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OUR FOUNDRESSES IN 1964
CISTERCIAN SISTERS OF OUR LADY PRAISE, ABBEY,
BUTENDE MONASTERY, MASAKA, UGANDA, EAST-AFRICA
Who are the Cistercians?
The name Cistercian derives from the word Cisteaux (Cisto) which means a swampy land. Cisteaux is found in France where our three founders (Sts. Robert, Alberic and Stephen Harding) started that monastic Cistercian life in 1098, which is now known as; Order of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance, O.C.S.O.
It is a Roman Catholic Contemplative Order or congregation for both men and women, all independent . We have two communities in Uganda representing O.C.S.O; one for women at Butende monastery and for men at Kijonjo, Ssanje and both monasteries are in Masaka diocese. We are also known as Trappistines or Trappists. And above all our founders of O.C.S.O reformed the monastic life which St. Benedict had started at Molesme in France.
We are called the Order of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance because we do not run schools or hospitals; that is: we do not involve ourselves in active apostolate. We live a hidden apostolate; the life of prayer, work (manual labour), spiritual reading and silence. We live the hidden life of the Holy family of Nazareth, as Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived.
CISTERCIAN SISTERS OF OUR LADY OF PRAISE, ABBEY,
BUTENDE MONASTERY;
We are found in Masaka city opposite Butende parish and we are behind Butende Technonical institute.
Butende means: Praise; thus our monastery is called;
Our Lady of Praise, Abbey.
And we are under the patronage of our Blessed Mother Mary.
The whole Cistercian Order too is under the patronage of Our Blessed Mother Mary.
The Cistercians began as a “Mustard Seed which grew into a huge tree, spread its branches to the whole world up to Africa-Uganda,Masaka, Butende in 1964, brought by the sisters of the Abbey of Onze Lieve Vrouw Van Konigsoord in the Netherlands.
We celebrated the Golden Jubilee of our community in 2014,
glory to God.
REQUIREMETS FOR ENTRY TO CISTERCIAN MONASTIC LIFE;
AFTER O-LEVEL WITH A COURSE
AFTER A-LEVEL WITHOUT A COURSE
THE REST ARE ARRANGED BY THE CO-ORDINATERS.
Sisters in formation in 2025
OUR CHARISM;
“Ora et Labora”; pray and work;
“Ora et Labora”; pray and work;
(that is the motto and summary of the rule of
our holy father St. Benedict.)
Prayer, Spiritual Reading and Work
“Following the Rule of our holy father St. Benedict, our communities balance communal and private prayer, spiritual reading, and manual labour, creating a life of simplicity and humility.”
“The love of Christ must come before all else.”
Each sister serves the community as much as
she can in a given responsibility.
One of the Temporally professed in 2026
One of the novices in 2025
One of the postulants in 2025
one of postulants in 2025
cows ready for milking
Our services
—We make cassocks for priests
—we have a retreat house and is used as a rest – house or any other purpose convenient to our monastic way of life
—we have a big farms for cows and goats and we sell milk and the cows and goats as well.
However we do many things,
come and see.
Piglets: we have
the best breed of pigs
Sisters celebrating Easter in 2023
St. Stephen’s Retreat and Rest House or any function convenient to monastic life
