{"id":17880,"date":"2026-05-14T18:25:44","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T16:25:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osb.org\/?p=17880"},"modified":"2026-05-14T18:25:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T16:25:44","slug":"the-spirit-on-the-move-cib-moderator-journeys-through-the-southern-cone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osb.org\/2026\/05\/14\/the-spirit-on-the-move-cib-moderator-journeys-through-the-southern-cone\/","title":{"rendered":"The Spirit on the Move: CIB Moderator Journeys Through the Southern Cone"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Spirit on the Move: CIB Moderator Journeys Through the Southern Cone<\/h1><\/div>

CIB Moderator Sister Lynn McKenzie visits Benedictine communities in Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile, fostering global sisterhood and preparing for the 2026 Symposium at Sant\u2019Anselmo.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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La abadesa Mar\u00eda Cristina con su tarta de cumplea\u00f1os<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Foto de la abadesa Mar\u00eda Cristina (a la derecha) y la hna. Mar\u00eda con Lynn en la bas\u00edlica de la Virgen de Luj\u00e1n<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Gaby y Lynn sosteniendo productos de la f\u00e1brica junto con la abadesa Rosa Mar\u00eda y la hna. Margarita<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Gaby y Lynn frente a la estatua del Sagrado Coraz\u00f3n en Buenos Aires<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Gaby y Lynn con la abadesa Margarita (Uruguay)<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Lynn con la abadesa Margarita (Uruguay)<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Foto de la comunidad de Uruguay<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

14 mayo 2026<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Sr. Lynn McKenzie, OSB<\/em>
\nModerator, Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum<\/em><\/p>\n

The Spirit is alive and moving among the Benedictine women of the CIB! The next meeting of the CIB will be its quadrennial Symposium in September 2026, to be held at Sant\u2019Anselmo. We expect just under 100 participants from around the world, including many congregation and federation presidents (as well as members of the Synod of Abbot Presidents). More to come on that in our next issue.<\/p>\n

Currently, the CIB Moderator is visiting monasteries in South America, primarily those of the Cono Sur Congregation in Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile. Sister Gabriela Ramirez, of Sister Lynn\u2019s monastery in Cullman, Alabama, USA, is fluent in both Spanish and English and was able to accompany Sister Lynn on this journey. Her presence has been invaluable, allowing for more effective communication in both languages.<\/p>\n

First on the itinerary was a visit to Abad\u00eda de Santa Escol\u00e1stica in Buenos Aires. Though it is a monastery of 32 nuns situated within the city, it feels as if it were set apart in a quiet rural area. The architectural vision of the monastery helps achieve a sense of peace, facilitating their round of monastic prayer, silence, and lectio divina. It was a joy to be with this community, experiencing their beautiful sung prayer and the \"healthy joy\" of celebrating Abbess Mar\u00eda Cristina Moroni\u2019s birthday. (Abbess Mar\u00eda Cristina is the CIB delegate for Region 12, which includes Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Chile.) Her birthday coincided with our arrival in Buenos Aires.<\/p>\n

We also visited Abad\u00eda de San Benito de Luj\u00e1n, a small monastery of monks within an hour\u2019s drive of Buenos Aires. We first stopped at the famous Basilica of Our Lady of Luj\u00e1n and truly enjoyed praying there. We then joined the monks for Midday Prayer and lunch, followed by a tour of the monastery led by Abbot Jorge and Father Santiago. I had known Father Santiago at Sant\u2019Anselmo when he served as Abbot Primate Gregory Polan\u2019s secretary. Father Santiago graciously served as translator so that Abbot Jorge and I could converse more easily. It was a wonderful experience! We also had the opportunity for Midday Prayer and lunch with the Tutzing Missionary Benedictines in Buenos Aires, for which I was also very grateful.<\/p>\n

From Buenos Aires, we traveled to visit the nuns of Abad\u00eda Sta. Mar\u00eda Madre de la Iglesia in El Palmar (Canelones, Uruguay). We took the ferry across the R\u00edo de la Plata from Buenos Aires to Montevideo before driving to the monastery. I was amazed at the power of the river; the waves crashed more like the ocean. The Abbess of Sta. Mar\u00eda Madre de la Iglesia, Mother Mar\u00eda Margarita Maillot, and her community warmly welcomed us. I was able to give a presentation on the CIB to the nuns, and we had a fruitful discussion, including some shared tears as we pondered the ongoing war in Ukraine and its impact on our Benedictine sisters there.<\/p>\n

From Uruguay, we drove back to Argentina to visit the Priory of Nuestra Se\u00f1ora del Paran\u00e1. As always, I was welcomed with great openness. I was able to visit their factory where they produce high-quality jams and other fruit products. I was most impressed with the entire production process and their attention to excellence. I also saw the ongoing construction of their new church and monastic cells. They are a community of great vitality, characterized by many activities and beautiful Gregorian chant.<\/p>\n

After leaving Uruguay, I traveled by car to Abad\u00eda Gaudium Mariae in C\u00f3rdoba, Argentina. There, Abbess Mother Juana In\u00e9s and her sisters greeted me, even though we arrived much later than planned. We enjoyed a wonderful feast-day meal together, followed by a presentation on the CIB. The sisters were very engaged and asked many insightful questions.<\/p>\n

At the end of my time in Argentina, I flew to Santiago, Chile, to visit monasteries in Raut\u00e9n and Rengo. I found meaningful connections with both. First, I had only recently learned that St. Scholastica Monastery in Duluth, Minnesota, has called the monastery in Raut\u00e9n its \u201ctwinning monastery\u201d since 1996\u2014a relationship of sharing and friendship. As one of the sisters in Duluth explained, \u201cit is a way of being connected and appreciating a beautiful Benedictine community of another culture by visiting, corresponding, and helping support their needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Second, I was already familiar with the motherhouse of Rengo: Monasterio de San Pelayo in Oviedo, Spain. The Abbess in Oviedo, Mother Rosario del Camino, had been the CIB Region 2 delegate, and I have visited there on several occasions. While I was aware of this founding relationship with Rengo, I never expected to visit it personally. I am so glad to have had this opportunity in Chile all these years later. What a gift!<\/p>\n<\/div>

CIB web site |EN|IT|FR|DE|PT|ES|<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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