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On October 12, 2024, Solemnity of Our Lady of the Conception Aparecida, patron saint of Brazil, Brother Tobias Dias Ferraz made solemn profession at the monastery of Novo Mundo (Brazil). Brother Tobias was born in 1987 in Santa Bárbara d’Oeste (Brazil). He entered Novo Mundo in 2018 and made first profession in 2020. https://www.mosteirotrapista.org.br/post/profiss%C3%A3o-solene-de-ir-tobias ocso.org For those who would like to know more about Dom Bernardo Bonowitz: https://www.mosteirotrapista.org.br/post/comunicado-sobre-dom-bernardo

From 23 to 27 September 2024, the OCSO Liturgical Commission and the OCist Liturgical Secretariat met in the Italian monastery of Valserena to work together. The first day was a study day on the topic of "Sacrosanctum Consilium" and "Desiderio Desideravi" under the direction of Prof Pierangelo Muroni (Urbaniana, Sant'Anselmo), in which Abbot General Mauro-Giuseppi Lepori OCist also took part. Photo: Sr. Karla Gonçalves (Wrentham, USA), Fr. Thomas Aquinas Thái Văn Dũng (Phouc Son, VN), Prof. Pierangelo Muroni (Sant’Anselmo, Urbaniana, Guast), Mauro-Giuseppe Lepori OCist (Abbot General OCist, Guast), P. Hugues Chapelain de Seréville (Cîteaux, FRA), Madre Maris Francesca Righi (Abbasse Valserena, ITA, Guest), Sr. Judit Fejérdy (Kismaros, HU), Sr. Patrizia Girolami OCSO (Valserena, ITA), P. Ruben Lacón (Azul, ARG), Fr. Coelestin Nebel (Stiepel, GER). ocist.org

On October 7, 2024, the foundation of Ananda Matha Ashram, Kunnambetta, in the diocese of Calicut (India) was raised to the rank of Simple Priory, in accordance with the decision of the Central Commission, Chile, 2024. On October 11, 2024, Mother Mary-Ann Kiriyanthan Devassy, superior of the community since 2011, was elected the first Titular Prioress of the community. ocso.org

The Conference: "Discovering oneself in the mirror of truth: The degrees of humility and pride of Bernard of Clairvaux" From November 4-8, 2024 , the Monastic Institute of the Faculty of Theology will hold the conference on the occasion of the publication in the Sources Chrétiennes series of Bernard of Clairvaux's treatise on the Degrees of Humility and Pride. The conference, whose theme is "Discovering oneself in the mirror of truth: The degrees of humility and pride of Bernard of Clairvaux", aims to explore the numerous and rich facets of Bernard's treatise from an interdisciplinary, anthropological perspective, psychological and philosophical, as well as theological and spiritual, without forgetting to place it in its historical context. We will also try to identify its literary form and structure, its biblical, patristic and monastic sources, as well as its posterity in Western thought and Christian spirituality. The conference is organized by the Notre-Dame de Cîteaux Abbey, the Institut des Sources Chrétiennes (HiSOMA, UMR 5189, Lyon) and the Pontifical Athenaeum Sant'Anselmo. For info: istituto.monastico@anselmianum.com It is possible to participate in the conference via Zoom. Those who participate in person can listen to the translation in Italian, via Zoom, using their mobile phone. Program https://www.anselmianum.com/it/news/1221-scoprire-se-stessi-nello-specchio-della-verita ocist.org ocso.org

After eleven years as President of AIM, Dom Jean-Pierre Longeat has stepped down. We thank him warmly for his years of commitment: he will have left his mark on AIM through his broad and diverse vision of monastic life, his understanding of the world, his dynamic impetus in meetings and sharing, strengthening AIM not only in financial support for communities but also in fraternal support between communities, creating links between them and offering tools for reflection and discernment to help them live better and meet the challenges they face. During the Congress of Benedictine Abbots held in Rome from 9 to 19 September 2024, a new president of AIM was appointed by the Abbot Primate: the Abbot of Maredsous (Belgium), Dom Bernard Lorent Tayart , accepted this responsibility.

On 12 September 2024, the community of Stams Abbey (Austria) elected Father Cyrill Greiter as the community's 45th abbot. Until now, Father Cyrill was chaplain of the parish of Untermais in Merano. https://www.stiftstams.at/ ocist.org

On 21 September 2024, Dom Damien Debaisieux, abbot of Scourmont and Father Immediate of Orval, appointed Father Xavier Frisque as Superior ad nutum of Orval (Diocese of Namur, Belgium). Dom Xavier was born in 1967 in Ixelles (Belgium). He entered Orval in 1989, made his solemn profession in 1995 and was ordained a priest in 2024. At the time of his appointment, he was novice master of the community. ocso.org https://www.orval.be/fr/

On 14 September 2024, the Feast of the Glorious Cross, Sister Neema Adyuti Mkolokoti, Sister Hildegard John Shayo, Sister Victoria Mathias Danga and Sister Faustina Paulo Kadinde made their final profession at the Priory of Ndanda (Tanzania) in the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictines of Tutzing. Two sisters celebrated their Silver Jubilee (25 years) on the same day: Sister Tumaini Ajali and Sister Fides Msanga. The priory of Ndanda is the second oldest after that of Peramiho. Founded in 1908, it has developed in the same way as Peramiho, with hospitals, nursery, elementary and secondary schools, nursing schools, home economics schools and workshops of all kinds. osbtutzing.org

The community of Mariastern-Gwiggen elected Sr. Maria-Stella Krimmel OCist as their 8th Abbess on September 8, 2024. https://kloster-mariastern.at/ Ocist.org

On 14 September 2024, Abbot Jeremias Schröder OSB, of St. Ottilien Archabbey in Eresing, Germany, was elected abbot primate of the Benedictine Confederation at the Congress of Abbots meeting in Rome. The Congress usually is held every four years. He is the 11th abbot primate to be elected. As abbot primate of the Catholic Church’s Benedictine Confederation, Abbot Primate Jeremias will be the unifying head of the world’s 6,000 Benedictine monks and become the abbot of the monastery of Sant’Anselmo in Rome, where he will reside. Abbot Jeremias Schröder, born in 1964 in Bavaria, joined the St. Ottilien Archabbey in Eresing, Germany in 1984. He pursued studies in philosophy, theology, history, and archivistics at Sant’Anselmo and St Benet’s Hall, Oxford. After returning to St. Ottilien in 1994, he held various roles, including assistant novice master and abbot’s secretary. Elected archabbot and president of the St. Ottilien Congregation in 2000, he became its first abbot president in 2012 after separating the roles. Over his career, Abbot Jeremias has overseen growth, decline, elections, and interventions across monastic communities. Currently residing at St. Georgenberg in Austria, he is actively involved in global monasticism, having held numerous leadership roles and consultative positions, including vicar of the abbot primate. The office of abbot primate was created by Pope Leo XIII in 1893 to serve the Benedictine community as its liaison to the Vatican Holy See and civil authorities, to promote unity among the various autonomous Benedictine monasteries and congregations, and to represent the order at religious gatherings around the globe. As primate, Abbot Jeremias also will serve as the Grand Chancellor of the Benedictine Pontifical Atheneum of Sant’Anselmo located in Rome, an institution for liturgical, theological and philosophical education. The Benedictine Confederation is a loose association of autonomous monasteries that follow the 1500-year-old Rule of Saint Benedict. The abbot primate is elected by the abbots of the Benedictine Confederation and usually serves for an eight-year term. His election emphasizes his role as a “servant-leader”, rather than one with direct governing authority. osb.org

Dom Pierre-André Burton, abbot of Cîteaux and Father Immediate of Bricquebec, has appointed Father Simon-Marie Nguyen as superior ad nutum of Bricquebec (Diocese of Coutances, France). This appointment will be effective on September 14th, 2024. Dom Simon-Marie was born in 1989 in Thanh Chương (Vietnam). He entered Bricquebec in 2011, made his solemn profession in 2017 and was ordained a priest in 2021. At the time of his appointment, he was novice master. http://abbayebricquebec.fr/ ocso.org

During the Sept. 5 plenary session of the XXI General Chapter, Dom Ignasi M. Fossas, monk of Montserrat, has been elected as the new abbot president of the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation. Dom Ignasi M. Fossas will take the place of Abbot Guillermo A. Tamayo, who led the congregation from 2016 to the present. https://www.benedettinisublacensicassinesi.org/news/21st-general-chapter-election-new-abbot-president/