On 16 August 2026, four brothers: Brother Albert Fanonjona Brother Fabien Randriambololona Brother Hervé Randriamandimby Brother Elie Randrianarison made their solemn profession at the Maria Masina monastery in Maromby (Madagascar). Brother Albert was born in Belamoty, near Tulear (Madagascar), in 1991. He entered Maromby in 2018 and made his first profession in 2021. Brother Fabien was born in Antsirabe (Madagascar) in 1991. He entered Maromby in 2018 and made his first profession in 2021. Brother Hervé was born in Ambalantanjona (Madagascar) in 1997. He entered Maromby in 2018 and made his first profession in 2021. Brother Elie was born in Andrainjato Centre (Madagascar) in 1990. He entered Maromby in 2019 and made his first profession in 2022. ocso.org

On 15 August, 2026 the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sister Delis Yohana Dávila Bastidas made solemn profession at Our Lady of Coromoto Abbey (Humocaro - Venezuela). Sister Yohana was born in Mérida-Venezuela in 1993. She entered Humocaro in 2018 and made first profession in 2021. ocso.org

The third issue of Colloquium from Matutum Monastery is available here. If you’d like to see the previous issues, you can find them here and here. ocso.org

On 15 August, 2026 the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Brother Philippe Menetrier made solemn profession at Our Lady of Tamié Abbey (France). Brother Philippe was born in Dole dans le Jura (France) in 1963. He entered Tamié in 2021 and made first profession in 2023. ocso.org

OCSO newsletter n. 40: https://www.ocso.org/uploads/resources/formation/newsletter/Newsletter-40-EN.pdf Or: ocso.org

On 6 August 2026, Father Ignasi Fossas, President of the Congregation of Subiaco-Montecassino, was appointed consultant to the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Official text: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2026/08/06/0624/01161.html#vita In addition, Father Giordano Rota, Abbot of Pontida, has been reappointed to his post for a further five years. https://www.benedettinisublacensicassinesi.org

On August 6, 2026, The Feast of Transfiguration, Sister Aurore Huo Hong Xia made solemn profession at the Abbey of Our Lady of Good Hope, Échourgnac (France). Sister Aurore was born in Beijing (China) in 1972. She previously belonged to the Contemplative Sisters of St. John, where she had already made perpetual profession in 2001. She began her transitus at Échourgnac in 2022. ocso.org https://www.abbaye-echourgnac.org/

During the Chapter of the Cistercian Congregation of Casamari (July 17, 2026), Dom Loreto M. Camilli was reconfirmed as Abbot President of the Congregation. Let us pray that God blesses his ministry for the good of the entire Congregation. ocist.org

On 29 July 2026, bells rang out across the campus of Saint Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama, to announce the election of the Right Reverend Brendan J. Seipel, OSB, as the eleventh abbot in the community’s 135-year history. The election chapter was presided over by the Right Reverend Jonathan R. Licari, OSB, Abbot President of the American-Cassinese Congregation. The proceedings commenced on 15 June with a Mass of the Holy Spirit and were temporarily recessed for canonical recourse to the Holy See before Abbot Brendan was formally elected and confirmed. Following the chapter, the monks gathered in the abbey church for a service of thanksgiving at which Abbot Brendan presided. The community was joined by the Most Reverend Steven J. Raica, Bishop of Birmingham in Alabama, and the Most Rev. Robert J. Baker, Bishop Emeritus, alongside diocesan priests, Benedictine sisters from Sacred Heart Monastery and lay guests. Abbot Brendan assumes responsibility as spiritual and temporal leader immediately, with a formal blessing to take place in the coming months. A native of Lanesville, Indiana, Abbot Brendan entered Saint Bernard Abbey in 2002 and professed monastic vows on 21 March 2004. Prior to his election he served the community in numerous administrative and pastoral capacities. His previous assignments include guest master, director of the Saint Boniface Retreat Center, director of the abbey farm, member of the senior council, subprior and prior. Saint Bernard Abbey was established in 1891 by monks from Saint Vincent Archabbey in Pennsylvania, continuing a monastic lineage tracing back to eighth-century Metten Abbey in Bavaria. Today the monks maintain an active educational and pastoral apostolate. They operate Saint Bernard Preparatory School, welcome visitors to the historic Ave Maria Grotto created by Brother Joseph Zoetle, OSB, in 1934 and host guests at their retreat and conference centre. osb.org https://www.stbernardabbey.com/

On 11 July 2026, Sister Paz Vital made her perpetual monastic profession before the community, the oblates and friends of Saint Placid Priory (USA). The ceremony was streamed on Zoom for those who were unable to attend in person. A dinner and a celebration followed. https://fedstben.org/2026/07/16/perpetual-monastic-profession-at-saint-placid-priory/ https://stplacid.org/

Mother Marie-Christine Villmain, Abbess of N.D. du Rivet, who currently exercises the responsibility of Father Immediate for the community of N. D. de Bon Secours, Blauvac (archdiocese of Avignon, France) requested that a monastic commissary be appointed for the community of Blauvac. The Abbot General thoroughly investigated the matter and, on 28 July 2026, with the consent of his Council and acting in the name of the General Chapter, suspended the exercise of autonomy of the community of Blauvac and appointed the same M. Marie-Christine Villmain as monastic commissary of the community, in accordance with the Statute on Fragile Communities. The appointment is effective immediately. This appointment brings to an end the service of M. Bénédicte de la Croix Avon, superior ad nutum of Blauvac since 2025. ocso.org

The community of Trappist monks at Mont-des-Cats (France) is celebrating the 200th anniversary of its foundation this year (1826–2026). Saturday 20 June was a day of celebration with families and loved ones: a Mass presided over by the Abbot; a festive meal in the refectory; and a talk by Mr Jean-Pascal Vanhove on ‘The History of the Abbey’. On 11 July, a celebration was held with monks and nuns and the Abbot General of the Order, Dom Bernardus Peeters. montdescats.fr ocso.org