Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance (Trappists)
INFORMATION BULLETIN 159
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July, 2007
Tulebras [38*] : On April 10, 2007, at the end of the term of Mother M. Margarita Barra, the Community of Sta. Mª de la Caridad – Tulebras (Spain) elected as abbess for a six year term . Mother Mª Pilar Pisonero. Mother Mª Pilar was born in 1944, entered Tulebras in 1970 and made solemn profession in 1976. She had been superior ad nutum of Benaguacil from 2002 to 2004.
Clarté-Dieu [36*] : Mother Lutgarde Rousselot, Abbess of La Clarté Dieu (Murhesa - Democratic Republic of Congo) having reached the age of retirement mentioned in ST 40.A of the Constitutions, presented her resignation to the Abbot General. With the consent of his Council, the Abbot General accepted the resignation which became effective on February 10, 2007. On April 21, 2007, the Community elected as abbess for a six year term Mother Jeanne Lubingo. Mother Jeanne was born in Bukavu in 1964, entered La Clarté-Dieu in 1988 and made solemn profession in 1995. She had been superior ad nutum of La Clarté-Dieu from 1999 to 2004.
Glencairn [24*] : Mother Marie Fahy completed her six year term as abbess of St. Mary’s Abbey (Glencairn – Ireland), on May 31, 2007. On the same day, she was re-elected Abbess of the Community for a six year term.
Naší Paní [72*] : April 22, 2007, the liturgical feast of Blessed Maria Gabriella, the first group of five Sisters left Vitorchiano for the foundation of Naší Paní nad Vltavou " Our Lady of Vltava" in the Czech Republic. A second group of four Sisters will join them on May 12. In some months, the Novitiate will be opened to welcome the young in formation, those who are already novices at Vitorchiano and those in the Czech Republic who have applied to enter the Community. We give thanks for the gift that the Lord has given to His Church and to our Order!
Mount St Bernard [15]: Dom Joseph Delargy completed his six year term as Abbot of Mount Saint Bernard Abbey (England), on June 11, 2007. On the same day, Dom Joseph was re-elected Abbot of the Community for a six year term.
Holy Trinity [59] : On July 5th, 2007, at the end of the term of Dom Casimir Bernas, the monks of the Abbey of the Holy Trinity, in the diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, elected as their abbot, for a six year term, Father David Altman. After the confirmation of the election by the Abbot General, the new abbot was installed in his office on the same day. Dom David was born in 1938 and he entered the Abbey of the Holy Trinity in 1966. He professed solemn vows in 1973 and was ordained priest in 1979. At the time of the election, Dom David was the accountant for the community.
Mount Melleray [14] : Dom Eamon Fitzgerald completed his third term of six years as Abbot of Mount Melleray Abbey (Ireland) on July 19, 2007. On the same day, Dom Eamon was re-elected Abbot of the Community for a six year term.
· The Generalate
Brother Eric Antoine of the Abbey of Aiguebelle in France, who has been the secretary of the Abbot General since 2004, returned to his Community at the end of the month of June. He has been replaced by Father Elias Dietz, of the Abbey of Gethsemani who had been Dom Bernardo’s secretary from 1998 until 2002.
At the end of the month of June, Mother Cecilia Chemello of the Monasterio di la Madre de Cristo, Hinojo, Argentina, completed her time of service as Portress at the Generalate. Dom Paul Takahashi of the Abbey of Phare in Japan arrived at Viale Africa, July 11, to assume the duties of Porter.
· Norway
The community of Cîteaux is currently considering the possibility of making a pre-foundation in Norway, in the diocese of Trondheim, near the ruins of a twelfth-century Cistercian monastery. The site is located about one hour from Tautra. Since one of the brothers of Cîteaux spent several months near Tautra, there is now a greater awareness and hope for a small settlement of monks in that country. These expectations have been confirmed by the bishop of Trondheim. At the regular visitation made by the Abbot General, accompanied by M. Michaël of Klaarland, in March 2007, the visitors encouraged the community to consider how it might respond to this request.
· Formation
Monastic Formators’ Program 2008
Applications for the 2008 session of the International Monastic Formators’ Program (given in English) in Rome and Assisi are now being accepted. The dates will be from February 29th to May 30th 2008. The fee of the Program is 6.500 euros (board, lodging and tuition). Applications should be sent to Dom Brendan Thomas at Belmont Abbey :Dom Brendan Thomas OSB,
Director Monastic Formators' Program
Belmont Abbey
Hereford HR2 9RZ
GREAT BRITAINE-mail : dombrendan@aol.com
Tel: [44] 1432 37 47 34 Fax: [44] 1432 374 711
The application form can be download from the MFP site (www.belmontabbey.org.uk/mfp).·
III) Modifications to the Elenchus Monasteriorum
Here is the address for the seventy-second monastery of O.C.S.O. nuns :
(This address is provisional; an official address has not yet been designated)
Naší Paní [72*]
Klášter Naší Paní Nad Vltavou
Sestry trapistky
Bartolomějská 9a
110 00 Praha 1
Czech RepublicTél.: [420] 731 604 015 E-mail : tartaralucia@volny.cz
Madre Lucia Tartara 1955, Superiora 2007.
Fondazione di Vitorchiano
Padre Immediato : Frattocchie / Padre Immediato delegato : Mont-des-Cats
E-mail Addresses and internet site addresses are regularly updated on the site http://www.ocso.org so they are not mentionned here.
Grandselve [44*]
Tel: [237] 9 931 63 71 (Cty)
Tel: [237] 9 641 48 32 (Prioress)
Tel: [237] 7 747 63 05 (Chaplain)Koutaba [66]
Tel: [237] 9 997 69 99Bamenda [79]
Tel: cell [237] 7 769 20 40 (Cty)
Tel: [237] 7 771 59 92 (Abbot)
I
V) Called by the Lord- -
Acey [28] April 3, 2007: Brother Martin Colin, was born in 1928 in Loromontzey (France), entered Acey in 1954 and made his commitment as an Oblate in 1960. Brother was in his 79th year and had been an Oblate for 47 years when he was called to the Kingdom.
June 14, 2007: Brother Henri Creusy, was born in 1923 in Gésincourt (France), entered Acey in 1946, made his solemn profession in 1952. Brother was in his 84th year and the 58th of his monastic profession when he went forth to the Lord.
- Wrentham [27*] April 23, 2007: Sr Cecelia Noe was born in Issar, Wisconsin in 1923. She entered Wrentham in 1955 as a Lay Sister, serving the Community in that capacity. Sister made solemn profession in 1960. At the time of her death, Sister was 84 years old and had been in monastic vows for 49 years.
- Azul [76] April 25, 2007: Brother Lorenzo Lutton, was born in 1919 in Jersey City NJ (USA), entered Spencer in 1956 and made his solemn profession in 1962. Brother was in his 88th year and the 48th of his monastic profession when he went forth to the Lord.
- Viaceli [46] April 26, 2007: Brother Emilio Gutiérrez Echevarría, was born in 1935 in Santander (Espagne), entered Viaceli in 1961. Brother was in his 72th year and the 43 th of his monastic profession when he went forth to the Lord.
- Laval [02*] May 6, 2007: Sister Bénédicte Lebatard was born in 1913 in Vilaines-la-Jubel (France). She entered Laval in 1936 and made her solemn profession in 1941. Sister was 95 years old and had been in monastic vows for 69 years when the Lord called her..
- Mistassini [43] May 7, 2007: Father Jean-Baptiste Crépeau, was born in 1909 in St-David d'Yamaska, QC (Canada), entered Mistassini in 1926, made his solemn profession in 1931. He was ordained a priest in 1933. During this long monastic life Father Jean-Baptiste had become something of a legend with the accumulation of so many jubilee celebrations of religious profession and priestly ordination. Father Jean-Baptiste was Sub-Prior, archivist, Master of the Lay Brothers and Master of Novices: three Father Abbots were among his novices! Father was in his 98th year, the 78th of his monastic profession and 74 years a priest when he went forth to the Lord.
- Guimaras [83] May 13, 200: Brother Lawrence Carney, was born in 1920 in Lansing, Michigan (USA), entered Holy Trinity in 1950 and made his solemn profession in 1956. He was one of founding monks of Our Lady of the Philippines and the last surviving founder. Brother was in his 87th year and the 54th of his monastic profession when he went forth to the Lord.
- Cîteaux [01] May 15, 2007: Brother Marie Colas des Francs was born in 1920 in Sézanne (France), entered Cîteaux in 1936 and made his solemn profession in 1944. Brother was in his 86 th year and the 67th of his monastic profession when he went forth to the Lord.
- Gethsemani [18] May 2, 2007: Brother Roderic Belliveau, was born in 1932 in Hartford CT (USA), entered Gethsemani in 1950, made his solemn profession in 1956. Brother was in his 75th year and the 54th of his monastic profession when he went forth to the Lord.
June 9, 2007: Brother Raphael Prendergast, was born in 1921 in St. Louis MO (USA), entered Gethsemani in 1954 and made his solemn profession in 1959. Brother was in his 86th year and the 51st of his monastic profession when he went forth to the Lord.
July 15, 2007: Brother Cassian Vigna, was born in 1918 in Leechburg PA (USA), entered Gethsemani in 1950 and made his solemn profession in 1956. Brother was in his 89th year and the 54th of his monastic profession when he went forth to the Lord.
- La Trappe [02] June 3, 2007: Father Christian Herson-Macarel, was born in 1924 in Paris (France), entered la Trappe in 1944, made his solemn profession in 1950. He was ordained a priest in 1952. Father was in his 83rd year, the 61st of his monastic profession and 55 years a priest when he went forth to the Lord.
- Le Rivet [08*] June 15, 2007: Sister Myriam Leduby was born in 1923 in Vitré (France). She entered Rivet in 1973 and made her commitment as an Oblate in the Community in 1980. Sister was 84 years old and had been an Oblate for 27 years.
- Port du Salut [05] June 15, 2007: Dom Alain Christiaen, Retired Abbot, was born in 1910 in Noyers St Martin (France), entered Timadeuc in 1933, made his solemn profession in 1938 and he was ordained a priest in 1943. Dom Alain was appointed Superior ad nutum of Port-du- Salut in 1965. He was elected Abbot and remained in Office until 1986. Dom Alain was chaplain at Meymac from 1986 until 2003. Father was in his 97th year, the 71st of his monastic profession and 64 years a priest when he went forth to the Lord.
July 8, 2007: Brother Denis Cayla, was born in 1914 in Miquels–Rieupeyroux (France) entered Bonnecombe in 1946 and made his solemn profession in 1951. After the closing of Bonnecombe, Brother went to Atlas where he remained from 1965 until 1971. He returned to Port-du-Salut where he made his stability. Brother went to assist the Community of Grandselve (Obout) from 1972 until 1996. Brother was in his 93rd year and the 59th of his monastic profession when he went forth to the Lord.
- Bamenda [79] June 19, 2007 : Father Pius Mary Okoye, was born in 1935 in Onitsha (Nigeria) and entered Mount-St-Bernard in 1962. In 1963, he went with the founders to start the foundation of Bamenda. He made his solemn profession in 1969 and was ordained a priest in 1977. He was leader of the group that started the foundation of Nsugbe in 1986. In 1998 he was appointed Superior ad nutum of Bamenda Abbey, a position he held for one year. Father was in his 72th year, the 42th of his monastic profession and 30 years a priest when he went forth to the Lord.
- Ubexy [06*] July 14, 2007 : Sister Marie Demengeon was born in 1921 in Golbey (France). She entered Ubexy in 1990 and made her solemn profession in 1996. Sister was 86 years old and had been in monastic vows for 14 years.
- Bon Conseil [16*] July 15, 2007 : Sister Thérèse Sincerny, was born in 1926 in St Jacques de Montcalm, Quebec (Canada). She entered Bon Conseil in 1948 and made her solemn profession in 1953. Sister was 81 years old and had been in monastic vows for 57 years.
We recommend each one of them
to the prayers of all the brothers and sisters of the Order.
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