Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance

Honoring the Eldest Members of the Order

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Due to the passing away of Father Benedict Chao of Lantao on 31 July, we wish to renew our reverence for those whose long lives continue to be offered entirely to God in silence, prayer, and work. These monks and nun are now the eldest members of our order:

Sister Sebastiana Yamaguchi Teruko, Imari Abbey, born 15 October 1918 — 107 years old

Brother Frederic Collins, Gethsemani Abbey, born 31 March 1923 — 103 years old

Lantao

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

July 31, 2026: Father Benedict Chao was born in 1918 in Cheng Ting (China). He entered Our Lady of Joy Abbey Lantao in 1941, made his solemn profession in 1947 and was ordained a priest in 1949. Father was 108 years old and was the oldest monk of our Order, he had been in monastic vows for 79 years and 77 years a priest when the Lord called him.

Blauvac

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

M. Marie-Christine Villmain, Abbess of N.D. du Rivet, who currently exercises the responsibility of Father Immediate for the community of N. D. de Bon Secours, Blauvac (archdiocese of Avignon, France) requested that a monastic commissary be appointed for the community of Blauvac.

The Abbot General thoroughly investigated the matter and, on 28 July 2026, with the consent of his Council and acting in the name of the General Chapter, suspended the exercise of autonomy of the community of Blauvac and appointed the same M. Marie-Christine Villmain as monastic commissary of the community, in accordance with the Statute on Fragile Communities. The appointment is effective immediately.

Bricquebec

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 01:00:00 +0000

July 23, 2026: Dom Charles Jean-Marie Robilliard was born in 1932 in Asnelles-sur-Mer, Calvados, France. He entered Notre Dame de Grâce Abbey, Bricquebec in 1955 and made solemn profession in 1962. In 1969 he was ordained as a priest.

In 1982, he was appointed prior under the newly elected abbot, before himself becoming abbot in 1996. It was in this role that he developed close ties with the Japanese communities of nuns, founded in the years following the Second World War with the support of the former abbot, Dom Marie-Joseph Marquis. This experience deeply shaped him, and one might even say that, over time, he came to possess “a Japanese soul.”

San Isidro

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

July 23, 2026: Brother Joaquín López Serra was born in 1952 in Mataró, Barcelona, Spain. He entered San Isidro de Dueñas Abbey in 1975 and made solemn profession in 1981. Brother was 73 years old and had been in monastic vows for 48 years when the Lord called him.

Esquela-Hno-Joaquin-Lopez-Serra-ES.pdf

Spencer

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

On 23 July 2026, Dom Vincent Rogers completed his six-year mandate as abbot of St Joseph’s Abbey, Spencer (diocese of Worcester, USA).

On the same date the community elected Fr. Timothy Scott as abbot of Spencer for a six-year term.

Dom Timothy was born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA in 1960. He entered Spencer in 1988 and made his solemn profession in 1994. At the time of his election he was novice master in the community.

Vitorchiano

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Mother Rosaria Spreafico, abbess of the monastery of Nostra Signora di San Giuseppe, Vitorchiano (diocese of Viterbo, Italy) since 1988, offered her resignation to the Abbot General in the light of ST 40.A of our Constitutions. With the consent of his Council, the Abbot General accepted the resignation, which became effective on July 3rd, 2026

On 22nd July 2026, the community of Vitorchiano elected Sr. Maria Giovanna Locatelli as abbess for a six-year term.

Wrentham

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

July 21, 2026, Sister M. Hazel Meskell was born in 1932 in Waterbury, Connecticut, USA. She entered Wrentham monastery in 1953 and made her her solemn profession in 1958. Sister was 94 years old and had 71 years of monastic profession when the Lord called her.

Travels of the Abbot General

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

29 - 31 July : Semana de Estudios Monasticos, Valladolid (Spain)

01 - 23 August : Annual Period of rest (Tilburg)

23 August - 03 September : Boa Vista and Novo Mundo (Brazil)

10 - 18 September : General Chapter Congregation of San Bernard Las Huelgas (Spain)

21 September - 05 October : Regular Visitation Sepf-Fons (France)

11 - 17 October : Tilburg (The Netherlands)

18 - 23 October : OL of Silence, Roscrea ISLES Meeting (Ireland)

Glencairn

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

July 16, 2026, Sister Mary Teresa Reidy was born in 1949 in Lancaster (UK). She was a member of the English Province of the Daughters of Jesus when she first visited Glencairn in 1980. In 2007, she began the formal process of transfer to Glencairn Abbey and made her solemn profession in 2012. Sister was 76 years old and had 18 years of monastic profession when the Lord called her.

11 July: Foundation Jubilee of St. Mary of Mont des Cats Abbey (1826–2026)

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 01:00:00 +0000

Visit of the Abbot General to Whitland (06 – 10 July 2026)

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Tenshien

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

July 14, 2026, Sister Maria Anna Seno was born in 1930 in Hokkaido Prefecture (Japan). She entered Tenshien Abbey in 1955 and made her solemn vows in 1963. Sister was 95 years old and had 66 years of monastic profession when the Lord called her.

Glencairn

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 02:00:00 +0000

On July 11, 2026, The Solemnity of Saint Benedict, Sister Beatrice Brady made solemn profession at St Mary’s Abbey of Glencairn (Ireland).

Sister Beatrice was born in Cavan (Ireland) in 1995. She entered Glencairn in 2018 and made first profession in 2021

Gethsemani

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:00:00 +0000

On July 11, 2026, at the end of his third term as Abbot, Dom Elias Dietz was re-elected Abbot of Gethsemani (USA) for a new six-year term.

Lantao

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

On July 11, 2026, The Solemnity of Saint Benedict, Brother Dominic Quan made solemn profession at the Our Lady of Joy Abbey (Hong Kong)

Brother Dominic was born in Qing Hai, China in 1963. He re-entered Lantao in 2019 and made first profession in 2020.

529 – JUBILEE – 2029 (2026 – NURCIA – AWAKEN)

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

On this feast of St. Benedict, we offer you a reflection by Abbess Eustochium Lee OSB, and some questions for personal or communal reflection.

See reflection:

See questions:

Highly recommended!

Visit of the Abbot General to Caldey (02 – 06 July 2026)

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Viaceli

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

July 4, 2026: Brother Rafael Francisco Fernández Marcos was born in 1932 in La Milla del Río, León, Spain. He entered Santa Maria de Viaceli Abbey in 1960 and made final profession in 1967. Brother was 94 years old and had been in monastic vows for 63 years when the Lord called him.

The Abbot General at the Conference Commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Monks of Tibhirine – Oxford, June 30–July 1

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000