Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance (Trappists)
INFORMATION BULLETIN 154
Christmas 2005
I) Monasteries
III) Central Commissions
IV) Called by the Lord
Chambarand [12*]: May 30, 2005, Sister Anne-Chantal DUHAIL, nun of Chambarand (France), was named superior ad nutum of the monastery replacing Mother Anne MORIN. Mother Anne-Chantal was born in 1961. She entered Chambarand in 1985 and made her solemn profession in 1993. At the time Mother Anne-Chantal was named Superior, she was the Sub-prior and Infirmarian of the Community. Mother Anne-Chantal began her service as Superior July 10, 2005.
Vico [29*]: May 31, 2005, Sister Isabel RIVERO NAVARRO was elected Abbess of the monastery of N.-D. of the Holy Spirit at Vico (Spain) for a six year term. Mother Isabel was born in 1957. She entered Vico in 1991 and made her solemn profession in 1997. At the time of her election, she was the Mistress of Novices. The election was confirmed by the Abbot General and Mother Isabel was installed the same evening.
Nishinomiya [25*]: Mother Theodora NAIKI was elected abbess of Nishinomiya (Japan) for a six year term on June 15, 2005. Mother Theodora was Superior ad nutum at the time of her election and had been in that office since 2000.
L’Étoile Notre Dame [39*]: Upon completion of her six year term as Abbess, on July 9, 2005, Mother Bibiane IGBARO was re-elected Abbess of L’Étoile Notre-Dame (Benin) for an indefinite term.
Westmalle [03]: Dom Nathanaël KONINCKX was elected Abbot of Westmalle (Belgium) for an indefinite term on July 11, 2005. At the time of his election Dom Nathanaël had been superior ad nutum since July 12, 2004.
Benaguacil [34*]: July 21, 2005, Sister Mariá Encarnación LLUCH MENDIETA was postulated Abbess of N.-D. of Benaguacil (Spain) for an indefinite term. Since Mother Mariá Encarnación was not 35 years of age as the Constitution ST 39.3.A requires, the Abbot General gave the dispensation from the law of the Order and confirmed the postulation. At the time of her postulation, Mother Mariá Encarnación had been superior ad nutum of Benaguacil since March 31, 2004.
Blauvac [05*]: At the end of her first term as Abbess, Mother Anne-Emmanuelle DEVECHE was re-elected Abbess of Blauvac (diocese of Avignon, France) on September 15, 2005, for an indefinite term.
Victoria [73]: On November 15, 2005, Dom Korneel Vermeiren, Abbot of Tilburg and Father Immediate of Our Lady of Victoria (Kenya) named Father Dominic Vincent NKOYOYO superior ad nutum of Victoria. Dom Dominic Vincent was born in Uganda in 1959. He entered Victoria in 1983 and made profession in 1986. Dom Dominic Vincent studied theology at the Abbey of New Clairvaux in California, USA and was ordained a priest in 1993. He received a license in Moral Theology from the Alponsianum in Rome in 1997. Dom Dominic assisted with the monastic formation at Koutaba (Cameroon) and in the African Region.
Los Andes [89]: Dom Plácido ALVAREZ CASTRO QUIROS completed his first term as Prior of Los Andes (Venezuela) on December 15, 2005 and was re-elected Prior for another term of six years.
Tilburg [30]: Dom Bernardus PEETERS was elected abbot of Abdij O.L.V. van Koningshoeven (Holland) on December 21, 2005 for an indefinite term. Dom Bernardus was born in 1968, entered Tilburg in 1986 and was professed in 1988. Dom Bernardus was ordained a priest in 1997. At the time of his election he was serving the Community as Prior and Novice Master.
August 5, 2005, the Congregation for Catholic Education approved the nomination of Father Daniël HOMBERGEN as Dean of the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Athenaeum of Sant’ Anselmo in Rome. Father Daniël is a monk of Maria-Toevlucht (Zundert) in Holland and a professor at Sant’ Anselmo. He succeeds Father Mark Sheridan who became Rector of Sant’ Anselmo on July 1, 2005. Father Daniel entered the monastery of Zundert in 1979. His theology studies were the course organized by the Benedictines and Cistercians in Holland from 1984 until 1989. In 1993 he received a license in Patristic Theology at Rome. In 2000, Father Daniel received a Doctorate in Theology with a specialization in monastic studies from Sant’ Anselmo in Rome.
III) Central Commissions
The meeting of the Central Commissions was held at the termination of the MGM in Assisi, October 30, 2005. The Commissions had two essential tasks: to elect a Central Secretary of Formation and to finalize the place and date of the Central Commission meeting in 2007.
Sister Kathleen O’Neil of Mississippi Abbey (USA) was elected Central Secretary of Formation but because of commitments in the Community was unable to accept the position. Sister Pamela Clinton of Wrentham Abbey (USA) who was second in the voting by one vote, accepted to serve as Central Secretary of Formation.
The 2007 meeting of the Central Commission will be held at the monastery of Cardeña (Burgos, Spain) from June 19 until June 28, inclusive.
- Bricquebec [10] April 4, 2005, Brother Gabriel Hercouet was called to the Lord. Brother was born in 1920 at Saint Malo (France) and entered Bricquebec in 1949. He made his solemn profession in 1954.
- Échourgnac [09*] April 5, 2005, Sister Marie-Immaculée Trésor went to the Lord. Sister was born in Metz, Alsace-Lorraine in 1913. She entered Igny in 1937 and made profession in 1940. Sister was sent to assist the Community of Échourgnac in 1941.
- Bon Conseil [16*] May 18, 2005, Sister Marie-Alice Dubé was called to the Lord. Sister was born in Richmond, Quebec (Canada) and entered Saint Romuald in 1932 as an Oblate and made profession as a Lay-Sister in 1945. Sister was a woman of prayer. She served the community as shoe-maker for more than forty years and also labored to make the flowers blossom! Sister died in the Infirmary of the Petites Franciscaines Missionnaires at Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec.
- Spencer/Conyers [26 & 57] On the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, June 3, 2005, Dom Basil Pennington went to the Lord. Dom Basil was born in Brooklyn NY, (USA). He entered Spencer in 1951, made his profession in 1956 and was ordained priest in 1957. He served the Community of Spencer in many ministries among them, vocational director. Dom Basil lived and assisted in the Monastery of Our Lady of Joy, Lantao, (Hong Kong) for more than seven years. He was named superior ad nutum of the monastery of Ava in Missouri (USA) in 2000. Dom Basil was elected abbot of Holy Spirit Abbey, Conyers GA the same year. In 2002, Dom Basil completed his ministry to Holy Spirit and retired to Spencer, his monastery of stability. His death resulted from physical complications caused by an automobile accident.
- Melleray [04] June 12, 2005, Father Marie de la Houplière born in 1924 in Sarrebrück, (Saarland) of French nationality died. Father had entered Timadeuc in 1957 and went to Melleray in May of 1960. He had been professed 45 years and a priest for 55 years at the time of his death.
- Bellefontaine [06] On June 23, 2005, Brother Léon Mars, born at Marçon (France) in 1923 and entered Bellefontaine in 1944, having completed 49 years of monastic profession, went to the Lord.
On August 30, 2005, Father Guy Chaigneaud-Dupuy was called to the Lord. Father Guy had been born in 1916 at Angoulême (France). He entered Bellefontaine 1946 having returned from war prisoner camp. Father Guy was solemnly professed in 1951 and ordained priest in 1954.
- Cîteaux [01] June 25, 2005, Father Tarcisius Dony went to the Lord. He was born in Orléans (France) in 1918 and entered Cîteaux in 1935. Father Tarcisius made solemn profession in 1946 and was ordained a priest in 1953. For many years, Father Tarcisius was the chaplain at Igny. He was Prior at Cîteaux from 1971 until 1986.
On June 30, 2005, Brother Marie-Joseph Naël, born in 1917 at Saint Pec de Nivelle (France) was called to the Lord. Brother had entered Cîteaux in 1955 and made his solemn profession in 1960. Brother Marie-Joseph served in the Guest House and in various Community services. Brother also assisted in the Community of Grandselve in Cameroon from 1965 until 1968.
- Aiguebelle [07] Father François Turco, was born in Mondovi (Italy) in 1911 and entered Aiguebelle in 1926 after studying French for two years at Montélimar. Father François had completed 79 years of monastic life, 77 years professed and 71 years a priest at the time of his death on June 24, 2005.
- La Grâce-Dieu [20*] Sister Chantal Baudier who was born in 1939 at Velleclaire (France) went to the Lord on July 29, 2005. Sister entered Grâce-Dieu in 1959 and began her service in the kitchen which continued for thirty years. During several years, Sister was the Sub-prioress and severed the sick in the Infirmary. It was in the infirmary that Sister was finally prepared to enter into the Paschal mystery of the Lord. Sister suffered a difficult sickness over a period of three years.
- Nazareth [28*] On August 8, 2005. Sister Judith de Grijs went forth to the Lord. Sister had been born at Groningen (Netherlands) in 1939 and entered the Poor Clares in 1965 and made profession in 1968. In 1993, Sister continued her monastic journey to the Abbey of Nazareth where she was solemn professed in 1998.
- Brialmont [50*] Sister M. Thérèse Hallet who was born in 1929 at Sougné Remouchamps (Belgium) died on August 9, 2005. Sister had entered at Sorée in 1955. Since the first days of her monastic life, Sister worked generously and with great care on the clothes of the Sisters. Sister M. Thérèse was an avid student of the Fathers of the Church. Also she had a particular love of nature – the birds, the trees and the flowers. From these she never ceased to rejoice in spiritual joy.
- Ubexy [06*] On August 11, 2005, Sister Marthe Michel went forth to the Lord. Sister Marthe was born in Saint Dié (France) in 1917. She had entered Ubexy in 1942. On August 15 2005, Sister would have been professed 61 years.
- Latroun [40] Brother Michel Khoury died on August 22, 2005. Brother Michel had been born in Menjez, Lebanon. He entered the Juniorate in 1936 and then the Community in 1942. Brother Michel made monastic profession August 15, 1944.
- Timadeuc [17] Brother Bruno des Courtils went to the Lord on September 10, 2005. Brother was born in 1937 at Mongeroult (France) and entered Timadeuc in 1958. He made solemn profession in 1967. Brother Bruno was a man of prayer and silence. He was the refectorian for many long years. Brother was the contact person with ACAT (Action des Chrétiens contre la Torture) and was always very aware of all the persons suffering in our world.
- Laval [02*] On September 14, 2005, Sister Armande Grégoire went forth to the Lord. Sister had been born in Amanlis (France) in 1920. She entered La Coudre in 1942 and had made profession in 1947.
- Imari [42*] Sister Maria Alain Rushi died on September 18, 2005. Sister had been born in 1914 at Kuroshima (Japan) and entered Tenshien in 1934. After Sister had made solemn profession in 1953, she took part in the foundation of Shindenbaru (Imari).
- Conyers-Gethsemani [57-18] Father Lawrence Swierc (Schwarz) went forth to the Lord on September 26, 2005. Father Lawrence had been born in Texas in 1907. He entered Gethsemani in 1926, made solemn profession in 1931 and was ordained a priest in 1934. In the course of his 79 years of monastic life, he had known nine abbots and was most likely the monk in the United States who had led Trappist life for the most years. In 1945, Father Lawrence arrived at Conyers which had been founded the preceding year. He lived there until his death at 98, sixty years later.
- Bela Vista [77] Father François-Xavier Pafila died on September 29, 2005. Father was born in Angola in 1959 and entered Bela Vista in 1990. He had made solemn profession in 1998 and was ordained a priest in 2000.
- Nishinomiya [25*] Sister Marie de la Croix Gourlay died on October 4, 2005. Sister had been born in 1920 at Quimper (France). She had entered Laval in 1941 and had made her solemn profession in 1946. Sister Marie de la Croix arrived in Japan in 1955 and made her stability at Seiboen in 1963.
On December 1, 2005, Sister Maria Denise Shoji Fumi was called to the Lord. In 1913, Sister had been born in Japan and was baptized in 1938. She entered Seiboen in 1942 and made her solemn profession in 1948.
- Benaguacil [34*] On October 9, 2005, Sister Caridad Santolaria Bara who was born in 1925 at Laporzano (Spain) was called to the Lord. Sister had entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Assumption and had been missioned in Tunisia for 28 years. In 1974, Sister Caridad entered Benaguacil and professed her solemn vows in 1979. Sister served the Community in many capacities. She was Sub-prioress, Mistress of Novices and Prioress. Also Sister had ministered in the Guesthouse and as Portress and most of the other services in the Community.
- Diepenveen [36] On October 23, 2005, Brother Christopher Dekker was called to the Lord. Born in 1967 at Amsterdam (Holland), Brother Christopher entered Diepenveen in 1988 and made solemn profession in 1994. He died while living with the Benedictine Community of Saint Paul Outside the Wall in Rome. He was a resident in that Community while studying.
- Blauvac [05*] Sister Marie de Jésus Doucet died on November 21, 2005. She had been born in 1917 at Villeurbanne (France). She had been orphaned at a very young age. Sister entered Maubec in 1937 and made her perpetual profession in 1942 and her solemn vows in 1952. During Sister’s 78 years of monastic life, she faithfully fulfilled her service to the monastic Community. She lived her last two years of dependence on others with courage and great peace.
On November 28, 2005, Sister Maria Pek was called to the Lord. Sister was born in Poland in 1916 and at 19 had entered the Sisters of Marie-Immaculée in Marseille who had received many vocations from Poland. She made profession in 1937. Sister patiently requested the permission to enter the Trappe of Maubec. She received the permission in 1944 and made her perpetual profession as a Lay-Sister in 1946. She made profession as a Choir Nun in 1966.
- Guimaras [83] Father Fabian Mullaney went to the Lord on November 22, 2005. Born in 1925 at Garreston SD (USA), he served in the US Navy before entering Holy Trinity Abbey (UT) in 1949. Father Fabian was a founding member of the Philippine Foundation in 1972 and was the first priest to be ordained at Guimaras in 1975. He took an active part in the foundation of the Nuns monastery in the Philippines and became their Chaplain. According to his wish, he was buried in the cemetery of the nuns.
- Désert [22] On December 1, 2005, the day after his feast, Father André Furon went to the Lord. Born in 1922 at Bais (France), he was actively involved throughout the years of the war. He entered Sainte Marie du Désert in 1946 and made profession as a Lay-Brother in 1948. Having an ability in languages, Brother assisted in many monasteries of the Order and was Porter at the Casa Generalizia from 1965 until 1975. He returned to his monastery of stability where with humor and wisdom, he served as Porter.
We asked that our deceased Brothers and Sisters be in the Prayers of the Order.
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