Mother Anne-Emmanuelle Devêche, Abbess of Blauvac (archdiocese of Avignon, France) since 1999, reached the age mentioned in St. 40.A of the Constitutions and submitted her resignation to the Abbot General who accepted it with the consent of his Council. The resignation became effective on 19 February 2025. On 22 February 2025, Mother Marie Christine Vilmain, abbess of Rivet, to whom is currently delegated the authority of Father Immediate of the community of Blauvac, appointed Sister Bénédicte de la Croix Avon as superior ad nutum of Blauvac, with effect from 23 February 2025. Mother Anne-Emmanuelle continues to hold the authority of Father Immediate of the community of Fons Pacis, Syria, until the General Chapter of 2025. ocso.org https://abbaye-blauvac.com/

On 19 February 2025, the community of Sorá (Archdiocese of Panama, Panama) elected Mother Fabiana Barrera as Titular Prioress of the Community. At the time of her election, she was Superior ad nutum of Sorá. ocso.org

On 17th February 2025, at the end of his fifth abbatial mandate, Dom Isidoro Anguita Fontecha was re-elected Abbot of the Abbey of Santa María de Huerta (diocese of Osma-Soria, Spain) for a new six-year term. ocso.org https://monasteriohuerta.org/

On February 12, 2025 the community of Frauenthal (Switzerland) elected Sr. Bede Berg as their new abbess. Let us thank God for this choice and ask the Holy Spirit to guide the new abbess for the good of her community. ocist.org https://www.kloster-frauenthal.ch/

On February 8, 2025, Father Prior Bruno, President of the Congregation of St. Gertrude, named Mother Petra Articus administrator of the Monastery of St. Marienthal (Germany) for three years. We thank God for the generosity of M. Petra and we pray for the wellbeing of the community. ocist.org https://www.kloster-marienthal.de/

On 11th February 2025, at the end of her first abbatial mandate, Mother Sofia Millican was re-elected Abbess of Mount St. Mary’s Abbey, Wrentham (Archdiocese of Boston, USA) for a new six-year term. ocso.org https://msmabbey.org/

In a message dated 2 January 2025, and published on 30 January, Pope Francis commemorated the 150th anniversary of the death of Dom Prosper Guéranger, the founder of the Solesmes Congregation. Addressed to Dom Geoffroy Kemlin, Abbot of Saint-Pierre de Solesmes and President of the Solesmes Congregation, the Pope’s letter highlights Guéranger’s significant contributions to the Church. Pope Francis emphasized two key aspects of Guéranger’s legacy: his unwavering fidelity to the Holy See, particularly in liturgical matters, and his role as a spiritual father. The Pope noted that Guéranger was a pioneer of the Liturgical Movement, which eventually led to the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium. He also praised Guéranger’s dedication to restoring Benedictine monastic life in France and his efforts to make the beauty and richness of the liturgy accessible to both clergy and laity through his writings, such as L’année liturgique. Reflecting on Guéranger’s spiritual fatherhood, Pope Francis highlighted his gentle and joyful trust in God, which deeply touched not only monks and nuns but also laypeople, including families and individuals seeking spiritual guidance. The Pope expressed his hope that Guéranger’s example would inspire the faithful to love Christ and the Church, fostering unity and a spirit of service. The message concludes with the Pope’s prayer that Dom Guéranger’s work continues to bear fruits of holiness among the faithful and remains a living testimony to the vitality of monastic life at the heart of the Church. https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2025/01/30/250130a.html osb.org

During an extraordinary General Chapter in Waegwan, Korea, the Congregation of St. Ottilien elected a new abbot president on 18 January. Abbot President Javier Aparicio Suarez , is a monk of the Archabbey of Sankt Ottilien. Until his election he served as Mission Procurator of the Congregation. Javier Aparicio Suarez. On 11 January, Pope Francis appointed Abbot Jeremy Driscoll of Mount Angel Abbey, of the Swiss American Congregation, a member of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The community of Göttweig Abbey, of the Austrian Congregation, elected Fr. Patrick Schöder its 66th abbot on 8 January 2025. He succeeds Abbot Columban Luser who had been abbot since 2009. In Sant‘Anselmo, the new prior Fr. Brendan Coffey , monk and emeritus abbot of Glenstal, of the Congregation of the Annuntiation, took office on 7 January 2025. His predecessor Fr. Mauritius Wilde, prior since 2016, will take a sabbatical and then continue to work at Sant‘Anselmo in several functions. Maredsous Abbey, of the Congregation of the Annuntiation elected a new abbot on 19 December: Fr. François Lear . His predecessor, Abbot Bernard Lorent, took over as president of the AIM on January 1st. In Kellenried, an abbey of nuns of the Beuronese Congregation, the abbot president appointed Sr. Veronika Kiechle as Prioress Administrator December 17. She follows abbess M. Regina Kuhn. On 13 December, the Dicastery for Consecrated Life established a new Congregation of Benedictine nuns in the United States, under the title of “Mother of the Incarnation”. It comprises the monasteries of Petersham, Blanco and Virginia Dale. On 19th November, Abbot Primate Jeremias established a Juridical Commission. Its members are Abbot President Franziskus Berzdorf of the Beuronese Congregation, Prior Brendan Coffey of Sant’Anselmo/Glenstal and Prof. Fr. Laurentius Eschlböck of Sant’Anselmo/Vienna. https://osb.org/en/2025/01/20/bullet-points-benedictine-news-and-elections/ osb.org

Rome, June 2-6, 2025 
 Topic for the Course: “Lived Liturgy” Program: 11:00-11:15 Chapter of the Abbot General Mauro Giuseppe LEPORI 11:20-12:00 e 12:10-12:45Prof. Don Pierangelo MURONI The Impulses of the Magisterium: Sacrosantum Concilium and Desiderio Desideravi. 14:30-15:10 e 15.20-16:00 Prof. Fr. Marco PAVAN The Biblical vision of the liturgy: the psalms. https://www.ocist.org/ocist/images/pdf/ENOnlineCourse2025.pdf ocist.org

On 27 October 2024, Dom Jean-Marc Chéné, Abbot of Bellefontaine (diocese of Nantes, France), presented his resignation to the Abbot General. On 28 October 2024, the Abbot General, with the consent of his Council, accepted it and it became effective 9 December 2024. On 6 February 2025, at the request of Dom Thomas Georgeon, Abbot of La Trappe and Father Immediate of Bellefontaine, the Abbot General and his Council, in the name of the General Chapter, suspended the exercise of autonomy of the community of Bellefontaine and appointed Father Samuel Gonçalves as Monastic Commissary of the community (Cst. 34bis.1). The appointment became effective immediately. Dom Samuel was born in 1953 in La Rochelle (France). He entered Bellefontaine in 1977, made his solemn profession in 1982 and was ordained a priest in 1987. ocso.org Dom Samuel

A scam email is circulating in the name of Dom Eamon, our Abbot General Emeritus, requesting that you receive a visit to your community. ** Please do not pay attention to such messages. ** When you receive such an email, always check that the sender’s address is correct. ocso.org

On February 2, 2025, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Brother Mario Satrio Indro Muliono y Brother Pius X Alfius Pau made solemn profession at the monastery of Rawaseneng (Indonesia). Brother Mario was born in 1985 in Purworejo (Indonesia). He entered Rawaseneng in 2013 and made first profession in 2016. Brother Pius X was born in 1995 in Marangkayu (Indonesia). He entered Rawaseneng in 2017 and made first profession in 2020. ocso.org