many are called but few are chosen...

Many were called by God to serve Him thru His Sanctuary: the monastery.

But few were chosen to remain steadfast and persevere inside.

Such as the case of these monks who have called themselves to serve God or who have been called by God to serve Him, but failed to persevere...

Hence, they had to leave the portals of the monastery, for it is stated in the Ordinances and Constitutions of the Congregation, as well as in the Rule of St Benedict ...a monk may leave the monastery freely, or the superior of the house, after conferring with his council of deans, may send a monk back to the world at any time and for any just cause...


in year 2003, this 48 yr-old american monk who was in his Solemn Vows declared his leaving the community. He was our sacristan and everybody felt sad of his decision.


in the next few months after the abovementioned monk left, this 28 yr-old mexican monk also asked to be allowed to leave the community. He was in his 3rd year(and his last year before Solemn Vows) of being in Simple Vows. Such was a loss to the community since he was a very good cook and a very amiable man.


these two brothers left me some good memories. I missed them.


after a week in which the mexican monk left, this 51 yr-old american monk left. He was in his Simple Vows errr, novice, yeah - he was still novice when he decided that monastic life was not for him.


in the early part of 2004, this Indian monk, who was in his Simple Vows had to leave the community. His noble reason was that he wanted to join the Diocesan Seminary. as of this writing, he is already a Deacon in the Arch Diocese of Sta Fe NM, and is getting himself ready for his priestly ordination in 2008.


this 25 yr-old american monk left the monastery for reasons of health. he was in his last year of his Simple Vows when he was allowed to leave and go back to the world.


shortly after the monk who got seriously ill left the community, his best friend, a 52 yr-old Peruvian monk who was in his Simple vows followed suit. His reason was not clear to the community, however, he applied as oblate instead and luckily,was admitted by the council of deans. he is currently our extern oblate.


this american monk who's 40 yrs old, stayed with us so briefly. after three months in the monastery, he found life inside so tough, so he had to leave.


in the year 2005, this mexican monk who belongs to another Benedictine community in Mexico, tried to transfer to our community. he himself backed out after some four months and went back to his former community.


he said, he could not live up to the tough life in our community.



this 18 yr-old american monk came to the monastery in the early part of 2004 but towards the end of the following year, he found himself packing his things and left the community.


he said that life inside the monastery was great but he realized, he had to experience more about life outside than inside the monastery.


this mexican monk who's in his early thirties was in Solemn Vows in his community in Mexico. He tried our life but after sometime, he decided to come back to his community.


this African monk from Togo South Africa came over to try our community life. he was in his mid thirties. He realized that waking up at 3:45Am for the 4Am first prayers in church was not for him. he came back to his former community in South Africa.


this 47 yr-old american monk came to the monastery in the middle part of year 2005. After taking his Simple Vows, his ailment gave him so much difficulty, so he had to leave for reasons of health.


this 54 yr-old mexican monk was in his Solemn Vows when he decided to leave the monastery. He fell in love and so, he got married after the Pope dispensed him from his monastic vows.