Benedictines meet in General Chapter

By Abbot John Pereira OSB

Fifth-five monks and nuns of the Benedictine Congregation of the Annunciation gathered at the Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec, Poland, from Monday, August 31 until Tuesday, September 8 for the General Chapter of the Congregation.

Mount St Benedict Abbey in Tunapuna is a member of this Congregation and was represented at the General Chapter by Abbot John Pereira OSB. The theme of the Chapter was Synodality for Solidarity.

The Abbey of Saints Peter and Paul in Tyniec consists of 30 monks and was founded in the 11th century. Suppressed by the Austrian Government in 1816, it was restored as a Simple Priory in 1939 and elevated once again to the status of an Abbey in 1969. We were all welcomed and hosted by the monks in a wonderful spirit of hospitality.

The meeting was facilitated by our Abbot President Maksymilian Nawara OSB, who was re-elected to serve for another four years as our Abbot President. Our discussions all focused on the theme as we sought ways to build greater levels of collaboration and mutual support within our Congregation.

Our Congregation has a predominately male composition. However, there has been a growing awareness and acceptance of the female presence and participation in our deliberations.

At the previous General Chapter in 2022, the female Benedictine Abbey of The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Zhytomyr, Ukraine, was incorporated as a full member of the Congregation.

At our General Chapter this year, two female communities were incorporated as full members: Our Lady of the Assumption Abbey, Castries, St Lucia, and The Abbey of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Ahautepec, Mexico.

And the newly constituted Council of the re-elected Abbot President includes Sr Immaculée Umubyeyi OSB, Conventual Prioress of The Priory of Our Lady of the Annunciation in Sovu, Rwanda.

The General Chapter is convened every four years and is one means of binding our Benedictine communities in a more collaborative and supportive mould.