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On March 25, 2025, Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, Sister Francesca Mráčková made solemn profession at the monastery of Naši Paní (Czech Rep.). Sister Francesca was born in 1984 in Prague (Czech Rep.). She entered Naši Paní in 2015 and made first profession in 2019. ocso.org https://www.trapistky.cz/

Mother Pilar Germán, Pontifical Commissary of the community of Alloz (diocese of Pamplona, Spain) since 2014, offered her resignation as Pontifical Commissary to the Holy See in September 2024, in view of an affiliation of the community of Alloz to the community of La Palma (diocese of Cartagena, Spain). On March 11th 2025 the Holy See accepted her resignation, and approved the affiliation of Alloz to La Palma according to the legislation accepted ad experimentum by the General Chapter of September 2022. By this affiliation, Mother Carmen Jesús Serrano Ruiz , abbess of La Palma, becomes the major superior of the community of Alloz. ocso.org https://www.monasteriodealloz.org/

On 11 February 2025, Mother Marie-Pascale Dran, Abbess of Brialmont (diocese of Liège, Belgium), presented her resignation to the Abbot General in accordance with vote 29 of the General Chapter, September 2022. On 4 March 2025, the Abbot General, with the consent of his Council, accepted it and it became effective 18 March 2025. On 18 March 2025, at the request of Dom Xavier Frisque, Superior ad nutum of Orval and Father Immediate of Brialmont, the Abbot General and his Council, in the name of the General Chapter, suspended the exercise of autonomy of the community of Brialmont and appointed Mother Marie-Pascale Dran as Monastic Commissary of the community (Cst. 34bis.1). The appointment became effective immediately. ocso.org

On March 24th 2025, Dom John Bosco Kamali completed his second six-year term as abbot of O.L. Victoria (diocese of Masaka, Uganda). On the same date, Dom Isaac Majoor, abbot of Tilburg and Father Immediate of Victoria, appointed the same Dom John Bosco Kamali as superior ad nutum of the community. ocso.org

Discussion on the Church in China The Benedictine Commission on China 2025 was held on 15 March at Sant’Anselmo. This year’s meeting saw the highest number of participants in recent years, including notable figures such as Abbot President Javier Aparicio of the Saint Ottilien Congregation, Abbot President Bernard Lorent of the Alliance Inter-Monastères, Abbot Blasio Park of Waegwan Abbey, Mother Prioress General Rosann Ocken of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing Congregation, and Mother Abbess Ildefonsa Paluzzi of Monastero San Giovanni Battista di Roma, among others. In addition to the on-site attendees, there were online participants, such as Abbot General Bernardus Peters, OCSO, and representatives from the Olivetan Benedictine Sisters of Busan, South Korea. In total, 19 participants were present in person, and four joined remotely. The meeting began in the morning with an opening address by Abbot Primate Jeremias Schroeder, followed by participant introductions. The first session focused on updates and reports regarding participants’ communities’ engagements with China. Later in the morning, two guests from the Dicastery for Evangelization, Fr. Pietro Murrali from the China Desk and Fr. Luciano Morra, SJ, from the Pastoral Commission, joined the meeting. They gave presentations on their work related to China and answered questions. The session concluded before midday prayer at Sant’Anselmo, followed by a shared lunch in the refectory. In the afternoon, an additional ten Chinese participants joined the meeting, including priests, seminarians, religious studying in Rome, and one layperson. The session featured a keynote presentation by Fr. Prior Norbert Du of Holy Cross Abbey in Jilin, China, who provided an analytical report on the Church in China and proposed future development perspectives. His presentation was followed by an open discussion and Q&A, marking the first time in BCC history that a large number of Chinese nationals participated directly in the discussion. It is also worth noting that this year’s meeting introduced an AI-powered live-text translation system, which significantly enhanced accessibility and mutual understanding among participants who spoke English, German, Italian, Korean and Chinese as their native languages. osb.org

Mokoto became an abbey at the OCSO General Chapter in September 2022. Since the war prevented us from holding an abbey blessing at Mokoto itself, up in the hills at an altitude of 1,800 meters, we had to wait. On March 2, 2025, our bishop kindly agreed to perform the blessing, not in Mokoto, but at Goma Cathedral. The community comprises 36 brothers. The political and military situation remains complicated for the population as a whole. We know that you are praying for us and for the whole population. We thank you for this. In trust and hope, in communion with you. ocso.org

On Tuesday 11 March 2025, Sister Marie-Christine Messin succeeded Sister Anne-Sophie Robitaillie as Prioress of the community of Brou-sur-Chantereine (France). The monastery of Jésus Crucifié (Jesus Crucified), formerly the Saint-Joseph monastery of the congregation of Jésus Crucifié (Jesus Crucified Congregation), has been part of the Sainte Bathilde congregation since 2024. The Congregation of Jesus Crucified no longer exists. https://www.benedictines-ste-bathilde.fr/les-monasteres/monastere-de-brou-sur-chantereine/ Sr Marie-Christine Messin.

The appointment of two new coordinators for the Monastic Formators’ Program was announced 11 February by Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder OSB. Brother Colmán Ó Clabaigh OSB, of Glenstal Abbey, and Sister Marie Johann Heo OSB, of the Generalate District of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, will jointly lead the program. Brother Colmán is a medieval historian, author, and monk of Glenstal Abbey in County Limerick, Ireland, which is a place of prayer, work, education and hospitality. He received his doctorate from the National University of Ireland in 1998. He also has been a visiting professor at St John’s University, Collegeville, MN, USA, and a Burns Visiting Scholar at Boston College. Sister Marie Johann is a member of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, whose Generalate is in Rome. The Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing have a presence in 16 countries across Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia. Their ministries include education, healthcare, pastoral work and spiritual formation. The Monastic Formators’ Program is a 12-week program designed to meet the needs of those working in the field of monastic formation or preparing to do so in the future. The program takes place in Rome and Assisi and is intended for monks, nuns and sisters who follow the Rule of St. Benedict. The program aims to provide a deeper appreciation of the monastic tradition and its values. It includes study, community living and reflection, and also includes trips to places of Christian and monastic heritage. The appointment of Brother Colmán and Sister Marie Johann marks the beginning of a new chapter for the MFP, which was founded in 2002. Abbot Primate Jeremias expressed his gratitude to the former directors, Abbot Brendan Thomas OSB, and Abbot President Javier Aparicio Suárez OSB, for their leadership and wished the new coordinators God’s blessing. osb.org https://www.collegiosantanselmo.com/en/curia-of-the-benedictine-order/monastic-formators-program/

Mother Anne-Emmanuelle Devêche, Abbess of Blauvac (archdiocese of Avignon, France) since 1999, reached the age mentioned in St. 40.A of the Constitutions and submitted her resignation to the Abbot General who accepted it with the consent of his Council. The resignation became effective on 19 February 2025. On 22 February 2025, Mother Marie Christine Vilmain, abbess of Rivet, to whom is currently delegated the authority of Father Immediate of the community of Blauvac, appointed Sister Bénédicte de la Croix Avon as superior ad nutum of Blauvac, with effect from 23 February 2025. Mother Anne-Emmanuelle continues to hold the authority of Father Immediate of the community of Fons Pacis, Syria, until the General Chapter of 2025. ocso.org https://abbaye-blauvac.com/

On 19 February 2025, the community of Sorá (Archdiocese of Panama, Panama) elected Mother Fabiana Barrera as Titular Prioress of the Community. At the time of her election, she was Superior ad nutum of Sorá. ocso.org

On 17th February 2025, at the end of his fifth abbatial mandate, Dom Isidoro Anguita Fontecha was re-elected Abbot of the Abbey of Santa María de Huerta (diocese of Osma-Soria, Spain) for a new six-year term. ocso.org https://monasteriohuerta.org/

On February 12, 2025 the community of Frauenthal (Switzerland) elected Sr. Bede Berg as their new abbess. Let us thank God for this choice and ask the Holy Spirit to guide the new abbess for the good of her community. ocist.org https://www.kloster-frauenthal.ch/