The 91st Assembly of the Union of Superiors General was held on 21-23 November 2018 in Ariccia, Rome. Several Benedictine monastic superiors were present for the meeting, which focused on the implementation of the XV Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Youth, Faith and Vocational Discernment. See article and photo here.
Enclosed nuns from across the United Kingdom and Ireland recently met at Stanbrook Abbey to examine the new Vatican document Cor Orans. See articles and photos here.
Wechselburg Priory's monastic church was elevated to the dignity of Minor Basilica on 12 November 2018, becoming the first church in eastern Germany outside of Berlin to bear the title. Apostolic Nuncio Nikola Eterović proclaimed the papal decree on the festive day. See articles, photos, and Apostolic Nuncio's homily here.
The committee for the next International Oblate Congress, in 2021, met from 27 October - 4 November 2018 at Sant’Anselmo in Rome to begin the planning process. This Congress takes place every four years and includes Oblates and Oblate directors from across the globe. For more information, see story here.
The Annual Council Meeting of the Alliance for International Monasticism (AIM) was held at Sant'Anselmo from 13-15 November 2018. Details, links and photos here.
Father Robert Taft, world scholar on Eastern liturgy and longtime friend of Sant’Anselmo, passed away on 2 November at the age of 86. His noteworthy life is commemorated with a special necrology on his decades-long relationship with Sant’Anselmo, obituary, and video here.
Mvimwa Abbey, a thriving monastic community in the remote Sumbawanga region of Tanzania, became an abbey in 2001 and now numbers more than 80 monks. Mvimwa Abbey celebrated All Saints Day this year by laying the foundation for its new abbey church. Read about the festive day here, with photos.
Significant strides have been made to bring about deeper understanding and reconciliation between Christians and Muslims in Africa, through the Benedictine effort of Monastic-Muslim Dialogue. See here for a presentation of this great ongoing work, radio podcast (German) and transcript (German and English).
The monastic community of Bose has conducted its 26th International Ecumenical Symposium of Orthodox Spirituality on the theme of Discernment and Christian Life, in the spirit of deepening the communion shared between members of the Body of Christ as well as among the Churches. See details here.
Abbot Primate Gregory J. Polan, O.S.B. and the Abbots President of the Benedictine Confederation recently met together for their 2018 Synod at the Abbey of Montecassino. Read more here.
