Fraud Warning
If you receive communications from Benedictines with whom you are not normally in contact, and if they involve money, verify the contact through an abbot president, the CIB, or the abbot primate's office. More details here.
Reflections from the Abbot : Open Doors
Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder writes from Korea, where his Congregation is meeting at Waegwan Abbey, reflecting on Pope Francis’ Holy Year of Pilgrimage of Hope. Hope isn’t a gift, but a virtue — a practice we must foster. He urges us to keep our doors open for God’s action in our lives and communities.
Benedictine News and Elections : January 2025
New abbot president of Ottilien Congregation; new abbots of Göttweig and Maredsous abbeys; new papal appointments, congregations, and commissions. Read the summaries here.
Fr. Patrick Schöder Elected 66th Abbot of Göttweig Abbey
At the Göttweig Benedictine Abbey, Patrick Schöder OSB was elected 8 January as the new abbot. He succeeds Abbot Columban Luser as the 66th abbot of this historic monastery. Abbot Columban held this office for more than 15 years with prudence, spiritual depth, and foresight. Story and links here.
Père François Lear Elected as Ninth Abbot of Maredsous
The Benedictine monks of Maredsous have elected Père François Lear as their ninth abbot on 19 December 2024, following the decision of Père Abbé Bernard Lorent to assume the presidency of the Alliance for Inter-Monastic Cooperation. Story and video here.
Data Report : OSB Atlas, Oblates, and Largest Monasteries
Fr. Patrick Carter OSB, secretary to the abbot primate, gives us some interesting statistics from OSB Atlas. Story, chart and graphs here.
Brother Florentino Pedrosa Ubierna OSB
Abadía de Santo Domingo de Silos
Burgos, Spain
2 January 2025
DIMMID Report from Secretary General Cyprian Consiglio OSB Cam
Newly-installed Secretary General Fr. Cyprian Consiglio OSB Cam, delivers a report on his travels and future plans for DIMMID. Story, links and photos here.
Archabbot Cirill T. Hortobágyi Leads Ecumenical Delegation to Istanbul
Archabbot Cirill T. Hortobágyi OSB, abbot president of the Hungarian Benedictine Congregation and archabbot of Pannonhalma, recently led an ecumenical delegation to Istanbul at the invitation of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Story, photos and links here.
Brother Otto Thole OSB
Saint John's Abbey
Collegeville, Minnesota, USA
11 December 2024