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Dom Niko Verkley, superior ad nutum of Southern Star Abbey, Kopua (diocese of Palmerston North, New Zealand) since 2016, offered his resignation to the Father Immediate, Dom Steele Hartman, abbot of Tarrawarra Abbey (Archdiocese of Melbourne, Australia). Dom Steele accepted the resignation which became effective in December 2025. Since then, the brothers of Kopua and the Father Immediate, aided by the Abbot General and his Council, have sought the most life-giving path for the community. After discernment and following the process established in the Statute on Affiliation (General Chapter, 2025), Dom Steele requested that the community of Kopua be affiliated to the community of Tarrawarra. On April 14 th 2026, the Abbot General with the consent of his Council and in the name of the General Chapter approved this affiliation, effective immediately. We pray that this (the first affiliation for a community of monks in the Order) will help the community to return to full exercise of its autonomy. Dom Steele Hartman, abbot of Tarrawarra, thus becomes the major superior of the community of Kopua. ocso.org

On 25 March 2026, during a solemn Mass celebrated by the diocesan bishop, Mgr. Nuno Almeida, and in the presence of Dom Loris Tomassini, Abbot of Frattocchie, Father Immediate, and of Mother Rosaria Spreafico, abbess of Vitorchiano, the founding monastery, the foundation of Santa Maria Mãe da Igreja, Palaçoulo (Portugal) was officially elevated to the rank of simple priory, according to the decision of the General Chapter 2025. On 26 March 2026, Mother Giuseppina Maffini was elected the first prioress of Santa Maria Mãe da Igreja, Palaçoulo (Portugal) for a six-years term. Mother Giuseppina was born in Cremona, Italy in 1963. She entered Vitorchiano in 1988 and was sent to Palaçoulo as one of the foundresses in 2020. She has been the superior of the community of Palaçoulo since 2020. ocso.org

On March 25, 2026, The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, Sister Maria Annunciata Miyoko Nomura made solemn profession at the monastery of Our Lady of Imari (Japan) Sister Annunciata was born in 1983 in Kobe (Japan); she entered Imari in 2015 and made first profession in 2020. ocso.org

The Abbot General of the Cistercian Order presided over the celebration marking the 900th anniversary of the presence of the Cistercian Monastery of San Benito in Talavera de la Reina (Spain). Following the Eucharist, the Ars Antiqua Choir—composed of alumni of the Valle de los Caídos School of Chant—performed a concert of Gregorian chant. (March 21, 2026) ocist.org

"Transmitting the charism in the service of governance" is the theme of the 105th Assembly of the Union of Superiors General (USG), scheduled from May 27 to 29 in Sacrofano (Rome). The proceedings will open with contributions from two theologian-biblical scholars, Fr. Silvio Barbaglia of the Diocese of Novara and Fr. Maurizio Bevilacqua, a Claretian, on the meaning of charism and its transmission. Thursday, May 28 will be dedicated to the testimony of three Superiors General—Fr. Ignasi Fossas Colet of the Sublacense-Cassinese Congregation, Fr. Sergio Rodriguez Ramirez of the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity, and Fr. Massimo Fusarelli, Minister General of the Friars Minor—on their experience in transmitting the charism, followed by discussion through conversation in the Spirit. On Friday, May 29, the Superiors General will have the opportunity to engage in dialogue with officials of the Disciplinary Section of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith: Msgr. John Kennedy, Secretary of the Disciplinary Section, and Fr. Robert Geisinger, Promoter of Justice, will answer participants' questions, ensuring the anonymity of those submitted in advance. Article by Riccardo Benotti (SIR News Agency) Registrations open until April 12, 2026 https://www.usgroma.org/en/

Mother Ana Carmen Moneo Castel-Ruíz, titular prioress of Armenteira (archdiocese of Santiago di Compostella, Spain), offered her resignation to the Abbot General. The Abbot General, with the consent of his Council, accepted the resignation, which became effective on 19 February 2026. On 16 March 2026, the community elected Sr. Paula Maria Télles Gonzalés as titular prioress for a six-year term. Mother Paula Maria was born in 1967 in Pontevedra (Spain). She entered the monastery of Armenteira in 1997 and made her solemn profession in 2002. At the time of her election, she was the subprioress of the community. ocso.org

In February 2026 the Abbot General, assisted by M. Fiachra Nutty (abbess of Glencairn), carried out the special visitation at Bethlehem Abbey (Northern Ireland) requested by the General Chapter of September 2025 (vote 49). On 27 February 2026, the Abbot General, with the consent of his Council and in the name of the General Chapter, suspended the exercise of autonomy of the community of Bethlehem and appointed Fr. Joseph Tedesco of Mepkin Abbey as monastic commissary of the community, effective 17 March 2026. Dom Joseph was born in Philadelphia, USA in 1944. He was a diocesan priest when he entered Mepkin Abbey in 2008. He made his solemn profession in 2010 and was superior ad nutum of Mepkin from November 2018 to January 2026. This appointment brings to an end the service of Dom Aelred Magee as superior ad nutum of Bethlehem. ocso.org

This reading guide aims to assist readers of the circular letter of the Abbot General to the Order of 20 January 2026 by providing questions for reflection and dialogue. https://www.ocso.org/uploads/general-news/documents/Reading-Guide-Dilexit-te-EN.pdf ocso.org

7 March 2026 Fr. Stefan Geiger OSB Preside Pontifical Institute of Liturgy Sant'Anselmo Ateneo Some time ago, Bishop Aldo Berardi, Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia, requested a continuing education course for his clergy from the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy. Now we have arrived—and for the time being, we cannot leave. Together with our Guestmaster, Fr. Benoit Alloggia OSB, I traveled to Kuwait for this course; an additional three days in Bahrain were planned. However, as we sat on the plane on Saturday, taxiing toward the runway, the first attacks began. Since then, the airspace has remained closed. The Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia (Vicariatus Apostolicus Arabiae Septentrionalis) encompasses the Arab states of Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. According to its own data, it cares for an estimated 2.2 million Catholics—almost exclusively expatriates from all over the world. Approximately 80% of the faithful belong to the Latin Rite, while the Eastern Churches are also particularly visible, especially through their liturgies: Syro-Malabar, Maronite, Chaldean, and other Eastern traditions. In Saudi Arabia, any public practice of faith is prohibited; neither churches nor parishes exist there. The entire Gulf region has been drawn into a conflict that is not its own. Missile alerts have now become part of daily life; the military defense functions well and efficiently. Yet the atmosphere is characterized less by war rhetoric than by a latent, quiet anxiety: How long will this last? How far will it spread? And yet—the Church is alive. This is perhaps the most moving impression of these days. We have been warmly received at Holy Family Co-Cathedral Parish in Kuwait City; we lack for nothing. The course itself was theologically dense and vibrant. At its heart was a question that is anything but academic here: How do you celebrate the Liturgy with a community that has grown together from so many cultures and rites? How do you celebrate the Liturgy in a context that is not your own? The faithful are migrant workers from India, the Philippines, Egypt, and Lebanon—people who often live here only temporarily and yet form a remarkably vivid community. The clergy, predominantly missionary priests from India and the Philippines, represent various rites and know what is at stake: for these people, rite and piety are not merely pious habits, but a sense of home. The Filipinos bring their various forms of popular piety; the Indians remove their shoes before offering their prayers at the Lourdes Grotto in the Co-Cathedral’s atrium. To preserve these forms from the homeland while simultaneously integrating them into a common celebration is the true liturgical-pastoral task to which Bishop Berardi and his clergy devote themselves with great earnestness. That this is not a matter of course is shown particularly clearly by the situation in these days. In light of the conflict, public gatherings were prohibited, though after a few days, the church was permitted to remain open for personal prayer. The Masses this weekend—with Friday being the Islamic holiday and thus the day for the Sunday Liturgy—are taking place via livestream. We, too, are involved in pastoral activities, whether in celebrating Mass or hearing confessions. I was particularly impressed by the work of the Salesians in a district of Kuwait City where mostly expats are housed. They operate a parish there that has not been officially authorized but is tolerated. On the Friday before the attack, we were able to experience a normal morning, where usually between 800 and 1,000 children arrive first for catechism classes. These are held in many classrooms, divided by age groups from elementary students to youth preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation. A large number of catechists dedicate themselves with commitment and competence to the transmission of the faith. The conclusion is the communal Eucharistic celebration—a feast of faith where it becomes visible that the presence of God strengthens and creates identity. It is a colorful, lively bustle that overwhelms at first glance, but a closer look reveals one thing: that faith here is more than folklore. It sustains. It creates community, precisely where you are a stranger. As Benedictines, we often speak of hospitality—it belongs to the foundation stones of Benedictine spirituality, as expressed in The Rule of Saint Benedict. Here in Kuwait, we are truly experiencing it, and perhaps it is precisely here that it becomes clear why hospitality was so important to Saint Benedict, serving as the essence of Christian existence. Benedict calls us to receive Christ in every guest—and thus the presence of God becomes a concrete reality among us. From the community of priests in the Co-Cathedral parish who took us in, to the Christians we encounter in these days: people who are themselves in an uncertain situation and yet give what they have. In Kuwait, I am experiencing how a church of strangers— ecclesia peregrinans in the literal sense—lives exactly this spirit: rooted in prayer, hospitable, and remarkably full of hope. osb.org

Abbot Javier Aparicio Suárez OSB Abbot President Congregation of Sankt Ottilien News of Cuba has been flooding the newspapers for weeks. Following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that “the next country to fall will be the Cuban regime”. There is no doubt that life for Cubans has become even more difficult since then, if that is possible... But if they fall, it will not be “from very high”, as the situation in recent years has deteriorated to levels never seen before, not even during the so-called “special period”, when, due to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, aid decreased dramatically, and, of course, the serious consequences that such a prolonged embargo is having on the population. It is therefore not surprising that Cuba has had to face the largest exodus in its history in recent years, with figures exceeding one million citizens, mainly young people, since 2021. The daily life of Cubans can be summed up as endless queues waiting to obtain the most basic foodstuffs at exorbitant prices, or healthcare that increasingly lacks the most essential items, or workers who, if they can, travel to their jobs by bicycle or on foot for hours and hours, in the absence of public transport. In the midst of this situation, our community, San José de las Lajas, has become famous because, in the words of a provincial superior, “you are building a monastery, that is, you intend to continue, to remain here; and because you produce and offer basic food for the population”. From the house of the Otillien Congregation, we try to accompany the community as much as possible. Congregation Secretary Fr. Basil Barasa OSB, from the Abbey of Tigoni in Kenya, had the opportunity to share Christmas with them and experience first-hand — before President Trump's announcement of a tougher embargo — the daily life of the community. I intend to visit the community in about three weeks' time to accompany them for a few days in view of the situation facing the country, and to follow closely the progress of the construction. Curiously, in recent months, the pace of construction had made great progress, but these have now slowed due to the absolute lack of fuel and, therefore, electricity. I am now sharing a text I received yesterday, Tuesday, 10 February, from San José de las Lajas Prior Fr. Aaron Jang, originally from Waegwan Abbey, South Korea, in which he describes the current situation under which they are living: "Cuba has been suffering from an energy crisis for several years due to a lack of fuel. However, the government was able to prevent the collapse of the energy system thanks to the help of the government of former President Maduro of Venezuela. But after the U.S. military operation in Caracas on 3 January, Cuba lost its largest fuel supplier. The effects were almost immediate. Public transport and schools were suspended. Hospital and health services were reduced. Fuel sales were limited to 20 litres, with people having to wait several days to purchase it. In addition, the Cuban government warned international airlines that it was running out of aviation fuel. As a result, some flights were cancelled and schedules changed. The greatest concern is the near future. Studies estimated that, without new oil shipments, Cuba would be in a serious crisis by March. Although some countries promised aid, the U.S. president threatened trade tariffs on all countries that supplied oil to Cuba. In the case of our community, both construction and farm work are limited. Currently, builders come on bicycles and work by hand without machinery. Last month, three containers of materials arrived in Cuba from Spain, but due to fuel shortages, they have not been able to transport them to the monastery. On the farm, we use a tractor when absolutely necessary. The rice planting season is coming soon. But if this critical situation continues, we will have to leave many areas unplanted. In fact, the most important thing is not the construction or the farm, but the life of the community. We need to prepare in some way in case of total collapse. For example, how are we going to solve the problem of drinking water? Hopefully, it will not come to the worst. We invite you to remember Cuba in your prayers. May the Lord help the Cuban people and lead them to hope.” The text needs no further comment, and words probably cannot describe the deeper reality of a people who do not understand geopolitics or international conflicts, but who trust in a more dignified future. Fatigue is taking its toll on the people of Cuba; the crisis is no longer an occasional issue; uncertainty about the immediate future is deepening the wound that has been open for so long. Money transfers from friends and family continue to arrive from abroad, providing a minimal amount of help to survive in the midst of despair. And in the midst of despair, solidarity and the continued ability to help one another have also made their presence felt. In this context, religious communities — those that have not yet left — continue to play an important role, offering not only companionship and consolation, but also real support, as far as possible, both human and spiritual. It is Cuba and the Cuban people who must decide their future. In the coming years, Cuba will need to rebuild itself, both humanly and materially; a reconstruction that will restore dignity to its people, morally, socially and spiritually. That future will require everyone's help. On this arduous journey, our community is a sign of perseverance, of struggle, of generous work and of commitment to those who need it most. Today, Ash Wednesday, begins a time of conversion. But it is also a time for hope, when a new heaven and a new earth will be revealed in the midst of our fragility. osb.org

On March 1, 2026, Brother Toussaints Mwenyezi made solemn profession at Mokoto Abbey (Dem. Rep. of the Congo). Brother Toussaints was born in 1991 in Matanda, DRC; he entered Mokoto in 2020 and made first profession in 2023. ocso.org

After the death of Mother Mechthild, M. Lucia Kienzler was appointed Prioress Administrator of the Cistercian Monastery of St. Joseph in Thyrnau (Germany). May God bless her service for the benefit of her community. ocist.org