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Great joy for the Sisters of the Servants of the Poor in Brive-la-Gaillarde (France): On 16 September 2025, Bishop Eric Bidot of Tulle came to bless the first stone of the chapel! After three years in Brive-la-Gaillarde, this blessing further roots the Servants of the Poor in this beautiful diocese of Tulle. They give thanks to God and pray with great gratitude for the benefactors who made the construction of this chapel possible. In addition to the members of the clergy who came to surround their bishop, many faithful from the Brive missionary area were present for this happy event, as well as patients cared for by the sisters and representatives of the companies involved in the construction. This blessing of the first stone is a response to Dom Camille Leduc's request to begin by building a chapel in each of their foundations. ‘The presence of the Blessed Sacrament at the heart of the house reminds the Servants of the Poor that Our Lord is both the Master of the house, their first Superior and their constant confidant.’ As living stones of the Church, the sisters will be faithful in visiting him and will pray to him especially for the sick. https://servantesdespauvres-osb.org/benediction-de-la-premiere-pierre-de-la-chapelle-a-brive/

Benedictines from across East Asia and Oceania gathered this October at Thien Binh Monastery near Ho Chi Minh City for their biennial meeting. The event brought together leaders and delegates from monasteries in Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam—representing a thousand monks, nuns and sisters from across the region. The Benedictine presence in this part of the world stretches back nearly two centuries. It began in 1835 when Bishop John Bede Polding OSB arrived in Sydney. The first monastery was established in 1848. From these beginnings, monastic life gradually took root across the Pacific and East Asia, often through bold missionary endeavours, and sometimes through profound suffering and martyrdom. The BEAO meetings, held roughly every two years, serve to deepen collaboration between these diverse communities, particularly in formation and education, and to strengthen the bonds of fraternity within the wider Benedictine family. At this year’s gathering, Sr. Meg Kahler of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan in Australia was elected to succeed Br. Nicholas Koss of Wimmer Priory in Taiwan, who has guided the network with commitment and insight since its beginnings 30 years ago. The meeting’s programme combined presentations from member communities with times of prayer, reflection and shared discussion on the challenges and opportunities common in Benedictine life. Among the contributors were Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder OSB, who spoke about the relationship between the male and female branches of the order and promoted the 2029 jubilee, and Fr. Cyprian Consiglio OSBCam, Secretary General of the Monastic Interreligious Dialogue. Abbot Bernard Lorent Tayart, President of the Alliance for International Monasticism, also addressed the assembly, as did Fr. Joseph Nguyễn Văn Ấm SDB on the life of the Church in Vietnam. Two abbot presidents of international congregations—the Subiaco-Cassinese and Ottilien—, made the journey from Europe to take part. The Apostolic Nuncio to Vietnam, Archbishop Marek Zalewski, presided at the opening Mass. Throughout the week, participants shared in the daily rhythm of prayer with the monastic community of Thien Binh. The gathering concluded with a day in Ho Chi Minh City, former Saigon, where participants visited the cathedral and the archdiocesan pastoral centre, home to an impressive formation institute for the laity. The day ended in characteristically fraternal style, with a seafood lunch and a lively cultural evening that celebrated the diversity and unity of the Benedictine family in East Asia and Oceania. osb.org

For several years, the Cistercian community of Bellefontaine (France) has been questioning its future. Initially, it sought to adapt its community premises to accommodate a smaller number of brothers, but over time it realised that the brothers could not continue to live alone on this 19th-century property covering 120 hectares, which had become too large for a small group of monks whose average age had reached 80. So it explored the possibility of partnering with associations with which it could share its living space. Various obstacles arose, forcing it to abandon this project. It was a great disappointment and also a great trial for the brothers, as well as for the two associations with which the community had worked so closely. The Trappist brothers are joining other communities and some are moving to a retirement home run by the Sisters of the Congregation of Saint Mary of Torfou. But the abbey will continue to live on! Benedictine monks from the Abbey of Barroux (France) will be able to take up the torch of monastic life and settle in Bellefontaine in 2026. So, on 13 November, the feast of All Saints' Day, Bellefontaine Abbey will temporarily close its doors. There will no longer be services open to the public, but two brothers from the community will continue to live on site. With the help of the employees present on the site, they will maintain economic activities, in particular the production of apples and kiwis. They will also, of course, ensure the smooth running of the shop, while awaiting the arrival of a new monastic community at the end of spring. http://bellefontaine-abbaye.com/ ocso.org

Attention: An email is in circulation, purporting to come from a bishop in Ireland; it names the Abbot General and members of his Council and seeks money for sisters in Tanzania. This is a scam; please do not respond to it. ocso.org

The Synod of Abbot Presidents met in Montserrat, 15–19 September, uniting Benedictine leaders in prayer, fraternity and dialogue. Highlights included collaboration with the CIB and preparations for the Benedictine Jubilee of 2029. The Synod of the Abbot Presidents convened at Montserrat, 15-19 September, gathering the leaders of the Benedictine Confederation for days of deliberation, fraternity and shared prayer. Two new members were present: Abbot Javier Aparicio of the Ottilien Congregation and Abbot Jayawardena Shamindra of the Silvestrine Congregation. Their presence brought fresh voices and perspectives into the conversations. Reports from the Abbot Primate and the individual congregations gave a clear picture of the diversity of situations faced by Benedictine monasteries across the world, ranging from flourishing communities to those facing serious challenges. A highlight of the Synod was the shared day with the Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum (CIB), the global organisation of Benedictine nuns and sisters. The atmosphere was great, and many topics of mutual concern were discussed. Sister Lynn McKenzie offered an overview of the CIB’s latest developments, which include new initiatives for formation and the institutional development of the CIB into a stronger organisation. The shared day also featured a presentation on preparations for the Benedictine Jubilee of 2029, marking 15 centuries since Saint Benedict established Montecassino. It was given by Adam Simon, the global jubilee coordinator. His talk captured the imagination of those present, outlining both the vision and the practical steps needed to prepare an international celebration of Benedictine life and witness. Following the presentation, participants divided into discussion groups, where they explored ideas for how the Jubilee might be lived out locally and globally. These conversations were paired with a second theme: the reality of fragile communities. The assembled leaders reflected together on pastoral, canonical and practical ways to accompany monasteries that are struggling, seeking strategies that combine solidarity with realism. The Synod also included an outing beyond Montserrat, when the participants traveled together to Barcelona. The day allowed them to visit the Hospital Sant Pau, a modernist masterpiece by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, and to experience the grandeur and spiritual depth of the Sagrada Família, Antoni Gaudí’s still-unfinished basilica. Sharing the day in the city deepened the bonds among the abbot presidents and reminded them of the ways in which Benedictine life is nourished by art, architecture and the wider cultural heritage of the places where monasteries are rooted. By the end of the Synod, many participants felt reinvigorated with a renewed sense of unity, purpose and hope. The joint sessions with the CIB revealed how much strength can be drawn from collaboration between the two branches of the order. The Jubilee of 2029, though still on the horizon, already emerged as a galvanizing focus for the entire Benedictine family. The days in Montserrat left the Abbot Presidents more deeply connected in their shared mission of service to the monastic communities entrusted to their care. osb.org

For the first time since 2011, the International Commission on Benedictine Education (ICBE) held a youth congress at Sant’Anselmo in Rome, 20–25 September. More than 30 students took part, representing Chile, Brazil, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, Austria, Germany and the United States. The gathering brought students together for prayer, shared experiences of Benedictine education across cultures, and visits to places significant for Benedictine history, as well as glimpses of the city of Rome. After Sunday Mass, participants shared their vision of Benedictine life in their own traditions, before spending the afternoon at local sites. On Monday, following morning prayer and Mass, the group visited San Benedetto in Piscinula, where Saint Benedict once lived. After a moment of prayer and reflection, the day continued with stops at Santa Cecilia, Santa Maria in Trastevere, San Crisogono and Saint Paul outside the Walls, ending with a welcome from Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder. Tuesday was dedicated to Subiaco, with visits to Sacro Speco and the monastery of Santa Scholastica. Wednesday began with the papal audience, followed by entry through the Holy Door and a visit to Saint Peter’s Basilica. After eating a packed lunch, the day continued with Santa Maria Maggiore and the Colosseum, before returning to Sant’Anselmo — gelato in hand. The congress closed with a Mass celebrated by Abbot Jeremias, and an evening of recreation where each regional group offered a song or dance from their culture. Students and teachers received a copy of the Rule of Saint Benedict, which they filled with messages of friendship from their new companions. It is no surprise that the students felt such strong connections, strengthened by shared prayer, meals, conversations, music and the unforgettable experience of visiting sites central to Benedictine life in Rome. osb.org https://benedictineeducation.org/

On 3 October 2025, Father Mauritius Wilde has been appointed by the Holy See as the new Abbot of Maria Laach. We congratulate the new abbot and also the community of Maria Laach. From 2016 to 2025, Fr. Mauritius served as prior of our house community of more than 100 monks, students, and professors. Abbot Mauritius is 59 years old. He comes from Münsterschwarzach Abbey in Franconia, which belongs to the Congregation of Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien. Before his service in Rome, he was prior in the United States and director of the well-regarded Vier-Türme-Verlag in Münsterschwarzach. For the Abbey of Maria Laach, member of the Beuronese Congregation, the appointment of Abbot Mauritius marks the end of several years of exceptional circumstances. Most recently, Bishop Gregor Maria Hanke OSB of Eichstätt and Abbot Barnabas Bögle OSB of Ettal were responsible for the abbey as apostolic visitors. Abbot Jeremias Schröder OSB, Abbot Primate of the Benedictine Confederation, commented on the appointment: “For us at Sant’Anselmo this is a loss. But we are also glad that the important Abbey of Maria Laach is now receiving regular leadership again and can begin a new chapter in its monastic history. We thank all those who have cared for Maria Laach in recent years for their efforts, and we wish the new abbot and his confreres God’s blessing!” osb.org https://maria-laach.de/

On October 7, 2025, at a meeting at Wilhering Abbey, Abbot Dr. Pius Maurer of Lilienfeld Abbey was elected as the new Abbot-President of the Austrian Cistercian Congregation. It was also decided that Abbot Dr. Reinhold Dessl of Wilhering Abbey would remain First Assistant, and Fr. Dr. Meinrad Tomann of Heiligenkreuz Abbey would remain Second Assistant. Abbot Pius Maurer (born 1971) comes from the parish of Unterdürnbach in the municipality of Maissau (Weinviertel). After graduating from high school in Hollabrunn, he entered the Cistercian Abbey of Lilienfeld in 1989. He studied in Heiligenkreuz, Rome, and Jerusalem. He has been a priest since 1996 and Abbot of Lilienfeld Abbey since 2019. He is a visiting professor at Heiligenkreuz University and, in collaboration with his fellow monks, serves as parish pastor in Lilienfeld, Eschenau, Traisen, and Wilhelmsburg. Since 2022, he has been a member of the Council of the Abbot General of the Cistercian Order. ocist.org

On 7 Oktober 2025,  Mother Pascale Fourmentin  completed her six-year term as Abbess of Arnhem (Diocese of Utraiectensis, in The Netherlands). On the same day, she was re-elected Abbess of the Community for an indefinite term. ocso.org https://abdijkoningsoord.org/

We are pleased to announce that today, September 17, 2025, the feast day of Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Father Ignatius FRITSCH OCist was elected the 53rd Abbot of Marienstatt (Germany). The Abbot's blessing will take place on Sunday, 26 October 2025, at 10:30 a.m. ocist.org https://www.abtei-marienstatt.de/

On 30 September 2025, Mother Katharina Michiels completed her six-year term as Abbess of Nazareth (Diocese of Antwerp, Belgium). On the same day, she was re-elected Abbess of the Community for a new six-year term. ocso.org

September 24, 2025, we joyfully marked the 140th Foundation Anniversary of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing. The Community had a Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder, OSB. Followed by a festive common breakfast. In the afternoon at 2:00, the whole Congregation had a synchronized prayer and the launch of the Togo Community. With the theme “Rekindling the Gift of God as Pilgrims of Hope,” we remembered with gratitude the vision of our founder, Fr. Andreas Amrhein, OSB, and the faith of our pioneering Sisters who set out on mission in 1885. Their courage continues to inspire us today as we walk together in prayer, community, and service. To rekindle the gift of God is to let His Spirit renew our hearts; to be pilgrims of hope is to walk with trust and joy into the future. As we celebrate this milestone, we commit ourselves anew to living our Benedictine missionary vocation — rooted in Christ, united in community, and sent in service of the Gospel. The celebration concluded in the evening with a Community recreation followed by Compline. osbtutzing.org