On April 25, 2026, Feast of St. Mark, Sister Eve Marie Aragona made solemn profession at the monastery of Crozet (USA). Sister Eve Marie was born in New York in 1979; she entered Crozet, USA in 2018 and made first profession in 2021. ocso.org

On 18 April 2026, the new Benedictine mission center was inaugurated in Dodoma. Rooted in the Gospel and Benedictine spirituality, the mission integrates education, sustainable agriculture and pastoral care to serve the local community. The Benedictine mission continues to unfold across regions and contexts, integrating social, spiritual and pastoral work rooted in the Gospel. In Tanzania, Ndanda Abbey is expanding its presence to meet urgent local needs. On 18 April 2026 the Archbishop of Dodoma, Most Rev. Beatus Kinyaiya OFM Cap, officially inaugurated the new Benedictine mission-center in Dodoma. The ceremony was attended by Abbot Christian Temu, the Regional Commissioner of Dodoma, superiors and delegates from the Ottilien Congregation in Africa. At the congregation level the occasion was graced by the presence of Fr. Maximilian Grund (procurator of the congregation who also represented the Abbot President), Fr. Maurus Runge — mission procurator from Königsmünster Abbey — and Fr. Noach Heckel from the council of the congregation. Blessed Isidore Bakanja is the patron of the new community, which is in the national capital. Despite assumptions that urban centers are well served, Dodoma faces considerable social deficits: limited schooling, poor health infrastructure and advancing desertification. In five months on the ground the community has already encountered many children who have never attended school. These realities underscore the urgency of a modern, sensitive evangelization that combines pastoral care with practical development. Education is a central focus. The Abbey’s secondary school currently educates 97 learners, fostering Benedictine spirituality alongside academic formation. Pastoral outreach expanded in December 2025 when Ndanda Abbey was entrusted with St. Francis Xavery Michese parish, five kilometers from the community house. The parish serves an estimated 2,000 active faithful and includes an outstation still under construction. Fr. Samwel Njau OSB serves as parish priest, living within the community. Practical projects directly improve daily life: the community has completed a borehole to provide year-round clean water to villagers who previously walked up to seven kilometers. Restoration of gardens, rainwater-harvesting techniques, tree planting and catechetical renewal are strengthening pastoral care while addressing environmental decline. Ecology and agriculture form a distinct dimension of Benedictine witness. Embracing the “Make Dodoma Green” initiative, the community has planted thousands of trees over three years, transforming parched land and combating desertification. Agricultural projects include bananas, maize, groundnuts, cassava and various fruit trees with an acre of grapes expected to yield juice by January 2027. These initiatives model sustainable food production, foster food security and teach stewardship of water, forests and soil as God’s creation rather than commodities to be exploited. The Benedictine approach — ora et labora (prayer and work) — integrates Benedictine spirituality, education and environmental stewardship. The new mission promotes holistic growth through an Eco Club, vocational formation in the school under the motto “Learn, grow, succeed,” and community engagement that prioritises teamwork and Gospel values. Despite challenges — illiteracy and lack of primary schools in the vicinity — the establishment of the Dodoma mission is timely and strategic. Supported by Benedictine confrères, benefactors and local partners, the community trusts in Providence and aims to continue proclaiming the Gospel through practical service, ecological renewal and education, bringing tangible hope to Dodoma’s people. Fr. Damian Msisiri OSB Dodoma Community Superior https://abbey.ndanda.org/

The Benedictine Confederation has formally opened its global journey towards the 2029 Jubilee, which will mark 1,500 years since the foundation of Montecassino by Saint Benedict in 529. The opening celebration took place on Saturday 25 April in Norcia, the birthplace of Saint Benedict and Saint Scholastica, with the participation of Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder, Archbishop Renato Boccardo of Spoleto-Norcia, Abbot Benedict Nivakoff of Norcia, 100 monks and nuns from more than 20 countries and local dignitaries. Entitled “Places of Hope since 529”, the Benedictine Jubilee will follow the locations and themes that shaped Saint Benedict’s life: 2026: Norcia — “Awaken” 2027: Rome — “Listen” 2028: Subiaco — “Grow” 2029: Montecassino — “Flourish” The year 2026 marks the beginning of preparation for this jubilee, starting from Norcia where Saint Benedict and his twin sister, Saint Scholastica, were born, baptized and raised. “Norcia brings us back to what is essential: to baptism,” said Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder. “When we speak of family, we do not mean only our monastic community, but the universal fraternity of all Christians, the great family of God.” Abbot Benedict Nivakoff drew a parallel between the destruction caused by the 2016 earthquake in Norcia and the rebirth he hopes and prays for all Benedictines. “I think of a rebirth that awaits every monk of our Order — whom you represent here today from all over the world,” he said. “In Christ, every day can be a rebirth. Ten years ago, after the earthquake, we thought our future had come to an end. Yet often it is only when we think there is no future left, when in our monastic life we feel that our strength is exhausted, that God can intervene. It is then that our life can truly become His”. Archbishop Renato Boccardo affirmed the importance of Benedictines in the life of the Church and of his diocese. “I feel moved to entrust to you, to your prayer and to your dedication, the daily journey of our Church and of the diocese, so that we may preserve the memory of Saint Benedict, interpret it in the light of our present time, and continue offering men and women today, amid the uncertainties of our age, orientation and direction for their lives”. osb.org https://jubilee.osb.org/en

On April 27, 2026, Feast of St. Rafael Arnáiz Barón, Sister María José Castro Maradiaga made solemn profession at the monastery of Sora (Panama). Sister María José was born in Honduras in 1989; she entered Juigalpa, Nicaragua in 2018 and made first profession there in 2021. When the community had to leave the country, she chose to remain with it in its new home in Panama. ocso.org

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/

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