The annual Meeting of the International Commission of the Nuns of the Order of Preachers (CIMOP) 2024 took place 10 to 18 September at the Monastery of Our Lady of the Assumption in Estavayer-le-Lac, Fribourg, Switzerland. CIMOP brings together the Federal Presidents of the federations and associations of the nuns the Order.
On 10 September, after the warm, fraternal greetings of the Prioress, Sister Monique Ribeaut, OP, and of the President, Brother Fernando Garcia, OP, they recalled the theme of the “fundamental option” and related it to Dominican life.
Inspired by the presence of the relic of the skull of St Thomas Aquinas, the participants then shared the journey of each of the federations and associations and discussed different themes concerning the life of Dominican contemplative nuns. The community itself led the liturgy, chanting a cappella in French and Latin.
Brother Gerard Francisco Timoner III, OP, greeted all the nuns affectionately and, taking the Gospel of John 1:37-39 as a basis, exhorted them to go forward – in spite of the vocation crisis – to discover life with Jesus, which is our vocation. He encouraged the nuns to follow the Lord by learning from His life and by letting go of that which can ensnare us. Br Gerard also reminded them that the prioress is a sign of unity in the monastery and the community must learn to walk with her as she guides and oversees the community.
Brother Jean-Michel Poffet, OP, gave a conference in which he offered keys to reading the Apocalypse, reflections on the life and work of Brother Marie-Joseph Lagrange, OP, (founder of the Ecole Biblique de Jérusalem), and a synthesis of the current Jewish-Palestinian conflict.
The participants also discussed the vocation crisis and ways that the different federations and their monasteries can support each other. Collaboration is especially needed today for the support of the historic monasteries of Caleruega in Spain and Prouilhe in France.
The report on the magazine “Monialibus“, which is published twice a year, was also presented.
The participants also made various excursions. They visited the sisters of the monasteries of Orbey in France and Weesen in Switzerland as well as a 17th century Cistercian monastery with a 13th century church. In addition, they met with the friars of St Hyacinth and the Albertinum.
Finally, options for a place and date for the next CIMOP meeting were discussed.
This international CIMOP-2024 meeting concluded with a festive celebration which included typical dances from Kenya (Africa) and Jalisco (Mexico), and a very creative game presented by Sister Vincenza Panza, OP.
The participants thanked the prioress and the community of the Monastery of Our Lady of the Assumption for their hospitality and said farewell with gratitude to God for the meeting.
