News Release: On October 22, 2025, Fr. Bernardus Peeters, the Abbot General of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, appointed Father Jerome Machar, a monk of Genesee Abbey, as Monastic Commissary and superior of New Melleray Abbey.
After the General Chapter of 2025, the Commission of the Future met with the community of New Melleray Abbey to encourage the brothers to realistically consider its options for the future. Though the monastery’s economy and financial situation are solid, the community’s greatest challenges are the aging of its members and diminishing numbers. In light of these challenges, the community has been asked to ponder and discuss the following: What would the fullness of monastic life look like in the future? Where is the Holy Spirit leading, individually and communally?
For the moment, New Melleray Abbey is not accepting applications to the novitiate, but the formation program is still active and will continue to be so.
Striving to live out their fragility together, and not knowing what the future will offer, the monks of New Melleray continue their journey guided by the light of faith, encouraged by the words of the Abbot General: “May we journey together as pilgrims of hope towards Him. Then He will touch and raise us with His healing hands, so that we may once again be of service in Church and world.”
From our Order’s website: October 30, 2025
Dom Joseph Wittstock (abbot of Berryville), who has been monastic commissary of New Melleray since December 2024, offered his resignation as monastic commissary of New Melleray. The Abbot General, with the consent of his Council, accepted the resignation, which became effective on 21st October 2025.
On the same date, the Abbot General with the consent of his Council appointed Fr Jerome Machar, monk of Genesee, as monastic commissary of New Melleray. Dom Jerome was born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA in 1949. He entered Genesee in 1986 and made his solemn profession in 1991. He had been helping at New Melleray since 2024.
