When an abbey becomes overlarge, or when there is need of a monastery in a new area, the abbot may appoint a group of monks under a prior to begin a new foundation, which remains a dependency of the mother abbey until such time as it is large and stable enough to become an independent abbey of its own.
If an abbey expands beyond capacity or if a monastery is required in a distant region, the abbot might direct a group of monks under a prior to initiate a new foundation. This new establishment remains subordinate to the mother abbey until it reaches sufficient size and stability to become its own independent abbey.