Sr. Lynn McKenzie OSB
Moderator
Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum

Blessed Pasch!

A big thank you to Abbot Primate Jeremias for inviting me to begin writing a column for Nexus, his excellent bulletin for all Benedictines! As the moderator of Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum (CIB), it is my privilege to be able to meet and communicate with Benedictines spread all over the globe. Until a few years ago, I never dreamed of this small-town girl from Alabama traveling the world. But what amazing experiences I have had in meeting Benedictines on several continents!

Sisters, relationships – that is what makes CIB happen. I think of a recent in-person meeting in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA of the Catalogus committee, which was featured by the abbot primate in the previous issue of Nexus. The joint venture of the Benedictine men and women in bringing together the information about all the Benedictine monasteries in the world is a dream come true. Abbot Primate Jeremias dreamed it and it is coming to fruition, thanks to the tenacity, intelligence and hard work of three Benedictine women, together with the monk secretary to the abbot primate. Thank you to Sisters Lucy, Tamra, Jana and Fr. Patrick!

I remember my recent visit to South Africa for the BECOSA meeting of women and men Benedictines who live and work in the southern tip of the continent of Africa. Abbot Jeremias was there, too! Together in relationship they discuss best practices in leadership and formation. They share information and also encourage and inspire each other by the faithful lives they live.

I also think of the meetings I just had in Rome as some sisters came together to make plans for our September 2026 CIB Symposium. And it wasn’t just the sisters coming together that was inspiring, but also several monks at Sant’Anselmo lending us their space and expertise about the best ways to use the space there at Sant’Anselmo and advising who to talk to, like the right company for translation equipment rental, set up and operation. The sincerity and good will among the sisters working together, and with the monks, too, was contagious. Thanks to all working to make our 2026 CIB Symposium a reality! While the planning committee was in Rome we also paid a visit to the Benedictine nuns of Buenos Aires, Argentina, who currently reside at Monastero Mater Ecclesiae inside the Vatican, who came at the invitation of Pope Francis. It was a joy to see them again!

I had other experiences while in Rome that help me to know well the reality of Benedictine communion. I was invited to speak with the Benedictine Formators program, newly led by Br. Colman and Sr. Marie Johann, which had just begun its time together at Sant’Anselmo. To be able to share with them about the CIB was a joy!

Last week also brought the opportunity for me to be with the CIB juridic commission represented by its chair, Sr. Scholastika Häring (Germany), and also Madre Noemi Scarpa (Italy), for a meeting with the dicastery prefect, Sr. Simona Brambilla, MC, and two other officials of the Vatican dicastery for consecrated life to discuss our newly-proposed CIB statutes. It was an encouraging experience about a serious matter about the future of CIB in its service to Benedictine women around the world. Afterward we met with the abbot primate to share the good experience there.

Finally, over a short few days, I had the privilege of visiting nine monasteries of Italian nuns in the general vicinity of Rome. Madre Daniela Vacca hosted me and introduced me at the monasteries, and we were aided by Sr. Federica Schaan who kindly and ably translated for me, an English-only speaker, helping me communicate with the many nuns I met. What a joy! What communion!