About ICBE

International Commission on Benedictine Education

"Education has been an integral element of Benedictine history and is still an important part of Benedictine life today. In our global culture, we need an international organization to promote this aspect of Benedictine life. To this end, I am establishing the International Commission on Benedictine Education." Abbot Primate Dr. Notker Wolf, O.S.B. (November 2002)

The ICBE Mission

Prologue RB: "our aim then is to establish a school of the Lord's service."

The International Commission on Benedictine Education (ICBE) exists in order to support those schools which promote a Benedictine vision of education.

Aim & Objetives

To provide the spiritual and human resources needed to foster an international network of cooperation between Benedictine schools.

  • to organize an international symposium of the Benedictine Educators' Network (BENET) every three (3) years where teachers and administrators can support and inspire each other.
  • to sponsor regular International Benedictine Youth Congresses (IBYC) for students by appointing and overseeing a Congress Coordinator.
  • to encourage cooperation and friendship between Benedictine schools through regular regional meetings.
  • to develop sources of income, including an endowment fund, to sustain these projects and programs.

To foster the appreciation of Benedictine education expressed within different cultures

  • to facilitate the participation in BENET of all Benedictine schools, especially those that serve in materially deprived sectors of society.
  • to facilitate the participation of students from all Benedictine schools in IBYC, especially those from materially deprived sectors of society.
  • to encourage the participation in exchange programs of teachers and students in Benedictine schools.
  • to establish a solidarity committee to oversee school partnerships and distribution of funding between schools (eg. between Africa and USA and Germany)

To foster discussion about the Benedictine vision of education.

  • to facilitate the sharing of best practices regarding formation in Benedictine values.
  • to develop Benedictine leadership within BENET schools.
  • to create a digital platform to enable communication of best practices and resources.
  • to maintain a data base of Benedictine schools world-wide.

NOTE: A Benedictine school has one of the following characteristics:

  • sponsorship by Benedictine or Cistercian monks, nuns, or oblates
  • an explicitly Benedictine mission statement
Members of ICBE with Abbot Presidente Jeremias Schroeder, October 2024

Members of the International Commission on Benedictine Education

Member image Fr. Julian Maria Schaumlöffel OSB

Fr. Julian Maria Schaumlöffel OSB

ICBE President

Fr. Julian, born in 1970 in Bremerhaven, is a monk, teacher, and cellerer at Christ the King Abbey, Meschede

Member image Dom Geraldo González y Lima, O.S.B.

Dom Geraldo González y Lima, O.S.B.

ICBE Vice President

Dom Geraldo González y Lima, O.S.B., is a Benedictine monk, educator, and vice-president of the commission.

Member image James Duffy

James Duffy

ICBE Treasurer

James is the Dean of the Middle Division at St Benedict's Prep School, Newark, United States.

Member image Cristóbal Valdés Raczynski

Cristóbal Valdés Raczynski

ICBE Secretary

Cristóbal is an oblate of the Manquehue Apostolic Movement, Chile. A member of ICBE since 2013.

Member image Ignacio Tupper Castillo

Ignacio Tupper Castillo

ICBE Delegate for Hispanic America

Ignacio is an oblate of the Manquehue Apostolic Movement and currently Headmaster of Colegio San Benito.

Member image Father Robin Sebastian Checkathadahil, O.S.B.

Father Robin Sebastian Checkathadahil, O.S.B.

ICBE delegate for South Asia

Fr. Robin, a Sylvestrine Benedictine monk, is principal of Behill English School and education coordinator.

Member image Gabrielle Sinclair

Gabrielle Sinclair

ICBE Delegate for the Pacific

Gabrielle Sinclair is Director of Mission at Good Samaritan Education.

Member image Michael Nikolai

Michael Nikolai

Delegate for North America

Michael is Associate Headmaster at St Louis Priory School, Missouri, United States

Member image Sister M. Rosario Obiniana O.S.B.

Sister M. Rosario Obiniana O.S.B.

ICBE Delegate for Southeast Asia

Educator & administrator since 1985, now Exec. Dir. of Benedictine Schools PH; commission member since 2015.

Member image Sr. Lucy Ndung’u, O.S.B.

Sr. Lucy Ndung’u, O.S.B.

ICBE Co-Delegate for Africa

Sr. Lucy, a Benedictine nun, is St. Scholastica's administrator, with degrees in education and admin.

Member image Mrs. Irmhild Fourie

Mrs. Irmhild Fourie

ICBE Co-Delegate for Africa

Mrs. Irmhild Fourie, principal of Inkamana High, holds Math & Stats degrees and was deputy principal & teacher

Emeritus Members

Sincere gratitude to those who helped build this global network of Benedictine Schools

  • + Brother Edward Englund, OSB, Woodside CA, USA Rest in peace!
  • + Father Michael Hermes, OSB, Meschede, Germany Rest in peace!
  • Al Zappelli, Portola Valley, CA
  • Anne Matz, Chicago IL, USA
  • Br Josef Goetz OSB, Archabbey of St. Ottilien, Bavaria
  • David Donovan, Delbarton School, USA
  • Father Christopher Jamison, OSB, Worth, UK, Founding President
  • Father Martin Browne O.S.B, Glenstal Abbey, Ireland
  • Hubert Hering, IBYC, German Speaking Europe
  • Isabel Steenkamp, South Africa
  • Lauren Donovan, Woodside Priory School, California, USA
  • Luz María Eguiguren Guzmán, Manquehue Apostolic Movement, Chile
  • Manuel Jose Echenique, Manquehue Apostolic Movement, Chile
  • Mario Canales Turpaud, Manquehue, Chile
  • Most Rev. Elias R. Lorenzo, O.S.B., Summit, New Jersey, USA, Former President
  • Patricia O'Gorman, Good Samaritan Education, Australia
  • Sister Celine Saplala, OSB, Manila, Philippines
  • Sister Josefina Nepomuceno OSB, Manila, Philippines
  • Sister Judith Zonsius, OSB, Chicago, IL USA
  • Sister Mary McDonald, RGS, Sydney, Australia
  • Sister Meg Kahler, RGS
  • Sister Xaveria Bang, O.S.B, Korea
  • Tim Molak, Portola Valley, CA