The Missionary Benedictines

The Missionary Benedictines The Congregation of the Missionary Benedictines of St Ottilien belongs to the Benedictine Confederat
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NEWS FROM OUR CONFRÈRES IN VENEZUELAAbbot President Javier Aparicio Suarez has shared these news from St. Joseph's Abbey...
03/01/2026

NEWS FROM OUR CONFRÈRES IN VENEZUELA

Abbot President Javier Aparicio Suarez has shared these news from St. Joseph's Abbey, Güigüe in Venezuela:

Palo Negro air base is the largest and most important base in Venezuela. Our monastery in Güigüe is only 38 km from the base.

Although it was a chronicle of an attack foretold, we have all been alarmed by the recent air strike carried out by the Trump administration on Venezuela.

Our community is experiencing these moments with tense calm. For weeks, I have been in contact with the superior, P Marco Antonio, to stay informed of the course of events. Today he sent me this brief text that may shed light on the situation they have been experiencing over the last two days:

"Yes, it is indeed dawn here, and at around 2 a.m. bombing had already begun on strategic points, military zones around the capital Caracas. President Donald Trump has already announced the capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife... A government that did not accept its electoral defeat in July 2024 and remained in power by force.

From the cell area of the abbey, from our balconies, we can see the city of Maracay, where Venezuela's largest air base, known as Palo Negro, is located... apparently nothing has happened here, no planes have been heard taking off from this base…

At the moment, we have no electricity, but we do have Wi-Fi... we have a generator, but we are not going to turn it on... it is important to conserve our reserves...

Meanwhile, the population remains sheltered in their homes and in constant communication with family and friends... no one is going out into the streets, waiting for everything to pass... it is believed to be a surgical operation, but we do not know what might happen later."

This text invites us to keep our community and the people of Venezuela in our prayers.

CONGREGATION COUNCIL IN SCHMERLENBACH, GERMANYThe council is conducting its 'end-of-the-year" meeting in this Fall in th...
09/10/2025

CONGREGATION COUNCIL IN SCHMERLENBACH, GERMANY
The council is conducting its 'end-of-the-year" meeting in this Fall in the middle of Spessart Forest in Germany; not so far away from Frankfurt. As usual, it has been a moment of sharing, discussing, deciding and in so doing putting the unity of the congregation in display. On Friday, the 10th, the meeting will conclude. The next meeting is planned next March in Monte Irago. We thank our brothers worldwide for your supporting prayers.

MEETING OF MISSION PROCURATORS IN UZNACHIn the last days, from 15 to 18 September 2025, the mission procurators of our C...
18/09/2025

MEETING OF MISSION PROCURATORS IN UZNACH
In the last days, from 15 to 18 September 2025, the mission procurators of our Congregation from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the USA and South Korea met in Uznach Abbey in the beautiful Swiss landscape. Under the guidance of Fr Maximilian Grund OSB, the Congregation Procurator, they discussed projects and shared some issues regarding the mission of our Congregation. These meetings are very important to foster the spirit of unity and mutual understanding. We thank especially Abbot Emmanuel, Bro Ramon and the whole community of Uznach for their tremendous hospitality!

MISSION CROSS RAISED FOR THE NEW FOUNDATION IN MOZAMBIQUEThere is a saying: while some congregations close houses, ours ...
12/07/2025

MISSION CROSS RAISED FOR THE NEW FOUNDATION IN MOZAMBIQUE
There is a saying: while some congregations close houses, ours is opening new ones. This is truly the case, not only in Morogoro where a Domus Religious will soon spring up, but also in Mozambique where a mission cross for the new Foundation at Mecua was raised on the Feast of St. Thomas, 3rd July 2025. Towering 6m high, the cross is watching over the rapidly growing mission station of Mecua below. May the Holy Cross protect the Mission.

OFFICIAL CONGREGATION STUDY HOUSE TO OPEN IN MOROGOROIn order to match with the growing need of providing sound formatio...
12/07/2025

OFFICIAL CONGREGATION STUDY HOUSE TO OPEN IN MOROGORO
In order to match with the growing need of providing sound formation to its monks, the Council of the Congregation has accepted the request of Tanzanian Abbots to open a study house in Morogoro. The house will open at the beginning of the academic year 2025/26. We pray and hope that this house (officially a Domus Religious) will be a place not only of study, but also where the missionary and international spirit of our congregation will be lived and witnessed. We are grateful to the visionary decision of the Council of allowing this house to open.

The Superiors of the African Region held their usual online meeting on the 9th of July. Among other things they were in...
09/07/2025

The Superiors of the African Region held their usual online meeting on the 9th of July. Among other things they were informed about the opening of the new study house for Benedictine Students in Morogoro. Abbot President Javier joined the meeting from Schweiklberg. It was a good moment not only to engage in serious discussions, but also to reconnect again. Some superiors could not attend because of other appointment in Rome. For that reason, session II of this meeting will continue with them on 25th September.

CC MEETING IN FÜRSTENRIED CLOSESAs in all meetings of the Congregation Council, this one, too, was a moment, not only of...
04/04/2025

CC MEETING IN FÜRSTENRIED CLOSES
As in all meetings of the Congregation Council, this one, too, was a moment, not only of a serious work, (our congregation is growing and aging at the same time depending on regions - a challenge which needs constant reflections and planning), but also moments of fraternal sharing among the group. Füsternried, not being far away from Tutzing Sisters, about three hours were spent in one of the meeting days to visit our sisters. It was also a moment of brotherly-sisterly sharing. Today, Friday morning everyone has left the meeting venue to various destinations - including HOME. We thank our brothers worldwide for supporting the Council with your prayers.

CONGREGATION COUNCIL MEETING IN MUNICHAfter the election of the new council in Waegwan in January 2025, the first meetin...
01/04/2025

CONGREGATION COUNCIL MEETING IN MUNICH
After the election of the new council in Waegwan in January 2025, the first meeting (outside Korea) is taking placing in Munich this week. The Agenda is full. At the top of the agenda was the confirmation of Fr. Maximillian Grund OSB of Münsterschwarzach as the new Mission Procurator of the Congregation. We wish him success in his new mission.

GENERAL CHAPTER CLOSES AT 성 베네딕도회 왜관수도원-Waegwan AbbeyThis morning, Abbot President Javier has officially closed the 23rd...
22/01/2025

GENERAL CHAPTER CLOSES AT 성 베네딕도회 왜관수도원-Waegwan Abbey
This morning, Abbot President Javier has officially closed the 23rd genera Chapter of our Congregation It was a week long moment of living in an international benedictine family and work together on important issues of the congregation. We thank the community of Waegwan for the hospitality and brotherly care. To our brothers and friends: thanks too, for your prayerful support. See you soon, as tomorrow we will be on our way back home. Bye Bye!

GENERAL CHAPTER DAY 6We are almost done with the general chapter. Only one day to go, and everybody will be on his way h...
21/01/2025

GENERAL CHAPTER DAY 6
We are almost done with the general chapter. Only one day to go, and everybody will be on his way home. Until now everything has been a pure blessing. We are grateful to the confreres and friends of our congregation for your prayerful support. Today, among other things, we concentrated more on the election of different officials, among them, the two assistants of the Abbot president. The Council of the Congregation has been elected too making the congregation leadership very firmly in place....

THE 5TH DAY OF THE GENERAL CHAPTERAfter the festive weekend, the Chapter has convened again in order to finish up the re...
20/01/2025

THE 5TH DAY OF THE GENERAL CHAPTER
After the festive weekend, the Chapter has convened again in order to finish up the remaining business before conclusion two days to come.
Today main focus was on regions - reports in groups and panel discussions in the plenum. It has been quite enriching. All four regions of the congregation took part: African, European, Asian and the (South) American region.

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