Volunteers arrive from various monasteries of the Order. A new community, Our Lady of Tibhirine, pre-foundation of Aiguebelle, comes into being to revive the monastery of Tibhirine. Differences of nationality are a richness and a challenge that can be taken on by a life of close fraternity. As the only contemplative community in the church in Algeria, it will provide a Christian monastic presence in a Muslim milieu. The monastery has been well accepted by the local population.
Recruitment presents another challenge.
At the moment we cannot expect to recruit from among the local people. For the growth of the community we shall have to rely on volunteers coming from elsewhere. We may reasonably think of October 1999. We hope to request autonomy at the General Chapter of 2002.