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

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/

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 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

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 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

"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/

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

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