Information Bulletin 146

At the end of November you were sent a copy of the “Minutes” of the recent MGM. The monasteries of nuns received a second copy which is for the Chaplain. To avoid unnecessary costs, another copy of the “House Reports” has not been sent since each superior received one at the Chapter. If any of the Communities wish another copy, they may ask the Secretariat of the Generalate.

The booklet of the “Acts” of the General Chapters and of the MGM 2002 is in the process of being edited. At the beginning of the New Year, each Community will receive the booklet of the “Acts” with the forms to be completed for the Relatio Annualis.

Very soon the Elenchus will be printed with the information given for the book of statistics and with the corrections given by each community. For that reason the usual corrections of the various numbers and addresses of the communities are not found in this number of the Bulletin. All the recent corrections will be available in the soon to be published 2003 edition of the Elenchus.

2) News from the Monasteries

         The Generalate :

For the most part, the Community at Viale Africa is new and the number is complete. Dom Bernardo, Mother Danièle, Mother Angela and Father Andrew have remained and the others have returned to their Communities or new ministries; Dom Augustine to Azul, Dom Gonzalo to Frattocchie, Dom Francisco to Sept Fons, Brother Elias to Gethsemani, Sister Erminia to Vitorchiano and Sister Carmen to Quilvo. The Community has welcomed with joy and confidence Dom Timothy of Gethsemani, the new Procurator, Dom Charles of Bamenda and Dom Santiago of Sobrado, the new councilors, Father Lode of Orval, the new secretary of Dom Bernardo, Brother Felician of Sept-Fons, the new Porter and switchboard operator, Sister Teresa, the new cook and Sister Marie-Paschal of Chambarand the new secretary of the Generalate and Central Secretary for Formation.

         Kibungo [69*] :

         The General Chapter of the Abbesses, meeting in Rome in September 2002, accepted the Community of Kibungo, in Rwanda, as an autonomous Community. The Holy See has given the permission according to canon 609 § 2 of the Code of Canon Law. On Monday, 4^th of November, 2002, the Priory of Our Lady of Kibungo, in the diocese of Kibungo, Rwanda, was canonically established as a “Major Priory”.

            The following day, the 5^th of November, during the celebration of the Eucharist, the nuns who form the new Community changed their stability from the Abbey of Clarté-Dieu to the Priory of Our Lady of Kibungo.

On Wednesday, 6^th of November, Sister Philomena KALIMBANYA was elected the first Prioress of the new Priory. The Abbot General had given the confirmation and Mother Philomena was installed the same day.

            Mother Philomena Musingakazi KALIMBANYA was born at Kirumbu, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (ex Zaire) in 1954. She entered Clarté-Dieu in 1975 and made her solemn profession in 1983. She studied theology in Rome from 1996 until 2001. After completing her studies, Mother Philomena joined her Sisters at Kibungo. Since being at Kibungo, Mother Philomena has been the cellarer.

         La Palma [51*]

         On the 18^th of November, 2002, Sister Martina Benito PRADO was elected abbess of the Abbey of Nra Sra de la Paz, at La Palma, (Murcia), in Spain for a six year term.

            Mother Martina was born in 1944, entered Alloz in 1966 and made her solemn profession in 1973. She was a member of the group who founded la Paz in 1975. At the time of her election, Mother Martina was the Guest-Mistress.

         Calvaire [48]

         Dom Maurice GUIMOND, superior ad nutum (1993) and elected abbot (1995) of the monastery of Notre-Dame du Calvaire, Rogersville, New Brunswick, Canada, for reasons of health, offered his resignation. The resignation was accepted by the Abbot General, with the consent of his Council, and made effective the 21^st of November.

         Boschi [93]

         Dom Bernardo BOLDINI was re-elected titular prior of the monastery “Madonna dell’Unione” in Boschi on the 24^th of November for a six year term.

         Maromby [75]

        The community of Masina Maria of Maromby in Madagascar has been raised as major priory at the General Chapter. On the 30^th of November, 2002, Brother John Chrysostom RANDRIAMAHAZOSOA was elected Prior of the monastery of Maromby, for a six year term.

Dom John Chrysostom was born in 1964. He entered the community of Maromby in 1987 and made his solemn profession in 1994. At the time of his election, Dom John Chrysostom was the Master of Novices.

Myrendal [101]

         The community of Myrendal in Denmark which was accepted as a major priory at the recent General Chapter has elected Dom Frans VAN HAAREN as Titular Prior on the 6^th of December 2002.

Soleilmont [21*]

         Mother Paul SMETS, abbess of Soleilmont in Belgium since 1989, gave her resignation since she has reached the age mentioned in Statute 40. A of the Constitutions. The resignation was accepted by the Abbot General, with the consent of his Council and will be effective the 2^nd of January 2003.

Nunraw [58]

         Dom Donald McGLYNN, abbot of Nunraw in Scotland since 1969, has offered his resignation because of some recent health complications. The resignation has been accepted by the Abbot General, with the consent of his Council and it will become effective the 1^st of May 2003. This will allow Dom Donald the opportunity to complete some of the work begun with the community of Nsugbe in Nigeria.

3) A note from Dom Marie-Gérard (La Trappe) regarding the current Ordo

         “Regarding the liturgical calendar, one can notice remarkable changes simply by comparing one year to the preceding year. Some new memorials have been introduced; the memorial of St. Jeanne de Chantal has been moved from the 12^th of December to the 12^th of August so that the Christians of the Americas can celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe…

Actually our Cistercian calendar approved in 1974 is based on the Roman calendar with some proper celebrations added and some modifications which were allowed (for example the 29^th of September…). Our calendar should follow the evolutions of the Roman calendar. A decree of the Congregation of Divine Worship of the 18^th December, 2001, introduced some modifications which we should adopt. The same regarding the decision the Pope made at the time of the canonization of Padre Pio, that his obligatory memorial would be celebrated on the 23^rd of September.

I will take advantage of this opportunity to offer a point often forgotten by our Communities regarding our two patronal celebrations that of the 26^th of January for the Founders of Citeaux and St. Bernard on the 20^th of August. At the time when the particular calendars of the Religious Congregations were being formulated, the Holy See had stipulated each Congregation could include only one patronal celebration. We were able to obtain permission to have two since it was inconceivable not include St. Benedict as a solemnity. We were left free to choose either the 26^th of January or the 20^th of August. The Liturgy Commission was not willing to choose between the two and left it to each Community to make its own determination. The indication in the Ordo says that one cannot celebrate both these days either as a solemnity or as a feast, but only one or the other (one can vary the celebration from one year to the next, for example when one falls on a Sunday, it is better for that year to choose it as a solemnity otherwise it would be simply suppressed that year). One must tell the whole story, the Order of Citeaux is able to celebrate both days as solemnities; and we cannot be stopped from taking advantage of the “communication of privileges” between the two Orders and so celebrate both solemnities. In the mean time the Congregation of Divine Worship can be explicitly asked for the permission to be able to celebrate the two days as solemnities.”

4) Oka (Editions) information :

The monastery of Oka wishes to offer freely to those monasteries of the Order who ask, a copy of Br. Benedict Thivierge’s thesis for doctorate degree. The title of the thesis presented at Saint Anselme is:

LE RITUEL CISTERCIEN DE PROFESSION MONASTIQUE. Un commentaire historique, théologique et liturgique du rituel de profession monastique et des formulaires de bénédiction du moine et de la coule.

An introduction to this book can be found in the CFC Revue Liturgie, n° 86, 1993, pp 242-258.

Those who want to receive a copy can make their request by letter, fax or through the following address : f.lucien@abbayeoka.com

There is limited number, so it is first come, first served !

5) Recent developments regarding Postulation

         The “consulta medica”, a commission of five doctors from the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints gave a unanimous positive opinion of the miraculous cure attributed to Father Marie-Joseph Cassant. The miracle was the cure of a young boy, Jean Delibes. When Jean was nine years old, in 1936, he suffered a most severe case of Meningitis and it was his medical doctor who prayed to Marie-Joseph Cassant

            Father Marie-Joseph Cassant died the 17^th of June 1903 at the Abbey of Sainte Marie du Désert in France. His centenary will be celebrated this coming year with renewed thanksgiving and confidence.

6) Called by the Lord

Our Lord and Savior has called to Himself the following members of the Order :

Oka [31]                  On the 21 of May, 2002, Father Louis-Joseph LAPIERRE. He was born the 25^th of May, 1912 at Saint-Laurent near Montréal and entered the monastery of N.-D. du Lac, the 8^th of August 1934 and made solemn profession the 1^st of November 1939. He was ordained a priest in Montréal the 21^st of December 1940.

On the 16^th of September, 2002, Father Arnold PFEMETER. He had been born in Mason, Hungary in 1919 and been ordained priest as a member of the Society of the Divine Word in 1946. He entered Oka in 1970 and made his solemn profession in 1973.

Holy Spirit [57]     On the 5^th of June, 2002, Dom Augustine MOORE, abbot of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit from 1957 until 1983. He had been born in Louisville, Kentucky the 13^th of December 1911. He entered Gethsemani the 19^th of June 1942 and was sent to the new foundation of the Holy Spirit in Georgia. In 1955, he served as a Definitor, in Rome. He was elected abbot of Conyers the 22^nd of October 1957 and served in that capacity for twenty-six years.

Bricquebec [10]    July 13, 2002, Dom René BONPAIN, retired abbot of Bricquebec. Born in 1923 in Dunkerque, France, he entered the monastery in 1948, and made solemn profession in 1953. After studies of the history of monachism in Rome, he was appointed novice master in 1957, then prior in 1958. June 4, 1981, Dom René was elected abbot and continued his service to the community until November 30, 1996.

                                    November 6, 2002, Father Amédée HALLIER. Born in 1913, he joined the Brothers of the Christian Instruction of Ploërmel in 1928. He left the Brothers in 1945 to enter at Briquebec as an oblate. Solemn Professed in 1952, he was subprior and then prior until his death. His main ministry was the spiritual welcome of guests. His thesis of theology, in 1955, was on Aelred of Rievaulx, a monastic educator.

                                    November 21, 2002, Father Luc BOUDIER. Entered Briquebec in 1949, he made his solemn profession in 1955. Ordained priest in 1960, he was sent to Japan as chaplain of the nuns. He retired and was a hermit in Sri-Lanka where he died, at Hambatota.

Tarrawarra [70]    On the 21^st of July, Father Anthony Francis BUCKLEY. He was born in Sidney, Australia in 1940 and entered Tarrawarra in 1970 and he made his solemn profession in 1976. At the beginning of his monastic life he worked on the farm. Later he served in the Guest House.

Chimay [13*]         On the 23^rd of August, 2002, Sister Lucienne FOURMENTIN. She was born in January 1909 and entered Chimay in 1930 and made her first profession in 1939.

Laval [02*]             On the 3^rd of September, Sister Jean DROUET. She was born in 1916 and entered La Coudre in 1937. She made her first profession in 1939.

Oelenberg [09]      The 2^nd of October 2002, Father Basil GROLLEMUND. He was born in 1913 and entered Oelenberg in 1947 after a career in the navy (Croix de guerre and Chevalier de la Légion d' Honneur). He made solemn profession in 1952 and was ordained a priest the following year. During his monastic life he was subprior, cellarer and novice master.

Arevalo [30*]        On October 10^th, 2002, Mother Maria Josepha Blasquez GOMEZ-VALADES. She was born in 1925 and entered the monastery in 1947. She made her solemn profession in 1952.

Aiguebelle [07]      On the 16^th October, 2002, Father Jean-Baptiste BRUNEAU. He was born in 1913, entered the monastery of Port du Salut in 1927 and made his first profession in 1930. In June of 1968 he was able to fulfill his desire to live in an Islamic country and became a part of the community of Atlas. He served there as Superior from 1973 until 1978. He joined the annex house of Fès in 1988 where he remained until his return to France for health reason in 2001.

We recommend them all to the prayer of brothers and sisters of the Order.