Benedictine Abbots Merge for the International Annual Conference

Something is extraordinary for this year’s gathering of the Superiors of the Benedictine Monks from all over the world. Their venue is the humble home of their 35 year old monastery located in Cogon, Digos City. Around 24 abbots from the Philippines are in attendance and more than 25 are from the different parts of the world, mostly from Europe where the annual gathering usually takes place.

St. Benedict’s Monastery in Digos City was opened on July 1, 1983. On May 20, 1986, the church was consecrated by Bishop Generoso Camina of the Diocese of Digos. He was accompanied by the Archbishop Antonio Mabutas of Davao and Bishop Patricio Alo of Mati, Davao Oriental. They both expressed their hope that the presence of the missionary Benedictines would spread throughout Mindanao.

As they gather here in Digos for the four-day conference which started on Monday, September 24 until Thursday, September 27, one of the important agenda they will tackle is about the developing culture in the different monasteries around the world that can attract and sustain monastic vocations.

The abbots and the priors were welcomed by the Benedictine monks in Digos monastery with a tour around their newly constructed retreat houses in addition to the existing ones. This means more numbers of retreatants can be accommodated in the future. (Blaze Cantaros | SJP Sta. Cruz SoCCom)