Photo, left to right, from top

First row
Archabbot Douglas Nowicki, OSB, (Retired abbot of St. Vincent Archabbey); Abbot Jeremias Schroder, OSB (President of the Congregation of St. Ottilien, Germany); Sr. Cordis Chen, OSB (Benedictine Sisters, Taiwan); Bro. Nicholas Koss, OSB (Wimmer Priory, New Taipei City, Taiwan)

Second row
Fr. Jonas Ri, OSB (Olivetan Benedictine monk from Korea); Fr. Joseph Wong, OSB CAM (Camaldoli Monastery, Italy, Councilor); Fr. Anthony Wesolowski, OSB (Wimmer Priory, New Taipei City, Taiwan); Mother Maoro Sye, OSB (Superior General, Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing); Sr. Regina Tesch, OSB (Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, Councilor, Rome)

Third row
Bro. John Chrysostom Long, OSB (St. John’s Abbey, Collegeville MN); Abbot Jean-Pierre Longeat, OSB (President of AIM); Dr. Hailong Du (Translator, in residence at St. Ottilien Archabbey, Germany) and Bro. Markus Weiss, OSB (Assistant bursar, St. Ottilien Archabbey, Germany); Abbot Austin Murphy, OSB (Abbot of St. Procopius Abbey, Lisle, IL, USA); Bro. Hilario Lee, OSB (Waegwan Abbey, Korea; representative of Abbot Blasio Park, OSB);

Fourth row
Bro. Matteo Nicolini-Zani (Monastic Community of Bose); Klara Chao (Oblate, representative of Benedictine Sisters, Taiwan)

The Benedictine Commission on China (BCC) brings together representatives from Benedictine monasteries throughout the world to exchange information about the work of their communities related to China and to discuss cooperation on projects for China. The meeting is held each year at Sant’Anselmo on the first Saturday after Ash Wednesday; this year the meeting was held February 20, 2021. Because of the pandemic, the meeting this year was held online.

The Abbot Primate, Abbot Gregory Polan, O.S.B., is the head of the BCC. The monasteries of monks especially active related to China include St. Ottilien Archabbey (Germany), St. Vincent Archabbey (Latrobe, PA, USA), Waegwan Abbey (Korea), St. John’s Abbey (Collegeville MN, USA), and Camaldoli Monastery (Italy).

Benedictine Sisters involved with China are the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, the Olivetan Benedictines (Busan, Korea) and St. Benedict’s Monastery (St. Joseph’s, MN, USA). Representatives from the Alliance for International Monasticism (AIM) and from the Generalate of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (OCSO) usually also participate in the meeting.

Among the topics discussed in the BCC meeting this year were cooperation between the Pontifical University of Sant’Anselmo and a seminary in China, the establishment of a Chinese distance-learning course in theology, and the development of online courses in Chinese for Chinese novices.