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On April 19, 2026, Sister Barnabé Mukawizeyimana made solemn profession at the monastery of Kibungo (Rwanda). Sister Barnabé was born in Zaza, Kibungo (Rwanda) in 1982; she entered Kibungo in 2017 and made first profession in 2022. ocso.org

Rome, May 4-8, 2026 Topic for the Course: "Behold, I make all things new" (Rev 21 :5) - How can Christ renew all things, and how do we open ourselves to this renewal of our monastic life? Course Program: 11:00-11:15 Chapter of the Abbot General Mauro Giuseppe Lepori, OCist 11:20-12:00 and 12:10-12:45 Fr. Carlo Casalone, SJ, Professor of Moral Theology at the Gregorian University: Digital transition and spirituality 14:30-15:10 and 15:20-16:00 Dr. Nina Sofie Heereman, Professor of Sacred Scripture at St. Patrick's Seminary and University (Menlo Park, CA, USA)"Fresh and dried, I have stored them up foryou" (Song of Songs 7:14): the Song of Songs and monastic renewal". Chapter of the Abbot General: https://www.ocist.org/ocist/index.php/en/abbot-general/capitoli-dell-abate-generale-5 ocist.org

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Following the Discernment Process facilitated by Sister Aileen Bankemper, OSB, and the election on April 18 facilitated by Sister Lynn McKenzie, OSB, President of the Monastic Congregation of St. Scholastica, the Benedictine Sisters are happy to announce that Sister Shelly (Michele) Farabaugh is the Prioress Elect. Installation will occur in June. www.osbpgh.org

On August 20, 2025, Solemnity of Saint Bernard, Sister Jitka Pacíková made solemn profession at the monastery of Naši Paní (Czech Rep.). Sister Jitka was born in 1988 in Znojmo (Czech Rep.). She entered Naši Paní in 2017 and made first profession in 2020. ocso.org

This year marked the 30th anniversary of the kidnapping of the seven monks of Tibhirine (March 26, 1996), in Algeria, whose murder was announced on May 21. They were beatified with the other martyrs of Algeria on December 8, 2018. Their Liturgical Feast (Memorial) is celebrated on May 8. Please find the Abbot General’s letter on their Liturgical Feast this year: https://www.ocso.org/uploads/general-news/documents/The-Abbot-General-Letter-on-Thibirine-Anniversary-EN.pdf ocso.org

Martyrdom in the Cistercian Tradition To mark the 30th anniversary of the martyrdom of the monks of Tibhirine , Cîteaux Mater Nostra – ARCCIS is organising a series of events on the theme of martyrdom in the Cistercian tradition. These will take place on 8, 9 and 10 May 2026 at Cîteaux Abbey. The event, which follows on from the ‘Cistercian Culture Days’ organised regularly by ARCCIS since 2005, is aimed at a wide audience. Anyone wishing to learn more about Cistercian life is welcome to attend. To register or for further information, please contact Cîteaux Mater Nostra-ARCCIS (secretariat@arccis.org). For those who wish, accommodation is available at the Cîteaux guesthouse, subject to availability. Please contact the guesthouse manager directly (hotelier@citeaux-abbaye.com), specifying that you are attending the Cistercian Culture Days. PROGRAMME Friday 8 May, the liturgical memorial of the Martyrs of Algeria 7.30 pm: Screening of the film “Des hommes et des dieux” (“Of Men and Gods”) (directed by Xavier Beauvois, 2010) Saturday 9 May, study day: ‘Martyrdom through the Cistercian tradition’ Morning: 7.30 am: Lauds and Mass 9 am: Welcome by Dom Pierre-André Burton (Abbot of Cîteaux and President of CMN-ARCCIS) 9.30–11.15 am: Discussion on the film “Of Men and Gods” with Henry Quinson (monastic advisor to Xavier Beauvois, the film’s director) 11.30 am–12.30 pm: The Brothers of Tibhirine. Witnesses through their fidelity to God in monastic life, by Dom Armand Veilleux (former Procurator of the OCSO and Abbot Emeritus of Scourmont) 12.30 pm: Sext Afternoon: 2.15–2.45 pm: The place of the martyrs in Chrysostome Henríquez’s *Menologium Cistertiense*, by Éric Delaissé (PhD in History, Art and Archaeology [Leuven] – CMN-ARCCIS) 2.45–3.15 pm: From conversion to gift: Siméon Cardon and the martyrs of Casamari (1799), by Father Bertrand (diocesan priest) 3.15–3.45 pm: The Blessed Gervais-Protais BRUNEL, Trappist, and Augustin-Joseph DESGARDIN (Brother Elie), monk of Sept-Fons; martyrs on the pontoons of Rochefort, by Father Yves Blomme (diocesan priest) 4.15–4.30 pm: Break 4.30 pm–5.00 pm: Yangjiaping, a place of Trappist remembrance, by Thomas Coomans (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) 5.00 pm–5.30 pm: Tibhirine, a place of sharing and listening, by Brother Yves Raymond (Chemin-Neuf Community, Tibhirine) 5.45–6.15 pm: Conclusions, by Dom Olivier Quenardel (Abbot Emeritus of Cîteaux) and Louise Pitoizet (historian – CMN-ARCCIS) 6.30 pm: Vespers Sunday 10 May 7.30 am: Lauds 10.30 am: Eucharistic celebration presided over by Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline 2.15 pm: None 2.45–4.00 pm: The martyrdom of Christians today and the witness of the Tibhirine monks, by Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline (public lecture in the abbey church) https://www.arccis.org/

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

Discernment in Monastic Life From Monday 4 May to Friday 5 June 2026, the latest edition of the online course in continuing monastic formation in Italian will take place, on the theme ‘Discernment in Monastic Life’, organised by the Faculty of Theology and the Monastic Institute of the Sant'Anselmo. Five new courses will be delivered, one per weekday, from 3.30 pm to 5.00 pm. https://www.anselmianum.com/it/news/1722-formazione-monastica-permanente-online

On April 12, 2026, Divine Mercy Sunday, Sister Martina Mansi made solemn profession at the monastery of Our Lady of St. Joseph in Vitorchano (Italy). Sister Martina was born in Andria (BA) in 1990; she entered Vitorchiano in 2017 and made first profession in 2021. ocso.org

On April 12, 2026, Divine Mercy Sunday, Brother Charles-Emmanuel Bourgin made solemn profession at Tamié (France) . Brother Charles-Emmanuel was born in 1965 in Saint-Etienne (Loire), France; he entered Tamié in 2020 and made first profession in 2023. ocso.org

By decree of 5 June 2025, the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life ordered an Apostolic Visitation of the Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz and appointed Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder OSB and Sister Christine Rod MC as visitators. Following in-depth interviews with 90 monks and numerous external individuals, the visit concludes today. The Abbot President of the Austrian Cistercian Congregation, Abbot Pius Maurer OCist, read out today, on behalf of the Dicastery, the Dicastery’s letter addressed to the monks of Heiligenkreuz, during a conventual chapter at Heiligenkreuz. The Visitor, Sister Christine Rod MC, answered the monks’ initial questions and presented the conclusions of the Visit. Abbot Primate Jeremias and Sister Christine Rod will discuss the results of the Visit in greater detail with the community at a later date. Over the coming months and years, the monks of Heiligenkreuz Abbey will carefully consider the Dicastery’s guidance and thus work to deepen their life of faith and strengthen the community’s ability to face the future. The abbey’s rapid growth has led to significant internal structural challenges, and the Holy See intends to support Heiligenkreuz Abbey in addressing these through its recommendations. The department’s guidelines focus on: • improving the community’s communication, both internally and externally, a necessity given the size of the community (over 100 monks); • strategic reflections on the future of the abbey and the setting of priorities; • a deeper introduction for young people to monastic life and the priesthood • as well as strengthening the identity and image of Heiligenkreuz Abbey. The Dicastery expressly thanks Abbot Maximilian Heim OCist for his exceptional personal commitment to Heiligenkreuz Abbey, which has contributed to the community’s remarkable growth. ocist.org https://www.stift-heiligenkreuz.org/