last week we met in a rather different setting from Sant’Anselmo: at the Benedictine Monastery of Gihindamuyaga in Rwanda, of the Annunciation Congregation. Perhaps the familiar expression primus inter pares could be slightly adapted for the occasion: “Primas… inter pares.” Primas is also the title tra

September 2026 Anna Brennan, OSB, Abbess, Stanbrook Abbey, UK Every meeting of the Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum is, of course, important, but this year’s meeting, at Sant’Anselmo in September, was especially significant, for three reasons: 1) the conference of delegates voted to seek the approval of the Holy See to restructure CIB and to accept the new statutes which give form the restructuring; 2) the conference voted for a new moderator, assistant moderator and c