The 2010 Cistercian Studies Conference took place from the 13th through the 16th of May at the University of Western Michigan in Kalamazoo.

It is held each year as sub-conference of the larger Medieval Congress, which attracts scholars from all over the world.

This year marked the 9th centennary of the birth of Aelred of Rielvaux, one of the great Cistercian writers. Many of the papers given were focussed on some aspect of his work.

Our own Fr. Elias gave the final paper of the conference, on Aelred's use of animal imagery, "Aelred's Birds and Beasts."

Fr. Mark Scott, currently on an extended visit to Gethsemani from Vina, also presided over a session while attending to business with Cistercian Publications. Br. Simeon Leiva-Merikakis from Spencer abbey, whose main concern was also with Cistercian Publications, accompanied Fr. Mark and Fr. Elias from Gethsemani.