Meeting of the 3 Central Administrations of the Montfortian Family.

The traditional meeting of the three Central Administrations of the Montfortian Family took place from 23 to 25 March 2026 at the General House of the Brothers of St. Gabriel.

The first day was dedicated to sharing news and experiences, a valuable opportunity to learn from others’ successes, progress and setbacks. It was also an opportunity to strengthen fraternal collaboration between the Montfort Missionaries, the Daughters of Wisdom and the Brothers of Saint Gabriel. In this context, particular attention was paid to Saint Laurent-sur-Sèvre and Pontchâteau with a view to fostering greater collaboration and synergy between the three congregations, taking into account the human and financial resources available.

On the second day, the members of the central administrations had the opportunity to make a pilgrimage to Montecassino and Casamaria Abbey. It was a unique experience that combined prayer, history and sightseeing, with the invaluable assistance of guides who are passionate about monastic life.

The highlight was seeing how the monastery of Montecassino, founded in 529 by Saint Benedict, has endured through the centuries and adapted to each era without compromising its identity.

On the way back to Rome, a halt was made at Casamaria Abbey, which is less well known than Montecassino. The foundation of Casamaria Abbey dates back to the beginning of the second millennium, when a group of priests from Veroli, wishing to establish a Benedictine monastic community, began building a monastery on the ruins of Cereate, the birthplace of the Roman consul Caius Marius, from whom the name Casamaria, ‘House of Marius’, derives. Towards the middle of the 12th century, the Benedictine monks were replaced by the Cistercians, who, in a relatively short space of time, built the present monastery, a true masterpiece of Cistercian architecture.

On the third day, we celebrated 25th March, the Feast of the Annunciation and the patronal feast of the Montfortian family. Mass was presided over by Father Yoseph Putra Dwi, Superior General of the Montfortian Missionaries, followed by a festive meal. The 2027 meeting will be organised by the Montfort Missionaries.

Bro. Jean-Marie Thior, SG

Assistant General.