March 26, 2024: Father Rafael Manzano García-Triviño was born in 1927 in Almeria (Spain). He entered Viaceli in 1952, made his solemn profession in 1957 and was ordained a priest in 1961. In 1976, he made his stability in Oseira. Father was 96 years old, had been in monastic vows for 69 years and 62 years a priest when the Lord called him.

+ Padre Rafael_Oseira.pdf – ES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RE Meeting, March 2024, Las Huelgas C.C.S.B., Spain

On 19 March, 2024,
Solemnity of Saint Joseph,
Brother Harold Seesing
made solemn profession
at the monastery of Zundert (Netherlands).

Brother Harold was born in 1970 in Lobith (Netherlands).
He entered Zundert in 2018 and made first profession in 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 19 March 2024,
Solemnity of St. Joseph,
Sister Sara Mbalula
made solemn profession at the monastery of Mvanda (Dem. Rep. of Congo).

Sister Sara was born in 1994 in Mukwi (Dem. Rep. of Congo).
She entered Mvanda in 2016 and made first profession in 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 18, 2024: Sister Ife Kristi Onyeagwa was born in 1948 in Ifite (Nigeria). She entered Abakaliki in 1983 and made her solemn profession in 1992. Sister was 76 years old and had been in monastic vows for 38 years when the Lord called her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 18, 2024: Sister Relindis Claesen was born in 1931 in Grote-Spouwen (Belgium). She entered Nazareth in 1959 and made her solemn profession in 1965. She had been one of the foundresses of Klaarland in 1970. Sister was 92 years old and had been in monastic vows for 62 years when the Lord called her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 19, 2024: Brother Giuseppe Nazionale was born in 1931 in Follansbee, West Virginia (USA). He entered Gethsemani in 1962 and made his solemn profession in 1968. Today he turned 93 years old. He had been in monastic vows for 59 years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 17, 2024: Sister Teresa Mahoney was born in 1936 in Bronx, New York (USA). She entered Wrentham in 1957 and made her commitment as an Oblate in the Community in 1966. Sister was 88 years old and had been an Oblate for 64 years when the Lord called her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 16 March 2024, Mother Gratia Adler completed her second term of six years as abbess of Maria Frieden (Diocese of Aachen, Germany). On the same day, she was re-elected Abbess of the Community for an indefinite term.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 12, 2024: Father Irénée Rigolot was born in 1935 in Château-du-Loir (France). He entered Timadeuc in 1966, made his solemn profession in 1972 and was ordained a priest in 1975. Father was 88 years old, had been in monastic vows for 55 years and 48 years a priest when the Lord called him.

+ Père Irénée_Timadeuc.pdf – FR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 07, 2024: Sister María Antonia Oliva Toldrá was born in 1927 in Barcelona (Spain). She was perpetually professed in the Congregation of the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Assumption before entering Benaguacil in 1969 and made her solemn profession in 1973. Sister was 97 years old and had been in monastic vows for 54 years when the Lord called her.

+ Hermana Antonia_Benaguacil.pdf – ES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 05, 2024: Sister Thérèse-Marie Debiève was born in 1929 in Frameries (Belgium). She entered Soleilmont in 1961 and made her solemn profession in 1967. En 1983, she came to the community of Chimay but she conserved her stability in Soeilmont. Sister was 95 years old and had been in monastic vows for 59 years when the Lord called her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 05, 2024: Brother Roman Paul Berceau was born in 1990 in Evanston, IL (USA). He entered Mepkin in 2022 and made his solemn profession in 2024 in articulo mortis. For several years he had endured numerous medical emergencies due to an autoimmune illness of the colon and liver. In 2023, he had cancer which developed after a liver transplant. Brother was 33 years old when the Lord called him.

+ Brother Roman Paul_Mepkin.pdf – EN

+ Message from Brother Roman Paul – EN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 03, 2024: Brother Edmund Costin was born in 1930 in Affane (Ireland). He entered Mount Melleray in 1969 and made his solemn profession in 1974. Brother was 93 years old and had been in monastic vows for 52 years when the Lord called him.

+ Brother Edmund_Mount Melleray.pdf – EN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

L’Étolie Notre-Dame, Benin
February 2024

On February 10, 2024,
Sister Inès Avenon
made solemn profession at the monastery of L’Étoile N.-D. (Benin).

Sister Inès was born in 1987 in Athiémé (Benin).
She entered L’Étoile N.-D. in 2014 and made first profession in 2018.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following the resignation of Dom Dominque-Marie Schoch as superior ad nutum, the community of Oelenberg (Diocese of Strasbourg, France) has been sede vacante for more than three months. Therefore, at the request of the delegated Father Immediate, Dom Samuel Lauras of Nový Dvůr, on 23 February 2024, the Abbot General, with the consent of his Council, suspended the exercise of the autonomy of the community of Oelenberg, in accordance with the Statute for the Accompaniment of Fragile Communities (# 10+16).

On the same day, Dom Samuel Lauras, Abbot of Nový Dvůr and Delegated Father Immediate of Oelenberg, was appointed Monastic Commissary of the community of Oelenberg.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 22, 2024: Father Arnold van Gerwen was born in 1929 in Voorburg (Netherlands). He entered Zundert in 1947, made his solemn profession in 1952 and was ordained a priest in 1955. Father was 94 years old, had been in monastic vows for 74 years and 68 years a priest when the Lord called him.

+ Father Arnold_Zundert.pdf – NL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 24, 2024: Father Felipe García Casado was born in 1938 in Villalba de Duero, Burgos (Spain). He entered Cardeña in 1960, made his solemn profession in 1967. In 1972, he arrived in Viaceli where he made his new stability in 1973 and was ordained a priest in 1974. Father was 85 years old, had been in monastic vows for 60 years and 49 years a priest when the Lord called him.

+ Padre Felipe_Viaceli.pdf – ES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 18 February 2024, Brother Roman Paul Berceau made his Solemn Profession in articulo mortis.
He was born in 1990 in Evanston, IL (USA). He entered Mepkin in 2022 and received the Cistercian monastic habit in 2023.

Please pray for brother and the community of Mepkin!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REGIONAL MEETINGS

February 5 – 10, 2024 REI Steinfeld/ Maria Frieden (Germany)
February 20 – 27, 2024 RéCiF Acey (France)
March 4 – 9, 2024 ISLES Roscrea (Ireland)
March 11 – 15, 2024 CNE Chimay (Belgium)
March 12 – 17, 2024 RE Las Huelgas (Spain)
April 10 – 18, 2024 REMILA El Encuentro (Mexico)
April 15 -19, 2024 NED Schiermonnikoog (Netherlands)
April 29 – May 3, 2024 REM Naší Paní (Czech Republic)
May 7 – 13, 2024 ORIENS Sujong (South Korea)
May 22 – 29, 2024 USA Villa Del Mar (USA)

*****

OTHER MEETINGS

December 30, 2023 11:00 a.m. to 13:00 p.m. Central Commissoin Zoom Meeting
   
June 5 (Arrival )- 17 (Departure), 2024 Central Commission Mostazal, Casa Alvernia OFM (Chile)

 

 

 

 

 

Sant’Anselmo Institute, Rome
From 4 to 8 November 2024

On the occasion of the 850th anniversary
of the canonisation of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
and on the occasion of the publication
by Sources chrétiennes of the French translation
of his treatise On the degrees of humility and pride
 

for more information on the colloquium :
https://sourceschretiennes.org/recherche/colloque/se-decouvrir-miroir-verite

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 17, 2024: Sister Maria Bernadette Tokita was born in 1936 in Shizuoka (Japan). She entered Tenshien in 1965 and made her solemn profession in 1973. Sister was 87 years old and had been in monastic vows for 54 years when the Lord called her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 12, 2024: Brother Luke Scheuerell was born in 1931 in Oak Park, IL. (USA). He entered Berryville in 1957 and made his solemn profession in 1963. Brother was 92 years old and had been in monastic vows for 64 years when the Lord called him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Scam email is circulating asking to verify a transfer or send money in the name of the Abbot General.

Please be aware: The email address is very similar to that of the Abbot General and contains very precise information.

** Please do not reply and ignore this type of email
and when you receive an e-mail, always check that the sender’s address is correct.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 10, 2024: Brother Filippo Mioni was born in 1940 in Umbertide (Italy). He was a familiaris of Tre Fontane for many years and made his commitment as an oblate in the Community in 2022. Brother was 83 years old when the Lord called him.

+ Filippo_Tre Fontane.pdf – IT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O.C.S.O.

The Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (also known as “Trappists”) is a Roman Catholic contemplative religious order, consisting of monasteries of monks and monasteries of nuns. We are part of the larger Cistercian family which traces its origin to 1098. As Cistercians we follow the Rule of St Benedict, and so are part of the Benedictine family as well. Our lives are dedicated to seeking union with God, through Jesus Christ, in a community of sisters or brothers.

  • Zundert

    March 20, 2024 11:30 am

    On 19 March, 2024, Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Brother Harold Seesing made solemn profession at...

  • Mvanda

    March 20, 2024 10:46 am

    On 19 March 2024, Solemnity of St. Joseph, Sister Sara Mbalula made solemn profession at...

  • Maria Frieden

    March 16, 2024 11:32 am

    On 16 March 2024, Mother Gratia Adler completed her second term of six years as...

  • L’Étoile Notre-Dame

    February 28, 2024 7:36 am

    On February 10, 2024, Sister Inès Avenon made solemn profession at the monastery of L’Étoile...

  • 2024

    Regional Meetings

    Calendar

  • 4 - 8 November 2024

    Colloquium on the Degrees of Humility and Pride

    Rome, Italy

  • 6 - 18 Novembre 2023

    Course for New Superiors

    Rome, Italy

  • Oseira

    March 26, 2024
  • Abakaliki

    March 19, 2024
  • Klaarland

    March 19, 2024
  • Gethsemani

    March 19, 2024
  • Wrentham

    March 19, 2024

Gallery

See complete list

Resources

Monasteries

  • New Melleray

    USA

  • Cardeña

    Spain

  • Kasanza

    Dem. Rep. Congo