Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance
Trappists

(Institute of Consecrated Life - Men)

Ordo Cisterciensis Strictioris Observantiae

Leader(s)

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Institute of Consecrated Life - Men
Founded: 1098
Monastic Order
Official Web Site: https://ocso.org
Mailing Address: Viale Africa, 33, 00144 Roma, Italia
Telephone: 06.59.24.155
Fax: 06.59.22.162

Past and Present Leaders

Augustin Marre, O.C.S.O. † (8 Oct 1904 Appointed - 18 Sep 1922 Resigned)
Gabriel (André) Sortais, O.C.S.O. † (7 Nov 1951 Appointed - 13 Nov 1963 Died)
Ignace (Jacques) Gillet, O.C.S.O. † (16 Jan 1964 Appointed - 6 May 1974 Resigned)

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
1098	Founded		Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance
3 June 1990	Approbation		Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance

Year Religious Priests Male Religious Houses Source

1954 1,713 3,612 ap1955

1959 6,323 ap1960

1963 4,211 ap1964

1966 1,856 3,770 80 ap1967

1967 1,889 3,819 80 ap1968

1971 1,705 5,031 80 ap1972

1974 1,685 3,090 85 ap1975

1976 1,563 3,244 84 ap1977

1977 1,578 3,179 84 ap1978

1981 1,477 3,045 87 ap1982

1986 1,338 2,834 89 ap1987

1990 1,261 2,718 ap1991

1991 1,260 2,710 91 ap1992

1995 1,167 2,571 93 ap1996

2000 1,036 2,346 ap2001

2001 1,008 2,310 ap2002

2002 1,012 2,325 98 ap2003

2004 933 2,303 98 ap2005

2005 918 2,266 97 ap2006

2009 851 2,088 97 ap2010

2010 818 2,063 97 ap2011

2011 786 2,032 97 ap2012

2012 782 2,009 96 ap2013

2013 770 1,995 96 ap2014

2014 756 1,963 96 ap2015

2017 669 1,790 96 ap2018

2020 622 1,700 89 ap2021

2022 558 1,550 87 ap2023

Year	Religious Priests	Male Religious	Houses	Source
1954	1,713	3,612		ap1955
1959		6,323		ap1960
1963		4,211		ap1964
1966	1,856	3,770	80	ap1967
1967	1,889	3,819	80	ap1968
1971	1,705	5,031	80	ap1972
1974	1,685	3,090	85	ap1975
1976	1,563	3,244	84	ap1977
1977	1,578	3,179	84	ap1978
1981	1,477	3,045	87	ap1982
1986	1,338	2,834	89	ap1987
1990	1,261	2,718		ap1991
1991	1,260	2,710	91	ap1992
1995	1,167	2,571	93	ap1996
2000	1,036	2,346		ap2001
2001	1,008	2,310		ap2002
2002	1,012	2,325	98	ap2003
2004	933	2,303	98	ap2005
2005	918	2,266	97	ap2006
2009	851	2,088	97	ap2010
2010	818	2,063	97	ap2011
2011	786	2,032	97	ap2012
2012	782	2,009	96	ap2013
2013	770	1,995	96	ap2014
2014	756	1,963	96	ap2015
2017	669	1,790	96	ap2018
2020	622	1,700	89	ap2021
2022	558	1,550	87	ap2023

Affiliated Members, Living

Noël Delaquis (Member: Nov 2005 to 2014)
Yvon-Joseph Moreau, O.C.S.O. (Priest: 22 Oct 1990 to 18 Oct 2008)
Placidus Pei Ronggui (Pei Yonggui), O.C.S.O. (Priest: 1981 to 14 Oct 2003)
Frédéric Rubwejanga, O.C.S.O. (Member: 1 Nov 2010)
Lode Van Hecke, O.C.S.O. (Member: 6 Mar 1983; Priest: 20 Aug 1995 to 27 Nov 2019)
Erik Varden, O.C.S.O. (Member: 20 Apr 2002; Deacon: 9 Sep 2010; Priest: 16 Jul 2011 to 1 Oct 2019)
Lorenzo Voltolini Esti, O.C.S.O. (Priest: Nov 2018 - )

Affiliated Members, Deceased

Ignace (Jacques) Gillet, O.C.S.O. † (Member: 2 Jul 1926; Priest: 24 Aug 1929; Abbot General: 16 Jan 1964 to 6 May 1974)
John Willem Nicolaysen Gran, O.C.S.O. † (Priest: 21 May 1957 to 27 Dec 1962)
Timoteo Gruyer, O.C.S.O. †
Augustin Marre, O.C.S.O. † (Member: 25 Mar 1876; Priest: 18 Nov 1877 to 11 Aug 1900; Abbot Primate: 8 Oct 1904 to 18 Sep 1922)
Marie-Edouard Mununu Kasiala, O.C.S.O. † (Priest: 20 Aug 1967 to 8 Nov 1984)
James Michael Myles O’Gorman, O.C.S.O. † (Member: 25 Mar 1841; Priest: 23 Dec 1843 to 28 Jan 1859)
Timothy Clement Smyth, O.C.S.O. † (Member: 1 Nov 1839; Priest: 29 May 1841 to 9 Jan 1857)
Gabriel (André) Sortais, O.C.S.O. † (Member: 20 Aug 1926; Priest: 29 Jun 1931; Abbot General: 7 Nov 1951 to 13 Nov 1963)
Ephrem (August) Van der Meulen, O.C.S.O. † (Priest: 16 Nov 1847; Vicar General: 1865 to 1 Mar 1884)