Abbot Johannes Perkmann of Abtei Michaelbeuern was reelected abbot president of the Austrian Benedictine Congregation, and a new council or “Presidium” was also elected. Story and photos here.
On 14 September 2024, Abbot Jeremias Schröder OSB, of St. Ottilien Archabbey in Eresing, Germany, was elected abbot primate of the Benedictine Confederation at the Congress of Abbots meeting in Rome. He is the 11th abbot primate to be elected. Story and photos here.
Beginning Friday, 6 September, abbots, priors, and superiors from the worldwide Benedictine Confederation will gather for two weeks at Sant'Anselmo for their quadrennial congress. Stay updated to the latest news from Congressus OSB 2024 by following the Sant’Anselmo social media platforms. Story and links here.
On 12 July 2024, the Congregation of Saint Ottilien received sad news from Abbot Christian Temu regarding the death by automobile accident of three members of The Abbey of Our Lady Help of Christians in Ndanda, Tanzania: Fr. Cornelius (Clement) Mdoe OSB, Fr. Pius (Peter) Boa OSB and Brother Bakanja (Epimack) Mkenda OSB.
On 17 June 2024, Brother Isaac Murphy OSB, was elected and confirmed as the sixth abbot of Saint Anselm Abbey, marking a historic milestone as the first non-ordained abbot in the United States and the first in the world since the 2022 rescript on religious governance by the Holy See. Story and links here.
On 4 June 2024 the monks of Belmont Abbey, UK, elected Dom Brendan Thomas to be their 12th abbot, for a term of eight years. Story here.
From 2-3 June 2024, the chapter of Peramiho Abbey gathered to elect its sixth abbot. The new abbot is 54 years old and originally from the region of Njombe. Story, photos, and map here.
On 28 May 2024, Pope Francis appointed Auxiliary Bishop Dr. Dominicus Meier OSB, previously Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Paderborn, as the new Bishop of Osnabrück. Story and links here.
In a 25 May 2024 decree, the Priory of San Benedetto in Monte was elevated to the status of an abbey. On 28 May 2024, the newly-elevated abbey elected Dom Benedict Nivakoff OSB as Norcia's first abbot since 1792. Story, photos and links here.
The participants of the Monastic Formators’ Program have spent several weeks at Sant’Anselmo and have proven themselves to be delightful guests. The directors of the program, Fr. Brendan Thomas OSB and Fr. Javier Aparicio OSB, have written a story explaining the program and its value to Benedictine and Cistercian communities. Story and photos here.
