Search results

New Bulletin of AIM, no. 128: Law and Life. https://www.aimintl.org/en/communication/report/128 Contents   Editorial Dom Bernard Lorent Tayart, OSB, President of AIM   Perspectives • Updating Constitutions Fr. Aitor Jimenez   • The revision of juridical texts in the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation Dom Étienne Ricaud, OSB   • The CIB Sister Lynn McKenzy, OSB   • The Federation of Notre-Dame de la Rencontre  (Our Lady of the Encounter) Sister Marie-Benoît Kaboré, OSB   • Statute on the Accompaniment of Fragile Communities and on the Suppression of a Monastery Official text, OCSO   • Questions for two new presidents of congregations Dom Bernard Lorent Tayart, OSB   Witness To Find Communion in Change Br. J.-B. Donleavy et Fr. J. George, OSB   Reflection Reflection on the presence/absence of monks in the life of the Church today Fr. Manuel Nin i Güell, osb, Exarch   A page of history The Council of Nicaea Mr. Jérôme de Leusse   Great figures of monastic life Dom Kevin O’Farrell Dom David Tomlins, ocso   News • The millennium of Montserrat Fr. Bernat Julio, OSB   • Golden Jubilee of the  ISBF Dom James Mylackal, OSB   • Silver jubilee of the Monastery of Teok Fr. Sibi Joseph Vattapara, OSB   • Dom Javier Suárez Information about Sankt Ottilien   • The Commission for China Dom Bernard Lorent Tayart, OSB

On 26 July 2025, the community of Miraflores (Diocese of Rancagua, Chile) elected Dom Lucas Marckmann Soto as Abbot of the Community for a six-year term. At the time of his election, he was Superior ad nutum of the community. ocso.org

On July 25, 2025, Solemnity of Saint James the Apostle, patron of Spain, Brother Pablo María Colmenar Vázquez made solemn profession at the monastery of San Isidro de Dueñas (Spain). Brother Pablo María was born in 1994 in Benavente, Zamora (Spain). He entered San Isidro in 2017 and made first profession in 2021. ocso.org https://www.abadiasanisidro.es/

This edition of NEXUS should reach you on 11 July, the day when we celebrate St Benedict. Among us Benedictines, this day is celebrated in different ways: straightforward as our Holy Father’s feastday, or as the day when the translation of his relics from Montecassino to Fleury is commemorated, or – here in Europe – as his feastday as principal patron of Europe. I will be spending this day in Worth Abbey in England where I have been invited for a big feast of the community, and also as a keynote speaker for “Benedict Week”, an event promoted by the Lay Community of St Benedict who are great promotors of Benedictine values and spirituality in Britain. Two days ago, an EWTN reporter interviewed me about the medal of St Benedict. For most of us, the medal is not exactly the most important element of our heritage, but it has broad appeal and millions of faithful wear it as a sign of protection. The timeless design, created for the 1880 jubilee, explains part of this popularity. The “mysterious” sequence of letters – CSSMDNDSMDVRSSMQLIVB – add to the fascination, I believe. It is a riddle and hints at something larger. And once the riddle is understood, the archaic text – with dragons and poison, no less – conjures a rich imagery and takes us back into a world that savours of adventure, peril and salvation. The colourful prayer was formulated in the late middle ages, possibly at the abbey of Metten, but it has no direct connection with St Benedict himself. That does not matter – a great tradition can generously incorporate different strands. And as far as Benedictine internet searches go, the medal is bringing lots of seekers to our Benedictine websites. A few days ago I came back from a long trip through Italy, France and Switzerland. Under the working title of “Tour de France”, Fr Patrick and I visited 13 communities as well as the birthplace of St Anselm, in Aosta. The main goal was to visit those monasteries directly under the abbot primate. I have now been to five of them, only Weston Priory in the U.S. is still on my list. Like all of my predecessors, I am trying to slowly reduce their number by helping those communities to join congregations. This is not just about making my work easier. I genuinely believe that in these trying times a congregation can offer a degree of superivison, assistance and solidarity which the abbot primate cannot provide. Another focus of my journey were monasteries which have adopted the older usage for their liturgy, i.e. what Pope Benedict XVI referred to as the extraordinary form. There are around ten such monasteries in our Confederation, most of them in France. This is a part of our monastic world with which I previously did not have any contact. As it is a duty of the abbot primate to represent our entire Benedictine world, I felt I really had to become familiar with this reality. These were no visitations, however, simply fraternal visits, and sadly – as always - too short. Four things stood out for me: First of all, there was a very warm-hearted and kind hospitality everywhere. Second, my impression was of a very serious monastic observance in all these houses. Thirdly, and – contrary to what some may suspect – I got a strong sense of these houses being in communion with the successor of Peter and also with our wide and varied Benedictine family. Finally, these monasteries appear to be in a phase of stability or even growth: there were novices and juniors in all the houses we visited, and I heard about two planned new foundations. Enlightening for me was also the experience of diversity: Fontgombault and its daughterhouses have elements that are characteristic of the Solemes Congregation, something I could perhaps call “monastic elegance”, while Le Barroux and La Garde exhibit some of the more rugged features typical of the Subiaco-Muard tradition from which they originally stem. I came to know a vibrant part of our Benedictine world. Let me end this with a personal note. A new coat of arms was not exactly a priority for me, but after nine months or so I got around to commissioning a draught that you will find attached to these notes. On the left side - which the heraldic experts confusingly call the right - you find the older arms of Sant’Anselmo, used since the beginning of our house under Abbot Primate Hildebrand de Hemptinne. They are paired with a star over waves. The star is taken from my motto “Respice Stellam”, which in its turn comes from a sermon of St Bernard about Our Lady, Star of the Seas. He describes her as refuge, consolation and help when great troubles loom. The silvery waves complement this, and also recall my home, Bad Wörishofen in Bavaria, a spa which is well known for its live-giving waters. In the Northern Hemisphere it is now holiday season. Sant’Anselmo has emptied and a small crew tries to keep the house going over the summer. Not all of our communities practice vacations, but I hope you will all find a few days or moments of recreation and rest until I write to you again this coming fall. Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder osb.org https://osb.org/fr/2025/07/11/notes-from-the-aventine-june-july/ https://osb.org/fr/2025/07/09/events-elections-and-appointments-june-july/

On July 11, 2025, Solemnity of Saint Benedict, Sister Laurence Gabriella Gauchier made solemn profession at the monastery of Blauvac (France). Sister Laurence Gabriella was born in 1982 in Valréas (France). She entered Blauvac in 2017 and made first profession in 2020. ocso.org

On 10 July 2025, at the end of her second abbatial term, Mother Hortense Mituga was re-elected Abbess of Clarté-Dieu (Archdiocese of Bukavu, D.R. Congo) for a new six-year term. ocso.org

During the Eucharist on Sunday, 10 August 2025, Sister Jeanne-Emilie, Sister Anne-Foucauld and Sister Claire-Bénédicte will take their perpetual vows in the Congregation of the Servants of the Poor at the Mother House in Angers (France). The Congregation of the Servants of the Poor, Regular Oblates of the Order of Saint Benedict, is a religious institute dedicated to apostolic life. Under the patronage of Saint Frances of Rome, these Benedictine nuns are at the service of the poor, mainly in the care of the sick at home. Other works to which the sisters may devote themselves, according to the calls of the Church, must always be in line with this mission. Founded in 1872 by Dom Leduc, a monk from the Abbey of Solesmes, the Servants of the Poor are now present in France, Belgium, Senegal and Congo. https://servantesdespauvres-osb.org/

On June 17, 2025, Dom Bento Gonçalves de Oliveira , OCist, Abbot of Nossa Senhora da Santa Cruz, in Itaporanga, was elected Abbot President of the Brazilian Congregation of Cistercians, during the celebration of the 17th Chapter of the aforementioned Congregation. Consequently, the Abbot General of the Cistercian Order, Dom Mauro-Giuseppe Lepori, concluded his task as Pro-President ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the Brazilian Congregation of Cistercians, which he held for 14 years. Let us pray for the task entrusted to Dom Bento and for this new stage now beginning for the Brazilian Congregation of Cistercians. ocist.org

On 7 July 2025, the Pontifical Athenaeum Sant’Anselmo, following confirmation from the Dicastery for Culture and Education, announced with joy the appointment of its new rector, Professor Dr Jákó Örs Fehérváry OSB. The appointment was made by the grand chancellor, Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder OSB. Father Fehérváry, a monk of the Hungarian Archabbey of Pannonhalma, has until now served as director of the Sapientia Institute of Theology of Religious Orders in Budapest, affiliated with the Faculty of Theology at Sant’Anselmo. He earned a Licentiate in Liturgy from the Institut Catholique de Paris in 2000, and completed his Doctorate in Liturgy at Sant’Anselmo in 2008. The new rector will begin his term of office on 9 September 2025. The entire academic community extends its best wishes for a fruitful ministry in service of Sant’Anselmo, the Benedictine Confederation and the universal Church. osb.org

On 30 May 2025, the Austrian Benedictine Congregation commenced its 400th anniversary celebrations with a pilgrimage to Mariazell Basilica. The event was attended by monks and nuns from the congregation's 14 monasteries, including 12 abbeys and 2 priories, comprising approximately 250 members. Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder, the global head of the Benedictine Confederation, presided over the festive Mass at the Mariazell Basilica. In his homily, he reflected on the theme of "pilgrims of hope," aligning with the Holy Year 2025's motto. He highlighted that Benedictine life embodies a hopeful response to the trials of modern times, urging the monastic communities to remain open to renewal and to continue their solidarity with monasteries in less affluent regions. Abbot President Johannes Perkmann expressed gratitude for centuries of collaboration and emphasised the congregation's ongoing commitment to spiritual life, education, and sustainable initiatives. He described Benedictine life as a meaningful way to live out the Gospel and find fulfilment in today's world. The Austrian Benedictine Congregation was officially established on 3 August 1625 by Pope Urban VIII. Today, it encompasses monasteries such as the Abbey of Saint Peter in Salzburg, Kremsmünster, Melk, Göttweig, and the Schotten Abbey in Vienna. The congregation also oversees the Collegium Saint Benedict in Salzburg, a study house for Benedictines and other religious. osb.org

We are delighted to announce the election of Most Reverend Father Shamindra Jayawardena as the new Abbot General of the Sylvestrine Benedictine Congregation. This significant election took place on 28 May 2025, during a General Chapter that commenced on 15 May 2025. This election marks several historic firsts for the Congregation: Father Shamindra becomes the 119th successor of Saint Sylvester Guzzolini, the founder of the monastic order. He is the first Sri Lankan to be elected as Abbot General. He is the second person from Asia to lead the Congregation. The General Chapter where he was elected is notably the first to be held outside of Italy in the Congregation's history. Born on 13 January 1972, Fr. Shamindra made his first vows on 15 August 1992 and his final vows on 15 August 1998. He was ordained a priest on 21 December 2000. Prior to this election, he served as the Prior Abbot of the Sri Lanka regional province, being elected in 2013 and re-elected for a second term in 2019. He was elected as the prior abbot of Sri Lanka on 21 November 2013. The Sylvestrine Benedictine Congregation, founded by Saint Sylvester Guzzolini in Montefano, Italy, in 1231, follows the Rule of Saint Benedict, emphasising prayer, work and community. The Congregation established its mission in Sri Lanka on 14 August 1845, a small missionary centre that eventually grew to produce its first Sri Lankan Abbot General. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Most Reverend Father Shamindra Jayawardena on his election and pray for God's blessings on his new mission. osb.org http://www.silvestrini.org/

Dom Dom Gilbert Degros, abbot of Rochefort (Diocese of Namur, Belgium) since 2006, reached the age of retirement mentioned in ST 40.A of the Constitutions presented her resignation to the Abbot General. The Abbot General with the consent of his Council accepted the resignation, which became effective on April 27th 2025. On 31 May 2025, the community of Rochefort elected Father Petr Skarohlid as Abbot for an indefinite term. Dom Petr was born in 1981 in Czech Republic. He entered Sept-Fons (France) in 2003, made his solemn profession in 2010 and was ordained a priest in 2014. He arrived in Rochefort in 2016 and, at the time of his election, he was Novice Master and Prior of the Rochefort community. ocso.org https://www.abbaye-rochefort.be/fr/