On March 24th 2025, Dom John Bosco Kamali completed his second six-year term as abbot of O.L. Victoria (diocese of Masaka, Uganda). On the same date, Dom Isaac Majoor, abbot of Tilburg and Father Immediate of Victoria, appointed the same Dom John Bosco Kamali as superior ad nutum of the community. ocso.org

Discussion on the Church in China The Benedictine Commission on China 2025 was held on 15 March at Sant’Anselmo. This year’s meeting saw the highest number of participants in recent years, including notable figures such as Abbot President Javier Aparicio of the Saint Ottilien Congregation, Abbot President Bernard Lorent of the Alliance Inter-Monastères, Abbot Blasio Park of Waegwan Abbey, Mother Prioress General Rosann Ocken of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing Congregation, and Mother Abbess Ildefonsa Paluzzi of Monastero San Giovanni Battista di Roma, among others. In addition to the on-site attendees, there were online participants, such as Abbot General Bernardus Peters, OCSO, and representatives from the Olivetan Benedictine Sisters of Busan, South Korea. In total, 19 participants were present in person, and four joined remotely. The meeting began in the morning with an opening address by Abbot Primate Jeremias Schroeder, followed by participant introductions. The first session focused on updates and reports regarding participants’ communities’ engagements with China. Later in the morning, two guests from the Dicastery for Evangelization, Fr. Pietro Murrali from the China Desk and Fr. Luciano Morra, SJ, from the Pastoral Commission, joined the meeting. They gave presentations on their work related to China and answered questions. The session concluded before midday prayer at Sant’Anselmo, followed by a shared lunch in the refectory. In the afternoon, an additional ten Chinese participants joined the meeting, including priests, seminarians, religious studying in Rome, and one layperson. The session featured a keynote presentation by Fr. Prior Norbert Du of Holy Cross Abbey in Jilin, China, who provided an analytical report on the Church in China and proposed future development perspectives. His presentation was followed by an open discussion and Q&A, marking the first time in BCC history that a large number of Chinese nationals participated directly in the discussion. It is also worth noting that this year’s meeting introduced an AI-powered live-text translation system, which significantly enhanced accessibility and mutual understanding among participants who spoke English, German, Italian, Korean and Chinese as their native languages. osb.org

Mokoto became an abbey at the OCSO General Chapter in September 2022. Since the war prevented us from holding an abbey blessing at Mokoto itself, up in the hills at an altitude of 1,800 meters, we had to wait. On March 2, 2025, our bishop kindly agreed to perform the blessing, not in Mokoto, but at Goma Cathedral. The community comprises 36 brothers. The political and military situation remains complicated for the population as a whole. We know that you are praying for us and for the whole population. We thank you for this. In trust and hope, in communion with you. ocso.org

On Tuesday 11 March 2025, Sister Marie-Christine Messin succeeded Sister Anne-Sophie Robitaillie as Prioress of the community of Brou-sur-Chantereine (France). The monastery of Jésus Crucifié (Jesus Crucified), formerly the Saint-Joseph monastery of the congregation of Jésus Crucifié (Jesus Crucified Congregation), has been part of the Sainte Bathilde congregation since 2024. The Congregation of Jesus Crucified no longer exists. https://www.benedictines-ste-bathilde.fr/les-monasteres/monastere-de-brou-sur-chantereine/ Sr Marie-Christine Messin.

We inform you of a new scam attempt of fake mails sent by with the address: lluctorcalocist@gmail.com. If someone receives an email from this address, they should absolutely not respond to it. This is obviously a scam. Please be careful. Below we present the emails that some Superiors have received: Von: Lluc Torcal O'Cist Gesendet: Sonntag, 16. März 2025 10:04 Betreff: Aus Rome Guten Morgen. Ich überweise heute Morgen 146.800 € von unserem Generalatskonto auf Ihr Konto in Austria. Ich werde Ihnen eine detaillierte E-Mail mit den Einzelheiten zum Betrag senden. Bitte bestätigen Sie, ob dies die korrekte Kontonummer AT27 3700 0000 0571 9422 ist. Mit freundlichen Grüßen, P. Lluc Torcal, O.Cist ocist.org

On 26 February 2025, the new superior of the community of Benedictine Missionary Sisters of Tutzing in Sarevbrod (Bulgaria), Sister Regina Tesch , was installed. The Prioress General, Mother Rosann, conducted the ceremony during her first visit since taking office last January. Sister Regina was previously a General Councillor of the Congregation for ten years. osbtutzing.org

We inform you of a new scam attempt of fake mails sent by with the address: nuntius.apostolica@gmail.com. If someone receives an email from this address, they should absolutely not respond to it or make any phone calls. This is obviously a scam. Please be careful. Below we present the emails that some Superiors have received: Cher frère; La Nonciature Apostolique de la République Démocratique du Congo à la demande personnelle de Son E. Cardinal Orani João Tempesta, O. Cist. Archevêque métropolitain de São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro (Brésil) qui se trouve actuellement en visite pastorale en République Démocratique du Congo souhaite en urgence parler au téléphone avec son confrère pour une communication fraternelle.. Nous avons plusieures fois essayé de vous joindre mais sans y parvenir Vous pouvez rapidement joindre le cardinal au numéro suivant.+ 243994274689 (WhatsApp) Union des prières. + Mgr. Thomas BALDINI (chargé d'affaires) ocist.org

On 22 May 2025, after consultation with Abbot Primate Dom Jeremias Schröder, the President of AIM, Dom Bernard Lorent Tayart, appointed Father Charbel Pazat de Lys as Secretary General of AIM for a five-year term. Father Charbel Pazat de Lys is a monk at the Abbey of Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux in France.

Roman Summer Study Program in English for monks, nuns, religious, oblates, clergy, laity. Join us for personal enrichment.
 Earn Graduate Credit.
 One Week. Two Weeks. Three Weeks.
 Study. Encounter. Discover. Pray. Summertime provides unique opportunities for learning, relaxing and engagement with new ideas and people. The International Monastic Summer Studium at Sant’Anselmo offers participants an experience of the treasures of the church in Rome while meeting people from around the world and earning graduate credit (3 ECTS per week). Join us for one, two, or three weeks of prayer, study, and discovery of Rome in the Jubilee Year! Summer 2025 : Three One-Week Sessions June 30-July 4 Monastics and Religious in the Liturgical Movement Fr. Eusebius Martis, O.S.B. July 7-11 The Book of Psalms Fr. László T. Simon, O.S.B. July 14-18 Monasticism, Catholicism and Non-Christian Religions Fr. Cyprian Consiglio, O.S.B. Cam. For more information: Fr. Eusèbe Martis OSB Program Coordinator mss@anselmianum.com Limited housing is available at Collegio Sant’Anselmo. Click the link below to visit the Atheneum web site for course descriptions, housing and financial information, registration and contact information: https://www.anselmianum.com/it/26-facolta/facolta-di-teologia/1102-mss osb.org https://osb.org/event/monastic-summer-studium/

International College "San Bernardo in Roma" of the Cistercian Order From 23 September (arrival on 22nd) to 27 September (departure after lunch) 2025 Topic for the Course: PILGRIMS IN HOPE https://www.ocist.org/ocist/images/pdf/ENCS2025.pdf ocist.org

The annual North and Central American Abbots’ Workshop took place at St. Joseph Abbey in Louisiana from 21 to 25 February 2025. The gathering brought together around 40–50 abbots and superiors for prayer, discussion, and collaboration on key issues facing monastic communities. The workshop featured two main speakers: Father Frank Donio, S.A.C., D.Min., and Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder, O.S.B. Father Donio, Executive Director of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM), presented on the state of religious life in the USA, trends in vocations, and best practices in vocational accompaniment. He also examined the evolving relationship between religious communities and the US bishops. Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder addressed monastic life and emerging trends within the Benedictine Confederation, marking five months in his role as Abbot Primate. He also facilitated discussions on preparations for the 2028/29 Benedictine Jubilee, commemorating 1,500 years since St. Benedict founded Montecassino. The workshop served as an opportunity for abbots to reflect on their shared mission, exchange insights, and strengthen ties within the Benedictine tradition. osb.org Photo courtesy of Liam Farris, student of Saint Joseph Seminary College studying for the Diocese of Nashville, TN, U.S.A.

The monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Seligenthal has been incorporated by the Holy See into the Congregation of Saint Gertrude the Great. After the request of the community, the chapter of the Congregation and, with the consent of the Synod of the Order, the Apostolic See, with a decree made on February 6, 2025, granted the incorporation. In this way, this monastery which was formerly directly incorporated into the Order and under the immediate responsibility of the Abbot General comes to live according to the Constitutions of the Congregation of Saint Gertrude the Great, under the immediate responsibility of the President of the Congregation. ocist.org https://abtei.seligenthal.de/ Seligenthal