The Lay Cistercian Review · Advent 2025 · From the Communities
About the IALCC and the OCSO
Order of Cistercian Strict Observance
The Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (also known as “Trappists”) is a Roman Catholic contemplative religious order, consisting of monasteries of monks and monasteries of nuns. We are part of the larger Cistercian family, which traces its origin to 1098. As Cistercians, we follow the Rule of Saint Benedict, and so are part of the Benedictine family as well. Our lives are dedicated to seeking union with God, through Jesus Christ, in a community of sisters or brothers.
The International Association of Lay Cistercian Communities (IALCC) unites lay groups across the world who live the Cistercian charism in the midst of daily life, in close relationship with Cistercian monasteries (OCSO, OCist, and other branches of the Cistercian family). The Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (OCSO, “Trappists”) recognizes and supports these lay communities as a significant expression of the wider Cistercian family.
A.1 English Commission Communities
Weggemeinschaft St. Benedikt – Zisterzienserkloster Langwaden (OCist), Germany
Abdijgroep Koningsoord – Abbey Koningsoord (OCSO, nuns), Netherlands
Cisterciënzer Groep Sion – Klooster Schiermonnikoog, Netherlands
Cistercian Associates of Southern Star Abbey, Kopua – Our Lady of the Southern Star Abbey (OCSO, monks), New Zealand
Fr. Tansi Lay Cistercians – Our Lady of Mount Calvary Monastery (OCSO, monks), Nigeria
Cistercian Fraternity of Gdansk – Abbaye Notre Dame d’Aiguebelle (OCSO, monks), Poland
Lay Cistercians of Our Lady of New Clairvaux – Abbey of Our Lady of New Clairvaux, Vina, California, USA
Associates of the Iowa Cistercians – New Melleray Abbey (OCSO, monks), Peosta, Iowa, USA and Our Lady of the Mississippi (OCSO, nuns), Dubuque, Iowa, USA
Lay Cistercian Community of Our Lady Undoer of Knots – Holy Spirit Monastery (OCSO, monks), Conyers, Georgia, USA
Lay Cistercians of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart of South Florida – Holy Spirit Monastery (OCSO, monks), Conyers, Georgia, USA
Lay Contemplative Associates – Holy Spirit Monastery (OCSO, monks), Conyers, Georgia, USA
Lay Cistercians of Holy Spirit Monastery – Holy Spirit Monastery (OCSO, monks), Conyers, Georgia, USA
Lay Cistercians of Holy Cross Abbey – Our Lady of the Holy Cross Abbey (OCSO, monks), Berryville, Virginia, USA
Lay Cistercians of Gethsemani Abbey – Abbey of Gethsemani (OCSO, monks), Trappist, Kentucky, USA
Ecumenical Lay Cistercians of the Holy Spirit – Holy Spirit Monastery (OCSO, monks), Conyers, Georgia, USA
Conversi: An Online Community – Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey (OCSO, nuns), Dubuque, Iowa, USA New Mellery Abby (OSCO, monks), Peosta, Iowa
Cistercian Lay Contemplatives of Spencer – St. Joseph’s Abbey (OCSO, monks), Spencer, Massachusetts, USA
Ave Maria Cistercian Associates – Holy Spirit Monastery (OCSO, monks), Conyers, Georgia, USA
A.2 French Commission Communities
Laïcs Cisterciens de Notre-Dame d’Orval – Abbaye Notre-Dame d’Orval, Belgium
Laïcs Cisterciens de Scourmont – Abbaye Notre-Dame de Scourmont (OCSO, monks), Belgium
Les associés cisterciens de l’abbaye Notre-Dame du Sacré-Coeur de Westmalle – Abbaye Notre-Dame du Sacré-Coeur (OCSO, monks), Westmalle, Belgium
Grange Saint Bernard de Clairvaux – Abbaye Notre-Dame de Cîteaux, France
Groupe des Flandres – Monastère Notre-Dame de la Plaine (Esquermes, nuns), France
Fraternité cistercienne Notre-Dame de Timadeuc – Abbaye Notre-Dame de Timadeuc (OCSO, monks), France
Fraternité Cistercienne d’Aiguebelle – Abbaye Notre-Dame d’Aiguebelle (OCSO, monks), France
Laïcs Cisterciens Notre-Dame du Val d’Igny – Abbaye Notre-Dame du Val d’Igny (OCSO, nuns), France
Laïcs cisterciens de Notre-Dame de la Paix – Abbaye Notre-Dame de la Paix de Castagniers (OCist, nuns), France
Près de Cîteaux – Abbaye Notre-Dame de Cîteaux (OCSO, monks), France
Fraternité des Laïcs Cisterciens de Koutaba – Monastère Notre-Dame de Koutaba (OCSO, monks), Cameroon
A.3 Spanish Commission Communities
Familia Cisterciense de Santa María – Santa María la Real de Villamayor de los Montes (Congregación de San Bernardo, nuns), Spain
Fraternidad de Laicos Cistercienses de San Clemente – Real Monasterio de San Clemente (Congregación de San Bernardo, nuns), Sevilla, Spain
Fraternidad de Laicos Cistercienses de Santa María de Sobrado – Santa María de Sobrado (OCSO, monks), Sobrado dos Monxes, Spain
Fraternidad de Laicos Cistercienses del Monasterio de Santa María de Huerta – Monasterio de Santa María de Huerta (OCSO, monks), Soria, Spain
Fraternidad de Laicos Cistercienses – Santa María de Curutarán – Monasterio Cisterciense Virgen del Curutarán (OCSO, monks), Michoacán, México
Nuestra Señora de la Divina Providencia – Holy Spirit Monastery (OCSO, monks), Conyers, Georgia, USA