Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance (Trappists)
INFORMATION BULLETIN 148
August 2003
II) Celebrations and Anniversaries :
III) The Cause of Father Marie-Joseph Cassant :
V) Requests for the Ordo and for the Elenchus for 2004 :
Oelenberg [09] : Dom Simon CARRERE, abbot of Oelenberg, (France) since 1991, presented his resignation because of his age, to the Abbot General. With the consent of his Council, the Abbot General accepted this resignation, effective July 1st, 2003.
On July 1rst, 2003, Dom Olivier QUENARDEL, Abbot of Cîteaux and Provisional Father Immediate have appointed Brother Antonio LÉPORE superior ad nutum of the Abbey of Oelenberg. Dom Antonio was born on March 15, 1959. He entered the monastery of Azul in Argentina on July 15, 1985. He made his solemn profession on March 19, 1991. He made his change of stability for Oelenberg on May 29, 2003, has been ordained a deacon on June 22, 2003 and will be ordained a priest on September 8, 2003.
Atbronn [04*] : On May 9th, 2003, the Community of Our Lady of Altbronn (France) elected Sister Marie-Odile FALLER as their abbess for an indefinite term. Mother Marie-Odile was born in 1948 and entered Altbronn in 1972. She made her solemn profession in 1978. At the time of her election, Mother Marie-Odile was cellerar of the community. She had this service since 1983.
Conyers [57] : On May 20th, 2003, Father Francis Michael STITELER was appointed superior ad nutum at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit, Conyers, USA. Dom Francis Michael was born in 1950. He entered Conyers in 1974 and made his solemn profession in 1980. He was ordained as a priest in 1983. At the moment of his appointment, he was Master of Juniors. Father Francis Michael was the delegate of the U.S. Region during the last General Chapter.
Butende [41*] : On the 21st of May, 2003, Sister Scholastica NUSIIMENTA was appointed superior ad nutum of the Abbey of Our Lady of Praise, Butende, Uganda. Mother Scholastica was born in 1963 in Bushuro, Uganda. She entered Butende in 1987, and made solemn profession there in 1996.
Nunraw [58] : On Friday 30 May, 2003, the community of Nunraw elected as abbot for a six year term, Father Raymond JACONELLI. The election was confirmed by Abbot Laurence of Roscrea, as delegate of Abbot General. Dom Raymond was born in 1933, he entered Nunraw in 1951. He made solemn profession in 1956 and received the priesthood in 1958. Beginning with the years of the renewal of the liturgy, he has been a key player as organist and in the production of the English liturgical books. He served the community as novice master and procurator, latterly, he has been guestmaster for twenty years.
Le Rivet [08*] : Saturday May 31, 2003, Dom Jean-Marie Couvreur, abbot of Sainte Marie of Desert and Father Immediate of Sainte Marie of Rivet, (France) has appointed, with the required permissions, Sister Christine VILMAIN superior ad nutum. Mother Christine was born in 1955 and entered la Grâce-Dieu in 1978, she made there solemn profession in 1984. Her appointment has been effective on July 16, 2003.
Maria Frieden [31*] : Mother Gabriela VISSER, Abbess of Maria Frieden (Germany) since 1993, presented her resignation to the Abbot General, having reached the age mentionned in the ST 40.A of our Constitutions. With the Consent of his Council, the Abbot General accepted the resignation which will be effective on December 31, 2003.
N.-D. des NEIGES [21] : On July 22nd 2003, Dom Hugues CHAPELAIN de SEREVILLE superior at Notre Dame des Neiges, (France), since August 23rd, 2002, has been elected abbot for an indefinite term. Dom Hugues was born in 1963 and entered La Trappe in 1983, where he made solemn profession on April 16th, 1990. He was successively guestmaster, prior and cellerar, before accepting the service of superior at Notre Dame des Neiges.
Guimaras [83] : Father Alberic MAISOG was named superior ad nutum of the Abbey of Our Lady of the Philippines by the Father Immediate Dom Mark Scott, abbot of Ava. On August 15, 2003 he will succeed Dom John Eudes BAMBERGER in this ministry (cf. Information Bulletin no. 144). Dom Alberic was born in 1958, entered OLP in 1986 and made solemn profession in 1992. In 1998, he changed his stability to Ava where he was master of novices at the time of his appointment.
Lantao [49] : On July 27th, 2003, Father Anastasius LI was appointed superior ad nutum at Our Lady of Joy, Lantao, by the Father Immediate, Dom Thomas Davis, abbot of Vina. Dom Anastasius was born in 1961. He entered Our Lady of Joy in 1991 and made his solemn profession in 1996. After studies at Gethsemani and Rome, he was ordained as a priest in september 2000. At the moment of his appointment, he was Master of Novices and Juniors.
Imari [32] : Sister Catharina SHIBUYA SETUSKO was named superior ad nutum of the Abbey of IMARI (Japan) by the Father Immediate Dom Charles Robilliard, abbot of Bricquebec on July 31, 2003. Her ministry will begin on August 15, 2003 when she will succeed Mother Josepha YASHIRO TOMIKO (Information Bulletin no. 142). Mother Catharina was born in 1938 and entered Nasu in 1967 where she made solemn profession in 1975. She was mistress of the temporary professed at Nasu at the time of her appointment.
Abakaliki [54*] : On July 31, 2003, the community of Abakaliki (Nigeria) elected Sister Chinwe Otito KELECHUKWU as their prioress, for a six year term. Mother Chinwe was born in 1956, entered Grandselve in 1978, then she went in 1982 with the first group of Nigerian Sisters to Abakaliki, where she made solemn profession in 1987. Mother Chinwe was novice mistress since 1996.
Acey [28] : On July 31, 2003, the Brothers of the conventual chapter of Acey (France) have elected as their abbot, for a undetermined time Dom Jean-Marc THEVENET, monk and retired abbot of Tamié. The Abbot General has confirmed this election, and Dom Jean-Marc will be installed on August 6, 2003.
Oka [31] : Relocation : Dom Yvon-Joseph sent a letter presenting Dom Bernardo the conclusion from the Oka Community’s reflections on relocating the monastery which had been mentioned in their House Report at the General Chapter of 2002. The following is a free translation of the text the Community of Oka made available to the press.
A NEW PROJECT FOR THE MONASTERY : To strengthen the contemplative dimension of our life, our Community has made the decision to establish the monastery in a new location. The decision has come to a maturity in a process of communal reflection and discernment. Our Community is composed of thirty-one monks actually present. One half of the monks are more than seventy years old living in a monastery that was built for one hundred and seventy-five monks. The material structure has become more and more a burden to carry and to manage. In addition, the urbanization of the region near the monastery offers less and less the atmosphere of silence and solitude that is important for our monastic life.
We have made the decision to establish the monastery in a new place – not yet determined – which offers the proper environment and in buildings better proportioned to the needs of the Community. We want to give ourselves and our energies to the heart of our Christian and monastic commitment rather than maintaining a patrimony which does have a beauty and a value in the context of history. It has not been without much real heartfelt pain that we have made the choice to leave the place of our deep roots after more than one hundred and twenty years of presence in Oka. Obviously such a project has to be accomplished by stages, in the months and years to come. Looking to the future and the newness of this project we are living this important moment of our history in an attitude of faith and hope.
II) Celebrations and Anniversaries :
- The 850th Anniversary of the Death of Blessed Eugene III on July 8, 2003 was commemorated by the community of Tre Fontane . A week of festivities included a workshop dealing with pertinent biographical and historical issues and the contemporary significance of this man about whom Pope John XXIII once observed, “how good it would be to be like him!”
Also at Tre Fontane, on September 7, 2003 at 4:00 PM in the Casa San Bernardo, Father Stefano ZANOLINI (O.Cist, San Bernardo alle Terme) will speak on the life of Blessed Eugene III. Thereafter Msgr. Guido MAZZOTTA, dean of the Faculty of Philosophy of the Pontificia Università Urbaniana, will speak on the Petrine ministry in light of a re-reading of St. Bernard’s De Consideratione.
- Morimond (France) The 850th Anniversary of the Death of St. Bernard & the 750th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Abbatial Church of Morimond will be celebrated as follows. An international colloquium will be convened September 6 – 7, 2003 in the municipal theatre of Langres, on the theme: “The ancient abbey of Morimond: History and Influence”. There will be a solemn mass celebrated at Morimond itself on Sunday September 8, 2003 at 10:30 AM, with Msgr. Philippe GUENELEY, bishop of Langres, presiding. The colloquium is open to all; contact the Secretariat of the Friends of Morimond at Langres by phone [33] (0)3 25 87 18 61.
III) The Cause of Father Marie-Joseph Cassant :
The decree confirming the miracle attributed to the intercession of Father Marie-Joseph CASSANT was read in the presence of Pope John Paul II on July 7, 2003 in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican. The date for the beatification has not yet been set.
On behalf of the Venerable Servant of God, Marie-Joseph Cassant, a French Trappist priest (1878 – 1903), the Prefect of the Congregation for Causes of Saints, Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, stated: “When only 25 years of age he had attained a remarkable perfection in gospel living at the Monastery of Sainte Marie du Désert near Toulouse in France. A confrere said of him, ‘He had the simplicity of a dove…He was at ease in every situation, and this calm supplied a beauty to his appearance. Everyone loved and respected him. He was always smiling’. He was sanctified by the faithful observance of the Rule of his monastic life and by his serene acceptance of the tuberculosis from which he died. The heroic character of his virtues was acknowledged in 1984. The miracle had occurred in France in 1936”.
Dom Maur TAGAKI, abbot of Phare, had agreed to host the meeting of the Central Commissions in June 2004. This plan no longer is feasible because Dom Maur has been hospitalized since July 23, 2003 and his physical condition is extremely fragile.
At the conclusion of the RGM 2002, Scourmont had been chosen as the runner up site for this June 2004 Central Commissions meeting. Dom Armand VEILLEUX and the community of Scourmont are happy to host this 2004 meeting of the Central Commissions. The dates for the meeting have been modified slightly. The meeting will run from the morning of Thursday June 10, 2004 (arrivals June 9th) until the evening of Friday June 18, 2004 (departures June 19th).
V) Requests for the Ordo and for the Elenchus for 2004 :
Having reviewed the orders placed for these documents in recent years, and having found that there is little change in the average number of copies needed annually, it seems unnecessary to consult each community about how many copies each will want for the year 2004. Each house will received the same number of copies of these documents as it did in 2003, except when an explicit request for a change is made to the Secretariat at the Generalate. Thank you for your cooperation !
La Fille-Dieu : [17*]: April 19, 2003, Holy Saturday: Sister Ida BAERISWYL. Born in September 1913, she entered La Fille-Dieu in 1932 and made solemn profession in 1938. Serving as organist for years, hers was a life of humble and hard work, sustained by a deep and faithful love for lectio divina.
Nazareth : [28*] May 4, 2003 : Sister Maria MARLIER. Born in Ragnies, near Charleroi in Belgium in 1920, she entered Soleilmont in 1945 where she made profession in 1947. She was one of the foundresses of Nazareth in 1950.
Berkel : [26*] May 16, 2003 : Sister Petronella FISCHER. Born in Groningen, the Low Countries, in 1910, she entered Berkel in 1943 and made profession in 1945.
June 2, 2003 : Sister Beatrix STADHOUDERS. Born in Germonde, the Low Countries, in 1923, she entered Berkel in 1948 and made profession in 1952.
July 8, 2003 : Sister Egidia WEIJERS. Born in Warmond, the Low Countries, in 1917, she entered Berkel in 1949 and made profession in 1951.
Neiges : [21] May 11, 2003 : Brother Étienne POUZANCRE. Born in Vendargues, France, in 1926, he entered Notre Dame des Neiges in 1943 and made profession as a laybrother in 1950.
May 29, 2003 Ascension Thursday : Brother Emmanuel CANTON. Born at Le Puy en Velay, France in 1928, he entered Neiges in 1959 and made profession as a laybrother in 1965.
Maromby : [75] May 19, 2003 : Brother Boniface RANDRIANANTENAINA. Born September 6, 1976 near Fianarantsoa, he entered Maromby in 1999 and made his simple profession on February 2, 2003 and died from a brain tumor. He is the first native of Madagascar to die as a monk of the community.
May 20, 2003 : Father Alain FAUVARQUE. Born in 1915 at Versailles in France, he entered Mont-des-Cats in 1936 and made his profession in 1948, having spent five years as a prisoner of war in Germany. He was at Frattocchie for five years and, in 1958, he was sent to Madagascar to participate in the foundation of Maromby. In 2001, because of a fractured femur, he was obliged to return to Mont-des-Cats where he died peacefully, longing until the end to return to Maromby where he had his stability. His burial at Mont-des-Cats was celebrated on the same day as that of Brother Boniface in Maromby.
Igny : [23*] May 29, 2003 Ascension Thursday : Sister Marie-Benoît DUMONT. Born in Boulogne-Billancourt, France in 1917, she entered Igny in 1941 and made her profession in 1944. She was the older sibling of Sister Albéric Dumont, who is living the monastic life at La Clarté-Dieu (RDC) since 1956.
June 6, 2003 : Mother Marie-Aleth GIRONDELOT. Born in 1917, she entered Igny in 1940 and made profession on February 10, 1943. She was mistress of novices when she was named to the initial group of foundresses of Notre Dame de la Clarté-Dieu (RDC) in 1955. Some health issues resolved quickly upon her return to France, and she was elected abbess of Notre Dame d’Igny on October 9, 1958. She continued in this ministry until 1969.
Melleray : [04] May 29, 2003 Ascension Thursday : Father Léon JAFFRÉ. Born in 1913, he entered Timadeuc in 1935 where he made solemn profession in 1942. He was sent to Melleray in 1946 and there he made his stability in 1948.
Oka : [31] June 22, 2003 : Brother Hilary ROBSON. Born at Bradford-York, England in 1913, he entered Notre Dame du Lac on August 19, 1947 and made solemn profession on March 21, 1953.
Latroun : [40] July 11, 2003 Solemnity of St. Benedict : Father Charbel GRAVRAND. Born in 1921, he entered the Spiritans in 1947 and was a missionary in Senegal from 1948 until 1987, when he entered Aiguebelle. Solemnly professed in 1990, he was sent to the foundation of Saint Sauveur in Lebanon, and he made stability at Latroun on January 12, 2003.
Campénéac : [19*] July 18, 2003 : Sister Marie de la Présentation LE BORGNE. Born in 1914, she entered Campénéac in 1939 and made her solemn profession in 1944. She is survived by two younger siblings in the Order, namely, Sister Catherine, also of Campénéac and Father Louis, a monk of Timadeuc.
Oelenberg : [09] July 18, 2003 : Father Simon-Marie BULLE. Born in 1922, he entered Notre Dame des Dombes in 1942, where he made solemn profession and was ordained priest in 1950. He entered Oelenberg in August 2001, and he made his stability there on Ascension Thursday May 29, 2003.
We recomand each one of them to the prayers of all the brothers and sisters of the Order.
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