Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance

Abbess President of the Cistercian Congregation of St. Bernard (CCSB)

On September 12, 2026, under the presidency of the Abbot General, Mother Pilar Avellaneda Ruiz, a nun of the Abbey of La Encarnación in Córdoba and Promotrix of the General Chapter of the Cistercian Congregation of St. Bernard (CCSB), was elected Abbess President of the Congregation. She succeeds Mother Angelines de Frutos Benito as Abbess President. She has served as Abbess President since 2013.

The Brothers and Sisters of the Order wish God’s blessing upon the new Abbess President and thank Mother Angelines for all her years of fruitful collaboration.

Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance

Travels of the Abbot General

10 - 18 September : General Chapter Congregation of San Bernard Las Huelgas (Spain)

21 September - 05 October : Regular Visitation Sepf-Fons (France)

11 - 17 October : Tilburg (The Netherlands)

18 - 23 October : OL of Silence, Roscrea ISLES Meeting (Ireland)

24 - 27 October : Glencairn (Ireland)

28 - 31 October : Bethlehem (North Ireland)

01 - 03 November : Citeaux (France)

04 - 05 November : Meeting Citeaux Mater Nostra / Arciss Citeaux (France)

Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance

Valserena

On September 8, 2026, Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Sister Annina Satta made solemn profession at the monastery of Our Lady of Valserena (Italy).

Sister Annina was born in Cecina (Italy) in 1981; she entered Valserena in 2018 and made first profession in 2021.

Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance

Victoria

The General Chapter of September 2025 recommended (Vote 92) that the community of Victoria (diocese of Masaka, Uganda) consider the possibility of affiliation to Tilburg. The possibility was studied in Victoria and in Tilburg, and both communities rejected the idea. After a further special Visitation by two superiors of the Order, and in the light of the ongoing situation in the community, Dom Isaac Majoor, abbot of Tilburg and Father Immediate of Victoria, asked the Abbot General to appoint a monastic commissary for the community of Victoria.

Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance

Viaceli

The General Chapter of September 2025 voted (Vote 14) in support of the request to the Holy See by Dom Roberto DE LA IGLESIA, Apostolic Commissary of Viaceli (diocese of Santander, Spain) since 2020, to end the regime of Apostolic Commissary in that community.

On 25 June 2026 the Holy See accepted Dom Roberto’s resignation as Apostolic Commissary. P. José Luis GALIANA HERRERO, monk of Cardeña, has been appointed Superior of Viaceli.

Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance

Latroun

Dom Guillaume Jedrzejczak has been monastic commissary of the community of Latroun (Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Israel) since August 2022. The General Chapter of 2025 heard his report about the evolution of the community during that time, and the steps which remain to be taken so that the community can return to the exercise of its autonomy.

A recent regular visitation confirmed both the good evolution of the community and the further steps which must be taken, and suggested that these steps can be better attained through the structure of affiliation than through the regime of a monastic commissary. Therefore, in accordance with the Statute on Affiliation, Dom Thomas Getti, abbot of Sept Fons and Father Immediate of Latroun, asked the Abbot General to approve the affiliation of Latroun to Sept Fons. At the same time, Dom Guillaume Jedrzejczak offered his resignation as monastic commissary of Latroun, in view of the proposed affiliation.

Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance

St Sixte

On 30 August 2026, the Solemnity of the Dedication of our Church, Brother Alex Hooft made solemn profession at Saint-Sixtus Abbey (Belgium).

Brother Alex was born in Dendermonde (Belgium) in 1971. He entered Saint-Sixtus Abbey in 2020 and made first profession in 2023.

Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance

Kokoubou

On 15 August, 2026, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Brother Pacôme Assocle made solemn profession at Our Lady of Kokoubou Abbey (Benin).

Brother Pacôme was born in Porto Novo (Benin) in 1988. He entered Kokoubou in 2019 and made first profession in 2022.

Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance

Fratelli Tutti Formation Program

The Abbot General and his Council wish all the brothers and sisters a blessed Feast of Saint Bernard and are pleased to present to the Order a new formation programme based on Pope Francis’ encyclical Fratelli tutti. We thank the members of the Order’s Formation Commission for their excellent work!

Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance

Illah

On 20 August 2026, Brother Mary Frances Ikejiuba was ordained a priest at New Melleray Abbey, Iowa, USA for Holy Cross Monastery, Illah, Nigeria.

Father Mary Frances was born in Nnewi, Anambra State (Nigeria) in 1971. He entered Illah in 1992 and made his solemn profession in 1999.