Mother Elena Montes, OSB
Elected Prioress of Ekklēsía Iwiga (2026)

Elected alongside Abbot Mateo during the community’s 2026 transition, Mother Elena steps into leadership as our Prioress, serving as a pillar of pastoral care, spiritual direction, and community cohesion. Mother Elena focuses on the sacramental, inward, nurturing the heart of our community life and ensuring that our global brothers, sisters, and oblates stay deeply connected.

A Ministry of Welcome and Transition

Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Mother Elena spent years working in clinical psychology and family counseling before answering the call to vowed monastic life. Her professional background brings a profound layer of emotional and spiritual intelligence to her leadership. In addition to her role as Prioress, Mother Elena serves as the director of our Expat Care and Transition Center. Having lived and served across borders herself, she knows firsthand the unique psychological and spiritual stresses of displacement, relocation, and major life changes. She has dedicated her ministry to creating a literal and figurative "place to breathe" for global citizens, expats, and those in transition throughout North and Latin America.

Guiding the Monasticism of the Heart

As Prioress, Mother Elena is responsible for the ongoing spiritual formation of our vowed members and oblates. She leads our digital prayer gatherings, facilitates peer-to-peer spiritual accompaniment, and ensures that the ancient rhythm of the Rule of Saint Benedict is accessible, practical, and life-giving for people living busy lives in secular environments. Known for her gentle strength, radical hospitality, and quick wit, Mother Elena perfectly embodies the open, relational spirit of our community.

"Our cloister has no borders, which means our capacity for hospitality must have no limits. Whether you are navigating a new country, a new phase of life, or a new step in your faith journey, my joy is ensuring you never walk alone." — Mother Elena