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On May 15, the Chau Son Nho Quan community of the Congregation of the Holy Family in Vietnam elected Fr. Dominic Tran Tien Thieu as their new Abbot. We entrust the new Abbot Dominic Tran to the prayers of the Order as we thank God for the service rendered by Abbot Domenic Savio Tran Thiet Hung. ocist.org

On 31 May 2025, Mother Marie Fahy completed her fourth six-year term as Abbess of Glencairn (Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, Ireland). On the same day, the community elected Sister Fiachra Nutty as Abbess for a six-year term. Mother Fiachra was born in 1962 in Dublin (Ireland). She entered Glencairn in 2006 and made her solemn profession in 2012. At the time of her election, she was prioress of the community. ocso.org https://www.glencairnabbey.org/

On May 31, 2025, Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Elizabeth, Sister Cristiana Concepcion made solemn profession at the monastery of Matutum (Philippines). Sister Cristiana was born in 1990 in Sorsogon (Philippines). She entered Matutum in 2016 and made first profession in 2020. ocso.org

Saint Vincent Archabbey commemorated the 100th anniversary of Fu Jen University’s founding with a series of events on 4 April 2025 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The day began with a solemn Mass at St Vincent Basilica, presided over by Archabbot Martin Bartel, OSB, followed by an academic conference attended by international guests, university officials and Benedictine scholars. The occasion honoured the legacy of the Benedictines who established Fu Jen in Beijing in 1925 and underscored its continuing influence in East-West educational dialogue. The academic conference featured reflections from Archabbot Martin, Saint Vincent College President Fr Paul Taylor, Monsignor Veceslav Tumir representing the Holy See, Bishop Matthew Zhen of Beijing, Fu Jen President Francis Lan and Professor Sophia Geng of the Loe China Studies Center. Archabbot Martin traced ongoing Benedictine engagement with China to Fu Jen’s foundation, crediting figures like Fr Hugh Wilt with sustaining this legacy. President Taylor celebrated the shared mission between Saint Vincent and Fu Jen, and President Lan highlighted the university’s evolution and its strategic plan for navigating modern educational challenges. A highlight of the event was Monsignor Tumir’s reading of a letter from Pope Francis. The Pope praised the university’s foundation as a model of cultural and academic integration, recalling how Benedictine monks brought a scholarly and spiritual vision to China. He reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to education as a vehicle for dialogue and peace. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, in a separate letter, acknowledged the importance of the anniversary and expressed the Vatican’s solidarity through the Nunciature’s presence. The first presentation dealt with Ying Lianzhi, the Chinese Catholic scholar responsible for getting the Vatican interested in having a Catholic university in China and with whom the Benedictines worked in setting up Fu Jen University. This presentation also introduced the Chinese historian Chen Yuan who became the president of Fu Jen University in 1929 and who closely cooperated with the Benedictines. The other presentations treated of the Benedictines important for the founding of Fu Jen University, which includes a Benedictine Oblate. Archabbot Aurelius Stehle, OSB, was the archabbot of Saint Vincent Archabbey who was ordered by the Vatican to start a Catholic university in Beijing. Fr. Barry O’Toole, a good friend of Archabbot Aurelius and a Benedictine Oblate, was appointed as the first president of Fu Jen University. Fr. Ildephonse Brandstetter, OSB, was the Prior of the Benedictines in Beijing and closely involved with the setting up of the university. Fr. Francis Clougherty, OSB, a diocesan priest who had been working in China, joined the Benedictines in Beijing and was active in the university work. Fr. Gregory Schramm, OSB, a monk of Newark Abbey, was a science teacher at Fu Jen University, and later, it was because of him that the Loe China Center was established at Saint Vincent College. The centennial gathering not only recalled Fu Jen’s historic beginning but also rekindled the monastic commitment to global partnership and education. With roots in both East and West, and with ongoing ties to its Benedictine founders, Fu Jen continues to serve as a testament to the enduring mission of Catholic higher education in a pluralistic world. osb.org

In the context of the extraordinary canonical visitation to the monasteries of the Flemish-Dutch Province, Fr. Abbot President Ignasi M. Fossas accepted the resignation from the office presented by Fr. Henry Vesseur, Abbot of the Abbey of St Willibrord in Doetinchem/Slangenburg and appointed Fr. Coert Biesjot Prior Administrator of the same Abbey for a period of 3 years. These decisions are effective from 23 May 2025. https://www.benedettinisublacensicassinesi.org/ https://willibrordsabdij.nl/

First newsletter of 2025: “Like a Flame my hope is burning”. https://aim-usa.org/

Mother Marie-Josée Stocker, abbess of Notre-Dame de Baumgarten (diocese of Strasbourg, France) since 2018, presented her resignation to the Abbot General in accordance with ST 40.A.bis of the Constitutions. The Abbot General with the consent of his Council accepted the resignation, which became effective on May 15th 2025. Mother Isabelle Valez, abbess of Val d’Igny, who currently holds the responsibility of Father Immediate for the community of Baumgarten, following the procedure outlined in the legislation on Affiliation voted ad experimentum at the General Chapter of Sept. 2022, requested that the community of Baumgarten be affiliated to the community of Val d’Igny. The Abbot General and his Council, in the name of the General Chapter, approved this affiliation, which also became effective on May 15th 2025. By this affiliation, Mother Isabelle Valez becomes the Major Superior of Baumgarten. ocso.org

On May 7, 2025, Dom Roberto de la Iglesia completed his second term of six years as Abbot of Cardeña (Archdiocese of Burgos, Spain). On the same day, Dom Roberto was re-elected Abbot of the Community for a new six-year term. ocso.org https://www.monasteriosanpedrodecardena.com/

On April 27, 2025, Divine Mercy Sunday Sister Eutropia Firmin Sukum s made solemn profession at the monastery of Vico (Spain). Sister Eutropia was born in 1980 in Morogoro (Tanzania). She entered Vico in 2015 and made first profession in 2020. ocso.org https://www.monasteriodevico.org/

Communication concerning the Pontifical Commissariation of the Monastery of Saints Gervasius and Protasius in San Giacomo di Veglia, Vittorio Veneto (Italy). 1er May 2025 Following various news items that have been disseminated in recent days, the Cistercian Order feels compelled to clarify the following: Because of certain measures taken by former Abbess Aline Pereira Ghammachi against four nuns without respecting the Law of the Church and the Order, the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life asked Abbot General Mauro-Giuseppe Lepori to make an extraordinary Canonical Visitation. Following this Visitation, the Dicastery decreed the Pontifical Commissariat of the Monastery on 12 January 2023. Accepting the abbess's appeal against this measure, the Dicastery decided to suspend and annul the Decree, and to begin an Apostolic Visitation entrusted to persons not belonging to the Cistercian Order. At the conclusion of this Visitation, which essentially confirmed the problems noted by the first Visitation, the Dicastery deemed it necessary to renew the Decree of Pontifical Commissariation of the community, appointing Mother Martha Driscoll OCSO, abbess emeritus of Gedono Monastery in Indonesia, as Commissary. When the Decree was notified on 21 April 2025, Mother Martha became the full superior of the community. The former abbess asked to be absent from the monastery for a period with the agreement of the Commissioner. On 29 April 2025, three solemnly professed nuns, a simple professed nun and a novice sneaked out of the monastery. It was later reported in the newspapers that they must have reunited with the former abbess at an unknown location. Their statements to the media, which are not faithful to the reality of the facts, may lead many to get a completely distorted idea of the real situation of the community of San Giacomo di Veglia. We would therefore like to point out that while five nuns have left the monastery, twenty others have remained faithful to their vocation and have gratefully accepted the decree of commissariation, continuing on their way in obedience to the Holy See and the Commissary. The former abbess had the right to appeal against the Decree by turning to the Dicastery. Now she says she prefers to lodge a civil complaint, but it is not clear against whom and on what grounds, since everything was done in accordance with Church law, which is the only one authorised to regulate monastic life. The community, therefore, sincerely wishes to continue its journey with fidelity to Christ and the Church, in truth and freedom, without being involved in unfounded polemics. ocist.org

This morning, 30 April 2025, as the State of Israel commemorated its fallen soldiers, a succession of fires broke out across the country. At around 10:00am seven fires were reported on the hill of Neve Shalom, opposite the monastery. Due to the force of the Khamsin, a powerful southerly wind, the fire spread rapidly, threatening the firefighters at the scene. At noon, following a police decision, the brothers of Latroun were forced to evacuate the monastery. Travelling to the town of Abu Ghosh, some were immediately welcomed by the Sisters of Saint Joseph, while the rest were received by the Benedictine monks. The monks of Latroun express their gratitude for the generosity of the brothers and sisters who took them in, as well as for all those who expressed their support through messages throughout the day. We were touched by this outpouring of solidarity. During the afternoon, a group of six monks managed to return to the monastery, avoiding the roadblocks. They noticed that the fire had been partially brought under control. After surrounding the monastery, it had spread to the other side of the road. A large number of the olive trees were burned, as well as a small part of the vineyard. As this is the mowing season, all the surrounding fields were ravaged by the fire. The fire stopped a metre from the buildings, which were completely preserved. As the monks were unable to remain on site, the damage has not yet been fully assessed. Once again, the support and prayers of the monastery’s friends, combined with the tireless and ceaseless work of the firefighters, enabled the monastery and its brothers to hold firm. The Mass for the Dedication of Latroun Abbey will be celebrated tomorrow, 1 May 2025, at 10:30am in the Church of Latroun. The fire reduced a large part of the monastery’s production to ashes, and it is on these ashes that the brothers of Latrun, with the support and solidarity of all their friends, will rebuild this place, whose importance the neighbours have shown today. From the Community of Latroun ocso.org

On Saturday 17 May 2025, Sister Mary Placid Joseph and Sister Maurice Mary Kamari will make their perpetual profession at the priory in Windhoek (Namibia), in the congregation of the Benedictine Missionary Sisters of Tutzing. On the same day, Sister Angel Bock and Sister Theresia Kasiona will celebrate their jubilee of 60 years of religious profession, Sister Juliana Munkwetele their jubilee of 50 years of profession, and Sister Genovefa Nampira their jubilee of 25 years of profession. osbtutzing.org