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On November 20, 2024 during the Manila Priory Election Chapter, which Sr. Mary Thomas Prado, the outgoing prioress of Manila and Vicaress General-Elect, presided,  Sr. Lumen Gloria Dungca , presently Vicaress General, was elected as the new prioress of Manila. The installation date will be in February 2025. osbtutzing.org

On November 10, 2024, Brother Pierre Habimana Semasuka made solemn profession at the monastery of Mokoto (Dem. Rep. of Congo). Brother Pierre was born in 1988 in Bukavu (Dem. Rep. of Congo). He entered Mokoto in 2018 and made first profession in 2021. ocso.org

On 24 October 2024, Dom Clément Sobakin, titular prior of Kokoubou (archdiocese of Parakou, Benin) since 2020, on the recommendation of Dom Jean-Marc Chéné, abbot of Bellefontaine and Father Immediate of Kokoubou, offered his resignation to the Abbot General, who accepted it with immediate effect. On the same date, the Father Immediate appointed Brother Polycarp Wisungnin Javlon , monk of Bamenda (Cameroon), as superior ad nutum of Kokoubou. Dom Polycarp was born in 1965 in Baseng, Buea (Cameroon). He entered Bamenda in 1994 and made his solemn profession in 2001. He was ordained to the diaconate in November 2024, and his priestly ordination is foreseen. This appointment became effective on 1 November 2024.

On 4 October 2024, at the request of Dom Damien Debaisieux, abbot of Scourmont and Father Immediate of Chimay, the Abbot General and his Council, in the name of the General Chapter, suspended the exercise of autonomy of the community of N.-D. de la Paix, Chimay (diocese of Tournai, Belgium), and appointed Mother Pascale Fourmentin, Abbess of Arnhem (Netherlands) as Monastic Commissary of the community of Chimay (Cst. 34bis.1). This appointment became effective on 7 November 2024. By this decision, the service of M. Catherine Pagano, superior ad nutum of Chimay since 2011, comes to an end. ocso.org

The communities of Mount Melleray Abbey (diocese of Waterford and Lismore), Mt. St. Joseph Abbey, Roscrea (diocese of Killaloe), and Mellifont Abbey (diocese of Armagh), all in Ireland, have for some time engaged in a process of reflection and discernment about a union of the three communities. On 3 November 2024, feast of St Malachy, following votes of the conventual chapters of the three communities, Dom Rufus Pound (monastic commissary of all three communities) requested the union of these three communities, by which is meant the suppression of the three existing communities and the establishment of one new community. On the same date, the Abbot General and his Council, acting in the name of the General Chapter, approved this union. The new community is called Our Lady of Silence and has the rank of Abbey. The Abbot General and his Council then appointed Mother Marie Fahy , abbess of Glencairn, to exercise the authority of Father Immediate of the community of Our Lady of Silence until the General Chapter of 2025. Mother Marie, having obtained the permission of the Abbot General to appoint a superior ad nutum, consulted the brothers of the conventual chapter of O. L. of Silence, and appointed the same Dom Rufus Pound as superior ad nutum . The brothers of O. L. of Silence will come together in one of the existing monasteries to begin the life of the new community as soon as possible. The definitive location of the new monastery will be decided later. Let us pray for the brothers of this newest community of our Order! ocso.org

On Oct. 21, 2024, Fra Rafael Barrué Broch, Abbot of Santa María de Poblet and Abbot President of the Cistercian Congregation of the Crown of Aragon, appointed Sister Sara M. Picher Payà as Prioress Administrator of Santa María de Vallbona. As Prioress Administrator, she becomes the superior of the community, assuming all the powers that universal and proper law grants to the Abbess of the community. ocist.org

The Benedictine Confederation’s Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder is now sharing his circular letters publicly. Traditionally sent only to monasteries, these messages are now available in six languages for everyone to read. Circular letter: https://osb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Lettera-circolare1_EN.pdf osb.org

Colloquium on the Degrees of Humility and Pride The link to connect with Zoom to the conference on the Colloquium on the Degrees of Humility and Pride: https://anselmianum.zoom.us/j/92190754520 Programme: https://ocso.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Colloquium_Programme-de-la-Conference.pdf The link to connect to the conference via Zoom, for speakers who will not be present and remote participants, and for those who are present and need translation. There will be a choice between French and Italian. https://ocso.org/2024/11/02/colloquium-on-the-degrees-of-humility-and-pride-2/

News from the Trappist nuns after the floods in the Valencia region (Spain) : We are fine. The electricity was repaired yesterday. The nearby villages are catastrophic. There are still many cars piled up and garages with people trapped and dead. Many families have lost their homes and almost everyone has lost their car. More than one village is without electricity, water and food. The military and buses with many volunteers from all over are already accessing the worst affected places. Two rivers overflowed and the water came suddenly and flooded everything in 15 minutes without giving time to escape. When everything is cleaned up, there will be many more dead. It is most likely that we will welcome families in our Masia. It was a blessing that on the 26th I took Sr. Agripina to the Monasterio Asistencial and on Monday the 28th the whole crop of quinces arrived in Murcia, to the warehouse where the whole harvest has been sold. On the 29th the catastrophe began. Thank you very much for your prayers. Mother Maria Encarnación, Superior

On 1st November 2024, Solemnity of All Saints, Sister Maria Pia Julieta Karundeng made solemn profession at the monastery of Gedono (Indonesia). Sister Maria Pia was born in 1977 in Jakarta (Indonesia). She entered Gedono in 2016 and made first profession in 2019. ocso.org

Montecassino, the ancient father house of the Benedictines, remembered an important event last Thursday, 24 October. Sixty years ago on that day, Pope Paul VI consecrated the abbey church. This ended the long period of reconstruction after the destructive bombardment of the monastery during WWII. During the same occasion, Pope Paul VI declared Saint Benedict Patron of Europe. Archabbot Luca Fallica of Montecassino and the community celebrated this memorial anniversary with the presence of many regional and local dignitaries. During this period of war, the message of peace has taken on new meaning. Pacis Nuntius , “Messenger of Peace” was indeed the title of Pope Paul VI’s proclamation on that day. After the Mass, Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder provided a profound reflection on the 60th anniversary of the consecration of Montecassino Abbey, commemorating its history, the peace message of Pope Paul VI, and the ongoing mission of the Benedictine community. Highlighting the Abbey’s legacy as a place of spiritual renewal, resilience, and peace, Abbot Primate Jeremias’ words also urge us to look forward, embracing values that guide us in our challenging times. osb.org https://osb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Abbot_Jeremias_talk_EN.pdf https://abbaziamontecassino.it/omelie/labbazia-festeggia-i-60-anni-dalla-proclamazione-di-san-benedetto-a-patrono-deuropa-allinterno-lomelia-dellabate-luca/

On 28 October 2024, the community of Phase (Diocese of Sapporo, Japan) elected Dom Franciscus Yoshimoto Kunihiko as Abbot for a six-years term. Dom Franciscus was born in 1958 in Kita-Kyushu, Fukuoka-Ken (Japan). He entered Phare in 1988, made his solemn profession in 1993 and was ordained a priest in 2006. He was abbot of the community from 2009 to 2015. He has been superior ad nutum of the community since 2023. ocso.org