We would like to inform you that yesterday evening, June 24, 2026 local time, Venezuela was affected by two strong earthquakes. By God’s grace, our monasteries in Los Andes and Humocaro are safe. We kindly ask for your prayers for the safety and well-being of our brothers and sisters in these communities, as well as for all the people in the affected regions who are facing this difficult situation. May the Lord grant them strength, protection, and comfort in this time of need. ocso.org

June 12, 2026 The Roman Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life has approved the request to affiliate the Cistercian Priory of St. Mary at Helfta with the Cistercian Abbey of Seligenthal in Landshut, thereby attaching the Helfta community to the Seligenthal community. ocist.org https://www.ocist.org/ocist/images/pdf/HelftaAffiliation.pdf

Diocese press release (17 February 2026) Since 1969, at the Merci-Dieu monastery in Saint-Jean-d'Assé, near Le Mans (France), sisters have been living a life of prayer, hospitality and craftsmanship, weaving and making liturgical vestments (chasubles, stoles, albs, etc.). Their life is governed by the Rule of Saint Benedict. The nuns have realised that the buildings are now unsuitable due to their age and condition. Therefore, after a year of communal discernment, in consultation with Bishop Vuillemin of Le Mans, it was decided that the Institut de la Merci-Dieu would not be dissolved, but that five nuns would join a nursing home, integrate into a more suitable religious community, or continue to live their monastic vows in other ways. In conjunction with the Diocese of Le Mans, discussions are underway regarding the future of the Merci-Dieu buildings. The Merci-Dieu community and the diocese warmly thank all those who, near and far, have helped the community to remain faithful to its mission. For 2,000 years, the life of the Church has always been marked by countless changes! Mgr Jean-Pierre Vuillemin fraternally invites friends, volunteers and all the faithful of the Diocese of Le Mans to give thanks for all that has been experienced at Merci-Dieu in the name of Christ and his Gospel. Monsignor Jean-Pierre Vuillemin will preside over a Mass of Thanksgiving on Saturday, 27 June 2026, at 4 p.m. in the Chapel of Merci-Dieu in the presence of the Sisters. The Mass will be followed by a reception. https://www.sarthecatholique.fr/communique-merci-dieu-17-02-2026/ https://www.merci-dieu.com/vetements-lithurgiques.html

Following the departure of the Trappist monks in November 2025, the abbey is currently in a transitional phase and closed to the public whilst preparations are made for the arrival of the new community, which will comprise a dozen monks from the Benedictine Abbey of Le Barroux. The abbey will officially reopen its doors on 11 July 2026 at 10 am with a solemn Mass celebrated by Dom Louis-Marie de Geyer d'Orth, Abbot of Le Barroux, in the presence of Bishop Emmanuel Delmas of Angers. www.abbaye-bellefontaine.org

The General Chapter of September 2025 voted (Vote 33) in support of the request to the Holy See by Fr. Henri Fouda CSsP, Apostolic Commissary of Koutaba (diocese of Bafoussam, Cameroon) since 2017, to end the regime of Apostolic Commissary in that community. The ad hoc commission which studied the situation of Koutaba further recommended that if the Holy See responded favourably to this request, Fr. Fouda should be appointed monastic commissary of Koutaba, pending the completion of his transitus to our Order. On 27 April 2026 the Holy See accepted Fr. Fouda’s resignation as Apostolic Commissary and returned Koutaba to the structures of the Order. On 12 June 2026 the Abbot General and his Council, acting in the name of the General Chapter, and in accordance with the above recommendation, suspended the exercise of autonomy of the community and appointed Fr. Henri Fouda as monastic commissary (cf. C. 34bis.2) of Koutaba. ocso.org

On June 13, 2026, Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Brother Kenneth Hessemer made solemn profession at the monastery of Spencer (United States). Brother Kenneth was born in 1989 in Rahway, New Jersey (United States). He entered Spencer in 2020 and made his first profession in 2023. ocso.org

On Wednesday 10 June 2026, the Benedictine Abbey of Montserrat welcomed Pope Leo XIV, 44 years after the visit of Pope Saint John Paul II. Nearly 8,000 people were present and took part in the recitation of the Rosary, focusing on the Glorious Mysteries, traditionally meditated upon on Wednesdays. Pope Leo XIV was welcomed by 1,200 children from various Christian schools in Catalonia, to the sound of the monastery’s ceaseless bells. After speaking with the children, the Pope was welcomed by the Abbot of Montserrat, Dom Manel Gasch i Hurios, at the door of the Basilica of Santa Maria, where the Pope kissed the True Cross, before proceeding with the washing of hands and the sprinkling of holy water. The Abbot presented him with the key to the basilica as a sign of welcome. Inside the basilica, Dom Man Gasch i Hurios thanked the Pope for his visit, which “strengthens our faith and reaffirms the purpose of this thousand-year-old sanctuary and monastery”, noting that “the Benedictine monks of this house would like Montserrat to be the monastery of which your predecessor, Saint Paul VI, spoke: the place where man is reunited with himself and helps to build a world at peace”. Finally, he shared this reflection: “All Catalan Christians are here, in person or virtually, and welcome you once again to Catalonia through this Montserrat which unites and spiritually identifies the Churches on pilgrimage to this land.” The Holy Father then presided over the recitation of the Rosary, accompanied by the Abbot of Montserrat and the Bishop of San Feliu, Bishop Xabier Gómez. Once the prayer was over, the Holy Father addressed those present, stating that “the Moreneta has always been with me”, recalling the origins of the parish dedicated to Our Lady of Montserrat which he founded in Trujillo (Peru). He accompanied this message by saying he felt “happy to be at the feet of the Moreneta to entrust to her, with full confidence in her maternal intercession, my Petrine ministry and the mission of the Church in a world that cries out for justice and peace”. In his address, he also recalled the reasons that led Pope Francis to bestow the Golden Rose upon the Moreneta, and cited an example of profound conversion: that of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. At the end, the Montserrat choir took over the prayer by singing the Salve and the Virolai. On this occasion, accompanied by the Capella de Música de Montserrat and a small group of musicians, they performed the eight-part Salve Regina with echoes, by Fr. Joan Cererols (1618–1680). The ‘Virolai’, composed by Monsignor Jacint Verdaguer in honour of Our Lady of Montserrat to a melody by Josep Rodoreda, marked the prelude to one of the most eagerly awaited moments: the meeting between Pope Leo XIV and the image of Our Lady of Montserrat to venerate her, whilst the altar boys sang the final verses of the “Virolai”. Before concluding the public part of his visit, the Holy Father went out onto the balcony to address a few words to all those present, “to remind everyone that faith gives life”, accompanied by a blessing. The private part of the ceremony included a lunch with the entire Benedictine community of Montserrat as well as the choir, before setting off back to Barcelona to continue his apostolic journey. https://abadiamontserrat.cat/es/noticia/763/santo-padre-leon-xiv-peregrina-montserrat-moreneta-siempre-me-acompanado https://abadiamontserrat.cat/es/?

On June 24, 2026, The Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, Sister Marie-Théophane Van Hattum made solemn profession at the Abbey of Our Lady of Good Help, Blauvac (France). Sister Marie-Théophane was born in Leiden (The Netherlands) in 1970. She entered the monastery in Arnhem in 2016, made her first profession in 2019, and transferred her stability to Blauvac in 2022. ocso.org https://abbaye-blauvac.com/

On 15 and 16 June 2026, the newly appointed Advisory Board of the Pontifical Atheneum Sant’Anselmo gathered in Rome for its inaugural meeting. Established in accordance with the Statutes of the Atheneum, the board serves as a vital instrument through which the Benedictine Confederation exercises its care for the institution. Comprising monks and sisters and a layman from three continents, the new board brings a distinct perspective to the Atheneum. Abbot Primate Jeremias noted that while past boards focused heavily on administrative affairs and institutional reform, the current group is defined by its deep roots in the monastic tradition. "The special quality of the Advisory Board is its monastic nature," the Abbot Primate observed. "Almost everybody comes from a monastery and all of them have long experience of monastic life and monasteries. Three of them represent female monasticism whose presence in Rome we want to increase. They should help us to really tailor our offerings and our institution to the actual needs of monastic families all over the world, and we look forward to achieving great things together with them." As Sant’Anselmo’s Grand Chancellor, Abbot Jeremias, along with Rector Jákó Örs Fehérváry OSB and Vice Rector Laurentius Eschlböck OSB, participated in the meetings. Secretary of the Abbot Primate Patrick Carter OSB facilitated the proceedings. Board Members Abate Ignasi Fossas OSB Recently elected Abbot President of the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation and a monk of Montserrat. His leadership over one of the largest global networks of Benedictine monasteries provides critical strategic oversight and administrative guidance for the Confederation’s central academic institution. He received his doctorate in liturgy from Sant’Anselmo and currently teaches at the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy. Abbot Olivier-Marie Sarr OSB Abbot of Keur Moussa in Senegal and an active professor at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute at Sant’Anselmo. As both an alumnus and a faculty member, he bridges deep institutional memory with the vibrant, growing perspective of African monasticism. Prioress Hannah van Quakebeke OSB Prioress of the Benedictine Priory of Bethany in Loppem, Belgium. She brings a vital perspective from Northern European monastic communities and possesses practical governance experience from conducting canonical visitations of other abbeys. She graduated with a doctorate from the Monastic Institute and was an Invited Professor during academic years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. Sr. Scholastika Häring OSB A distinguished canon lawyer and co-founder of the Institute of Canon Law for Women Religious at the Abbey of Burg Dinklage. She serves as an official at the ecclesiastical court of Münster, providing the board with specialized legal expertise and a strong structural voice for female Benedictine communities. Abbess Noemi Scarpa OSB Abbess of the Monastery of Sant’Anna in Bastia Umbra, where she leads an actively engaged, community-focused monastic presence. Her unique background—which includes leaving a professional basketball career for the cloister—and dynamic leadership offer a grounded vision of modern Italian monastic life. Prof. Andreas Bieringer Professor of Liturgical Studies, Hymnology, and Christian Art at Sankt Georgen in Frankfurt, Germany. His extensive academic research on the intersection of liturgy, literature, and culture adds robust, specialized academic rigor that aligns perfectly with Sant’Anselmo’s renowned liturgical faculties. Fr. Edward Mazich OSB Rector of Saint Vincent Seminary in Pennsylvania, where he serves as director of liturgy and professor of Sacred Scripture. Holding degrees from both the Pontifical Biblical Institute and the Gregorian University in Rome, he contributes invaluable expertise in seminary administration and biblical scholarship. S.E. Mons. Eric Varden OCSO Bishop of Trondheim, Norway, and a Trappist monk who formerly taught theology at Sant’Anselmo. Holding a doctorate from Cambridge and having recently preached the 2026 Lenten Spiritual Exercises for the Roman Curia, he brings profound theological insight and an international spiritual perspective. Drawing upon their expertise and personal knowledge of Sant’Anselmo, the board members helped the leaders of the Atheneum to identify present challenges and explore ways to make the academic offering more fruitful at the service of global monasticism. Abbot Primate Jeremias and Rector Jákó would like to thank the members of the previous Advisory Board and wish the new ones “buon lavoro” in their task to accompany the Atheneum in its mission to serve the Church, the Benedictine Confederation and the wider culture. osb.org

On June 13, 2026, Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Sister Marie Madeleine Beverly made solemn profession at the Mississippi Abbey (USA). Sister Madeleine was born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA in 1989; she entered Mississippi in 2018 and made first profession in 2021. ocso.org

On Monday 11 May 2026, the Bishop of Sokodé (Togo), Bishop Célestin-Marie GAOUA, welcomed a group of Benedictine Missionary Sisters from Tutzing. It is with hearts filled with gratitude and hope that we joyfully welcome the opening of our new community of the Benedictine Missionary Sisters of Tutzing in Togo. This new foundation marks an important moment in our missionary journey, as we continue to respond to God’s call to serve, to evangelise and to build communion amongst his people. Warmly welcomed by Bishop Célestin-Marie Gaoua and the faithful of the Diocese of Sokodé, our community begins its mission rooted in the Benedictine values of prayer, hospitality, simplicity and service. We come not only as missionaries, but also as sisters and companions, ready to walk alongside the local Church and the people of Togo. May this new community become a place of faith, peace and encounter — where God is sought in daily life and where every person is welcomed with love and dignity. Entrusting this mission to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Saint Benedict and Saint Scholastica, we pray that our presence may bear fruit in unity, compassion and hope for generations to come. “Ut in omnibus glorificetur Deus” — That God may be glorified. osbtutzing.org https://www.radiomariasaintetherese.tg/2026/05/accueil-des-benedictines-missionnaires-de-tutzing-dans-le-diocese-de-sokode/

Mother Rosaria Spreafico, abbess of the monastery of Nostra Signora di San Giuseppe, Vitorchiano (diocese of Viterbo, Italy) since 1988, offered her resignation to the Abbot General in the light of ST 40.A of our Constitutions. With the consent of his Council, the Abbot General accepted the resignation, which became effective on July 3rd, 2026 On 22nd July 2026, the community of Vitorchiano elected Sr. Maria Giovanna Locatelli as abbess for a six-year term. Mother Maria Giovanna was born in 1979 in Rome (Italy). She entered the monastery of Vitorchiano in 2004 and made her solemn profession in 2010. At the time of her election, she was the novice director of the community. ocso.org