It's thanksgiving day today- in the monastery, monks join the nationwide celebration by obeserving a holiday no-work day today.
the Highlights of today's celebration..........
my photos taken in the morning after the Holy Mass....
the day's schedule for us to follow: at dahil madaming free hours between the time schedule, monks are surely glued in their laptops doing internet thing if not watchin DVD movies or simply in their beds stretching lazily.
preparing for the Holy Mass in which i was the Master of Ceremonies- wearing our black cowl helps shield us from the chilling cold wind breeze insde the Church, na kahit tatlo tatlo na ang oven filled with burning firewood ay hindi pa rin nito magawang uminit sa loob ng abbey church.
a simple flower arrangement complements the simple celebration of the Holy Eucharist in church partcipated in by the monks, nuns of our neighboring monastery for women and our resident guests( in our guesthouse).
this nun still in her seat takes charge of the flowers at the altar...probably, nagpaiwan siya after the Mass to give her time to check on the flowers she arranged, for our afternoon Vespers.Now, upon noticing me taking photos, she gladly gave me her nod as her sign of approval for me to take a shot of her with the Virgin mary image in the background.
from the Church, i proceeded to the kitchen to check on the sisters who are goin to do the cooking for today's banquet. just to find out Father Mayeul doing the washing of the breakfast dishes. he was so unmindful of my presence. now, upon knowing that i was taking shots, he timidly covered his face with the glass he was drying up--a natural reaction and reflex..
Mother Mary Benedicta, the Prioress of the sisters of the monastery of our Lady of the Desert (our neighbor) was the only one i found at the kitchen-minus her cooks, putting up the giant dressed turkey to be baked for our banquet this afternoon- sabagay maaga pa kasi, this was only around 7:35Am when i did the rounds at the kitchen -remember? i am the kitchen manager here LOL.
giant turkeys wrapped in plastic oven bags getting ready to be baked at 400 degrees heat...kawawang Turkeys LOL.
when rodrigo saw me with my digicam , he, as usual and as camwhore as he is, posed inside the pantry adjacent to our kitchen and asked me to take him a shot- i gladly did.
now, it's time for rodrigo to return the favor. kaya ako naman ang pinag pose nya.
after this - i went back to my cell (after giving Mother Mary Bendedicta specific instructions on the things to do in preparation for the afternoon Buffet.)
images showing me and the kitchen cooks at the kitchen and refectory preparing for the main meal banquet at 4:00pm... I was stuck in the kitchen and refectory the whole of the free time helping out with the banquet preparation:
The two cooks who were assigned to help me up for the banquet: Sister Mary Placida and sister Mary, with a volunteer worker from our guests who spent time with me setting up the banquet table food warmers-Michael from Taos NM.
the light meal ( 11:45AM) was served in silence shortly after the 11:30Am Sext prayers.
after the light meal, the preparation of foods for the banquet was resumed with sister kateri and placida in my side.
baking of the turkeys were done...so juicy and yummy yummy baked turkey.
the last hour of preparation in the banquet room before the 4:15PM Banquet.
the guests at the banquet getting their food....time for TALKING MEAL.....
after getting their own food, the guests, monks and nuns get inside the refectory and find their own place to sit --- this time, karambola na-halo halo na- kahit sino pwede mong tabihan at tsikahin habang kumakain ng turkey- mashed potatoes-gravy- turkey fillings- pumpkin na ginisa- (yung hawak hawak ko sa isang picture kaninang umaga pantry), vegetable salad withh thousand island dressing, bread rolls with butter, and drinks of their choice- diet coke, diet pepsi, budweiser, and champagne and other brands of white and red wines.
These last two images(with oblate Thomas Aquinas, Fr Luis, and Jojo Naval -all Pinoys) were the last of the images i caught in the whole duration of the day's great celebration of thanksgiving at the monastery. these two last pics show our pinoy oblate Thomas Aquinas , Padre Luis "Padu" Regalado, and another pinoy protestant pastor Pastor JOJO Naval - he was pastor in his howmtown Hala hala Rizal, but is now based in Espanola - Thomas Aquinas' kasambahay sa apartment na tinitirhan nila. The next activity that followed after the Talking Meal was the dirtiest one- the washing of dishes-pans and bandehado in the kitchen which i failed to catch with my digicam for obvious reason LOL. Vespers followed after dishwashing and all that... the night party and recreation by the monks themselves followed after vespers- I did not take images- for obvious reason: pagud na pagud na pagod ako sa buong maghapong pag ikot ikot at pabalik balik sa kusina, pantry, refectory, at sa banquet room, vice versa. i hope you enjoyed the images and texts.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
gettin' sick and staying in my cell....is an art too!
since when getting sick is an art?..since i become a monk here at the secluded and isolated monastery of contemplative monks!...
yeah, kahit may sakit ang isang monghe- at nakabartolina lamang ito sa kanyang simple ngunit masalimuot na selda, ay kinakailangan maging makabuluhan pa rin naman ang buhay nya at pilitin itong maisama sa pag inog ng mundong ginagalawan nya sa araw ng pagkakasakit nya-
kaya kahit may dinaramdam ako ngayong araw - i have been complaining to myself and to other monks especially to Andre, my former Juniormaster of terrible pain at the back of my neck and at the left side of my head near my left ear-( na nagsimula kahapon before Compline kaya kinailangan kong mag hingi ng excuse not to attend Compline anymore to Prior Christian,) -ay kinakailangan ko pa ring makagalaw at makagawa ng kahit anong bagay sa loob ng aking selda para maging useful kahit paano ang araw ko- i was thankful to the vietnamese old monk bro Mayeul who gave me his white Tiger balm for my ailing head. if this symptom persists, i will be forced to go out and visit our community physician Dr Murray Ryan for check-up the next day.
kaya ang buong araw ko ngayon ay ginugol ko sa
...pag log- in sa Pay Pal website to validate credit cards slips from our giftshop customers
...read some passages in the Bible while at rest
...and
... just spend the day in bed or in front of my laptop for email and blog updates.
yeah, kahit may sakit ang isang monghe- at nakabartolina lamang ito sa kanyang simple ngunit masalimuot na selda, ay kinakailangan maging makabuluhan pa rin naman ang buhay nya at pilitin itong maisama sa pag inog ng mundong ginagalawan nya sa araw ng pagkakasakit nya-
kaya kahit may dinaramdam ako ngayong araw - i have been complaining to myself and to other monks especially to Andre, my former Juniormaster of terrible pain at the back of my neck and at the left side of my head near my left ear-( na nagsimula kahapon before Compline kaya kinailangan kong mag hingi ng excuse not to attend Compline anymore to Prior Christian,) -ay kinakailangan ko pa ring makagalaw at makagawa ng kahit anong bagay sa loob ng aking selda para maging useful kahit paano ang araw ko- i was thankful to the vietnamese old monk bro Mayeul who gave me his white Tiger balm for my ailing head. if this symptom persists, i will be forced to go out and visit our community physician Dr Murray Ryan for check-up the next day.
kaya ang buong araw ko ngayon ay ginugol ko sa
...pag log- in sa Pay Pal website to validate credit cards slips from our giftshop customers
...read some passages in the Bible while at rest
...and
... just spend the day in bed or in front of my laptop for email and blog updates.
Monday, November 20, 2006
talking with a Neocatechuminate from Denver CO.
Mark Hartnell, from Denver Colorado is a Neocathecuminate who is with us now for a weeklong retreat before he gets the final baptismal for the catechuminate.
some insights about what neocathecuminate is all about:
One of the greatest gifts the Spirit has given to us from the Second Vatican Council is the renewal of the catechumenate.
The catechumenate has various stages. the most important aspect for parish renewal is to look at a post-baptismal catechesis, that is, a catechesis or an instruction in the mysteries of Christ and of the Church for all of the baptized, that is post-baptismal catechesis.
The Pontifical Council for the Laity has given formal recognition, to a post-baptismal catechumenate. There are many lay movements within the Church that have been called by the Spirit to bring about a renewal of communities, of parishes.
the Neocatechumenate is one of the strongest expressions of that capacity within the Church that the Spirit has given to us that has the ability to create a forgiving community, the capacity to create a community of tough love that is rooted in the Cross of Jesus.
known since 1980,the Neocatechumenate in the Archdiocese of Denver Co established one of the best expressions, one of the best proclamations of the Paschal Mystery that the Spirit has given to the modern Church.
some insights about what neocathecuminate is all about:
One of the greatest gifts the Spirit has given to us from the Second Vatican Council is the renewal of the catechumenate.
The catechumenate has various stages. the most important aspect for parish renewal is to look at a post-baptismal catechesis, that is, a catechesis or an instruction in the mysteries of Christ and of the Church for all of the baptized, that is post-baptismal catechesis.
The Pontifical Council for the Laity has given formal recognition, to a post-baptismal catechumenate. There are many lay movements within the Church that have been called by the Spirit to bring about a renewal of communities, of parishes.
the Neocatechumenate is one of the strongest expressions of that capacity within the Church that the Spirit has given to us that has the ability to create a forgiving community, the capacity to create a community of tough love that is rooted in the Cross of Jesus.
known since 1980,the Neocatechumenate in the Archdiocese of Denver Co established one of the best expressions, one of the best proclamations of the Paschal Mystery that the Spirit has given to the modern Church.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Shopping in Sta Fe for the great Thanksgiving Day on the 23d.
The whole day yesterday was a busy day for me-... doing shopping for Thanksgiving Day on next week!-
The last time i went out for a town trip was September 28th nang sunduin ko ang kaibigan ko sa airport galing diyan sa Pinas to spend three days with us at the monastery na kasama ang nanay nya, ...it was really awhile bago ko ulit nasilayan ang mundo sa labas ng monasteryo-kaya ang daming stop over na dinaanan ko kahapon... ganun talaga pag hindi madalas lumabas: aalis sa monasteryo nang maagang maaga at uuwi nang gabing gabi na.
STATION 1: drop mails at ABiquiu Post Office and tsikahan at kodakan with the postmaster Carol and her assistant elsie.
STATION 2: Sam's Club groceries etc etc...
STATION 3: Santa Fe Outlets for kitchen Utensils and bread pans
Road trip back and forth to the Malls of Sta Fe: dito sa Sta Fe, ibang iba ang structure ng mga shopping malls, hiwa hiwalay ang mga buildings ng mga tindahan kaya buong maghapon pabalik balik ka to get to the different shops of different items you need to buy unlike diyan sa Manila wherein lahat na ata ng items ay mahahanap mo sa isang mall like SM Megamall or Robinson's mall.
STATION 4: Southwest Cash and carry for disposable plates, spoons and forks and napkins.
STATION 5: Garson's Religious Store to pick up ordered Advent Candles and order my roman collar black polo shirt.
STATION 6: WAL-MART. finally, last stop over for my pants and some winter shirts. the time was 5:30pm pero super madilim na sa paligid.
finally, natapos na din lahat ng dapat puntahan ko at mga items na dapat mabili ko..... the time was 6:30pm when i left Walmart and headed to the monastery..... a dayful of stopovers and stations...ang susunod kong town trip ay after a month na ulit, that is, December 13th- my birthday...on this day, may dental appointment ako sa El Rito Las Clinica del Norte at tutuloy na din sa Sta Fe afterwards to pick up my roman collar shirt in Garson's Religious Store and have dinner to celebrate my 50th birthday...
The last time i went out for a town trip was September 28th nang sunduin ko ang kaibigan ko sa airport galing diyan sa Pinas to spend three days with us at the monastery na kasama ang nanay nya, ...it was really awhile bago ko ulit nasilayan ang mundo sa labas ng monasteryo-kaya ang daming stop over na dinaanan ko kahapon... ganun talaga pag hindi madalas lumabas: aalis sa monasteryo nang maagang maaga at uuwi nang gabing gabi na.
STATION 1: drop mails at ABiquiu Post Office and tsikahan at kodakan with the postmaster Carol and her assistant elsie.
STATION 2: Sam's Club groceries etc etc...
STATION 3: Santa Fe Outlets for kitchen Utensils and bread pans
Road trip back and forth to the Malls of Sta Fe: dito sa Sta Fe, ibang iba ang structure ng mga shopping malls, hiwa hiwalay ang mga buildings ng mga tindahan kaya buong maghapon pabalik balik ka to get to the different shops of different items you need to buy unlike diyan sa Manila wherein lahat na ata ng items ay mahahanap mo sa isang mall like SM Megamall or Robinson's mall.
STATION 4: Southwest Cash and carry for disposable plates, spoons and forks and napkins.
STATION 5: Garson's Religious Store to pick up ordered Advent Candles and order my roman collar black polo shirt.
STATION 6: WAL-MART. finally, last stop over for my pants and some winter shirts. the time was 5:30pm pero super madilim na sa paligid.
finally, natapos na din lahat ng dapat puntahan ko at mga items na dapat mabili ko..... the time was 6:30pm when i left Walmart and headed to the monastery..... a dayful of stopovers and stations...ang susunod kong town trip ay after a month na ulit, that is, December 13th- my birthday...on this day, may dental appointment ako sa El Rito Las Clinica del Norte at tutuloy na din sa Sta Fe afterwards to pick up my roman collar shirt in Garson's Religious Store and have dinner to celebrate my 50th birthday...
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Carlo carmine took his Final Oblation
today, our brother carlo, after having been exposed to the community and its observance of monastery customary for one year as Novice Oblate, Professed his Final Oblation as Permanent Extern Oblate to our monastery bearing the religious name Bro Thomas Aquinas, ObSB.
the Ceremony was conducted by the Prior and Oblate Director of the community Fr Prior Christian,OSB. the ceremony was attended and witnessed by me (the photographer), novice oblate bro Benedict, Fr Luis, Bro Andre, Bro Rodrigo, Bro Gerard and Bro Marcus.
the Ceremony was conducted by the Prior and Oblate Director of the community Fr Prior Christian,OSB. the ceremony was attended and witnessed by me (the photographer), novice oblate bro Benedict, Fr Luis, Bro Andre, Bro Rodrigo, Bro Gerard and Bro Marcus.
Wednesday, November 1, 2006
All Saint's Day hideaway with Parker Ferrell
before today: three days ago, that was Sunday, i was caught by surprise with my sneezing, runny nose, teary eyes and total discomfort- thought twas an allergy i got from an early 3:30Am rising to ring the bell ( I AM the bell rigner for this unfortunate week hhhmmp!)= the day was intended for the nurse sisters to give Flu shots to the brothers-, not minding of an impending colds, i submitted myself for the immunization- that was it!..i didn't finish the day but had to declare and wrote on the white board that i was sick- verry sick!
i stayed in my room and quarantine myself to get rid of it and as well as to isolate myself from the rest of the community brothers for possible contamination-(that is the least one can do to the brethren in a community when one is indisposed: do not spread the disease!...)
three long days passed with me in my room sleeping long hours- getting up- eating cookies and drinking teas- and sleeping again for more long hours ...and so on and so forth, my workloads were all frozen: my scheduled visit on monday to the water chlorinator gallery for water consumption of the month-end readings...my cooking on tuesday with parker who volunterred to help me cook provided that i will teach him the recipe in baking my monastery bread the best among them....my verisign credit cards electronic validation...shopping list to be faxed to Sam's Club for wednesday shopping...and my personal emails correspondence!...all of these momentarily stopped and were all waiting for me to get over from my Flu that was injected in me the day i had my symptoms and the day my resistance (which i never realized) was getting very low.....well, now its over- i am feeling a bit better with a hot bath in a tub full of suds and a gallon of epsom salt and esential oils courtesy of doctor Rosie ( nah, she isn't, we just call her by that name because of her skills and knowhow in holistic and herbal healings). and now: lawrence is back outside his cell with all the backlog workloads waiting for him-
the first i did when i went out early noontime was to attend SEXt prayers,then took my lightmeal and proceeded shortly to the water gallery to get the water readings for the end of the month of october.- on my way to the gallery, i chanced upon parker in the barn attending to the horses that were being treated by the community's veterenarian (hhmm, even the horses get sick too huh!) with fred. He was was very anxious why the cooking-with-me on tues did not push through- after learning of what happened to me- he volunterred to come along with me and help me with my work in the water gallery- and had photo session with me too as he is leaving on thursday after three weeks of stay in my community- he will be back with his parents at oklahoma but he said will drop at arkansas to have some weekend picnic with them before goin back home....
our images taken at the barn:
a fancy haloween widget from photobucket:
i stayed in my room and quarantine myself to get rid of it and as well as to isolate myself from the rest of the community brothers for possible contamination-(that is the least one can do to the brethren in a community when one is indisposed: do not spread the disease!...)
three long days passed with me in my room sleeping long hours- getting up- eating cookies and drinking teas- and sleeping again for more long hours ...and so on and so forth, my workloads were all frozen: my scheduled visit on monday to the water chlorinator gallery for water consumption of the month-end readings...my cooking on tuesday with parker who volunterred to help me cook provided that i will teach him the recipe in baking my monastery bread the best among them....my verisign credit cards electronic validation...shopping list to be faxed to Sam's Club for wednesday shopping...and my personal emails correspondence!...all of these momentarily stopped and were all waiting for me to get over from my Flu that was injected in me the day i had my symptoms and the day my resistance (which i never realized) was getting very low.....well, now its over- i am feeling a bit better with a hot bath in a tub full of suds and a gallon of epsom salt and esential oils courtesy of doctor Rosie ( nah, she isn't, we just call her by that name because of her skills and knowhow in holistic and herbal healings). and now: lawrence is back outside his cell with all the backlog workloads waiting for him-
the first i did when i went out early noontime was to attend SEXt prayers,then took my lightmeal and proceeded shortly to the water gallery to get the water readings for the end of the month of october.- on my way to the gallery, i chanced upon parker in the barn attending to the horses that were being treated by the community's veterenarian (hhmm, even the horses get sick too huh!) with fred. He was was very anxious why the cooking-with-me on tues did not push through- after learning of what happened to me- he volunterred to come along with me and help me with my work in the water gallery- and had photo session with me too as he is leaving on thursday after three weeks of stay in my community- he will be back with his parents at oklahoma but he said will drop at arkansas to have some weekend picnic with them before goin back home....
our images taken at the barn:
a fancy haloween widget from photobucket:
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