This year, we’re introducing a new development as we prepare for the Catalogus 2025: collaboration with some sisters from the Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum (CIB)! A small team are starting to work on a digital platform to gather and manage this information more effectively for the future. In January, we’ll begin contacting the Congregations to gather the necessary information. The platform will streamline the production of the print version of the Catalogus and provide valuable services to the Congregations, such as assistance with Vatican Annuarium forms, Congregation directories, jubilee lists, statistics, and more. We look forward to collaborating with the whole Confederation and CIB and will keep you informed as the work progresses. By Fr. Patrick Carter, OSB, Secretary of the Abbot Primate osb.org

Sr. Gabrielle Marie Oestreich was elected on November 30, 2024 during the Norfolk Priory Election Chapter, which Sr. Rosann Ocken, OSB the outgoing prioress of Norfolk and Prioress General-Elect, presided. https://osbtutzing.org/sr-gabrielle-marie-oestreich-prioress-of-norfolk/ Norfolk: https://www.mbsmissionaries.org/

Shortly after his election in September, Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder appointed Fr. Brendan Coffey, abbot emeritus of Glenstal Abbey in Murroe, County Limerick, Ireland, as prior of Collegio Sant'Anselmo . Fr. Brendan will assume formal responsibility for his new role on 7 January. Joseph (Brendan) Coffey was born in Ennis, Co Clare, Ireland, in 1970. After studies in Saint Patrick’s College Maynooth and in Rome, he was ordained a priest of the diocese of Killaloe in 1995. After ordination, he pursued postgraduate studies in canon law at the Gregorian University in Rome, after which he was appointed curate in the parish of Kilrush. He entered Glenstal Abbey in 1998, taking the name Brendan. He professed simple vows in 1999 and made his solemn profession in 2002. After some years working in the abbey school as a housemaster and teacher of Classics, Fr. Brendan spent two years at Santa Giustina, in Padua, Italy, doing postgraduate studies in liturgy. On his return to Glenstal, he served as prior of the monastery from 2007 until 2015. He spent the academic year 2015-16 at the Catholic University of America where he began doctoral studies in liturgy. He was elected abbot of Glenstal in September 2016 and received the abbatial blessing in November 2016. During his tenure as abbot, he oversaw the restoration and refurbishment of the buildings and encouraged conferences, outreach programs, and interfaith initiatives, reinforcing Glenstal’s reputation as a center for both monastic and public engagement. He completed his mandate as abbot of Glenstal in July 2024. In 2018 he was appointed first assistant to the abbot president of the Benedictine Congregation of the Annunciation, a role he still holds. He was elected president of the Association of Leaders of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland in September 2021 and served the customary two-year mandate. Beyond his responsibilities at Glenstal, Fr. Brendan has been an active participant in the broader Benedictine confederation, contributing to monastic visitations, conferences and retreats. This experience and background led to his appointment as prior of Collegio Sant’Anselmo in Rome, a pivotal institution for Benedictine education and collaboration. In this role, he continues his service to the Benedictine confederation and the universal Church. osb.org Glendstal

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