Monastic Life

The Benedictine monastic life for men is a special way of living in a religious community.
For Benedictines, the term "monastic" means living according to the ideals set down in the Rule of Benedict, in a monastery, under the guidance of an abbot.

The monastic life involves living the ordinary life extraordinarily well.

The Benedictines strive to live a life of balance between "ora" (prayer) and "labora" (work). This ideal was of utmost importance for Benedict, and most chapters in his rule were written to regulate this balance:

* Balance in prayer — a set number of psalms each day, the format for each prayer time, the times for prayer;

* Balance in work — the types of work to be done by his followers (monks), the times for work, etc.

* The Benedictines believe that the monastic lifestyle has great spiritual value for the world today.

The monastic lifestyle defines the life values of community living, contemplation, and personal transformation and challenges us to a mindfulness that focuses on the right things in life.

7th year anniversary of my monastic life

Today marks the seventh year of my life as monk of Christ in the desert monastery. I came over to the USA to join the community of monks of Christ in the desert monastery in February 14th of year 2002. Today marks a significant date in my life as monk because it is today’s date when I finally left behind the life I lived as secular one. So, today, I should greet myself not a ‘happy valentines day’ but ‘happy reminiscence of the day’ (e.g. reminiscing the exciting long hours of flying when I flew for the first time to the USA, etc. etc.)

I have not really posted any formal introduction about my monastery in my previous posts, so I am taking this opportunity to say something about my community.

The monastery of Christ in the desert was founded in June of 1964. Fr Aelred Wall and two other monks from Mount Savior monastery in New York comprised the founding community. In 1973 Fr Aelred became a hermit in Mexico, where he died in 1984. The other two founders eventually returned to Mount Savior in the 1960’s. The foundation in New Mexico continued to exist with new arrivals of candidates and monks but remained to be a small, struggling community for many years.

The present monastic community of about thirty five monks began arriving in 1974, seeking the Benedictine life of prayer, reading and manual labor as the principal activities.

We came from many different parts of the world, thus makes our community internationally comprised of monks from different diverse cultural backgrounds. We use the monastic term ‘DOM’ to call each other which means ‘brother’.

Our community is located in a beautiful canyon in northwestern New Mexico, USA. We live 13 miles down a dirt road off the highway. Surrounded by miles of Federal Wilderness, the solitude and silence of our monastic setting is assured. The village of Abiquiu (the nearest civilization) is about twenty seven miles away.

The heart of our community life is prayer in common. We meet seven times a day for the canonical offices (150 Psalms are chanted each week) as well as for the daily celebration of the Holy Eucharist. The music we use is Gregorian chant either in its original form or adopted to English texts. Each day our common prayer takes about four hours and the same amount of time is spent for private praying and reading LectioDvina.

We devote about four hours to manual labor each day except Sundays and Solemnities. We make our living in several ways: craft work for our small gift shop, guesthouse that accommodates sixteen persons to the maximum where guests can come and take part in our prayer and work each day, and some of our financial sources come from the generosity of benefactors who have been long time friends of my community.







After three years of simple vows, solemn monastic vows of obedience, stability and conversion of life may be made with the reception at that time of the black monastic cuculla as the sign of life profession. The brother is then a permanent member of the community.

In general, our life is formed by the Gospel and the entire sacred Scriptures, by the Rule of Saint Benedict, the teachings of the Fathers of the Church and the monastic fathers, by the teachings and traditions of the catholic Church, by the Constitutions and Ordinances of the Subiaco Congregation, and by our own customary. We have no external apostolates, but try to have an open heart and mind to one another and those who visit us as pilgrims and guests.

monks' chronicle for June 29 through July 5, 2008

Sunday, June 29, 2008
Father Romualdo presides at the Conventual Mass today. Abbot Philip presides at Vespers. The reader this week is Brother Gerard. The cooks today are Brother Marcus and Brother Anselmo.

Abbot Philip with the Vietnamese family that is here with four of their sons and a friend of the family in the afternoon.

The internet and the telephones are down from late morning on. There is no direct connection to the outside world!

In the evening we have regular recreation, but with ice cream, to honor Father Paul Tri Nguyen, who will leave tomorrow. We also honor Brother Cecilian, who has now been with us for a year! Brother Cecilian thanks the community for accepting him.


Monday, June 30, 2008
Brother Paul and Brother John Baptist have physical exams today for the I-485. Brother Marcus takes them. He also takes George for his appointment in El Rito.

Father Paul Tri Nguyen, the cousin/nephew of Brother Odon, leaves today. He has been a very good presence in our community. Brother PauLavang drives Father Paul Tri and Brother Odon to the airport in Albuquerque, where they will take a flight to California. Brother PauLavang will also pick up Brother Peter Khoa, who is returning from his family visit today.

Brother Michael is working on re-aligning the satellite dish today so that we can have internet and phone service once again. He does not succeed by the end of the day.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Brother Gerard takes the July begging letter to the Post Office in Abiquiu. Later he accompanies Brother Michael to the doctor in Embudo.

Abbot Philip and Brother Dominic Dat have dental appointments in El Rito in the morning. They first go to the Department of Motor Vehicles to register the modular home given by Valley National Bank—but they only take a number because the line is so long.
Then they go to El Rito and Brother Dominic Dat stays there for his appointment. Abbot Philip goes back to the Department of Motor Vehicles and finally is called and finds out that he still does not have enough papers to allow the transfer of the title! This is the second visit. The agent is very friendly and writes out what is needed. Then Abbot Philip returns to El Rito for his appointment.
After that, both Brother Dominic Dat and Abbot Philip return to Española and go to Valley National Bank and ask Nick Vigil to get the rest of the papers for them. Then they have lunch at China Kitchen and go to Santa Fe. In Santa Fe they go first to Territorial Lock to get keys made. Then they go to 1st National Bank of Santa Fe to talk about the accounts that are there.
They are told that they will have to speak with the manager, and she is out at the moment. Then back to Territorial Lock and then on to visit Mother Julianne for about 20 minutes. Then back to the bank, where Joanna, the manager, is most gracious and will help them get the signatures straightened out.
Then they go to Radio Shack to look at phones. Then on to Española to Wal-mart. Then they get gasoline at RHOC and head home.

Barbara Barlow sends an e-mail declining to accept the job offer to work for us in development and fundraising.

Just before the evening Chapter Meeting, Dominic Lyman shows up to begin to work on the satellite and restore our phone and internet systems. He gets it working!


Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Brother Francis and Brother Romualdo go to Santa Fe for the regular shopping today.

Brother Lawrence and Brother Cecilian go for dental and medical appointments

Brother Sipho and Brother Anselmo go to Blanco. They take Sr. Theresa back to Our Lady of the Desert and they stay overnight and visit our Brother Bernard.

Subprior Christian and Abbot Philip have a business and advisory meeting with Marie Morgan and Berkeley Merchant.

Thursday, July 3, 2008
Subprior Christian has another cataract surgery on one of his eyes and it seems very successful. Brother Marcus also has an eye appointment. They take Brother Benedict with them and he has an appointment with Dr. Ripich.

Brother Gerard and Fred drive to Albuquerque and take a stove and saw with them to get fixed. They will stay overnight and return tomorrow with Brother Gerard's cousin, Sheldon, who will spend the weekend with us.

George has a medical appointment in El Rito. He takes Brother Paul and Brother John Baptist to have their TB tests checked. They are both fine.

We receive word today the Brother Jerome's mother, Anna, has just died. May she rest in peace!

Mother Julianne's cousin, Neil, also died today.

Friday, July 4, 2008
We have a sleep in to honor the 4th of July and then Lauds followed by Holy Mass at 6:00 am.

At 1:00 pm we have Sext and then a picnic.

Subprior Christian and Abbot Philip spend most of the afternoon interviewing another possibly fundraiser for the community.

Saturday, July 5, 2008
Brother Gerard goes for an outing with his cousin, Sheldon Monteiro, who is visiting us.

We make a lot of decisions in the Council today about the novitiate and about various aspects of the order of the community.

At the evening Chapter, Sheldon Monteiro, the cousin of D Gerard, is invited so that we can say "hello" to him and also "good-bye."

Monks' Chronicle for June 22 through June 28, 2008

Sunday, June 22, 2008 Subprior Christian presides at the Conventual Mass. The cooks today are Brother John Dat and Brother Dominic Dat. Abbot Philip is the reader for the week.During the day there is a strong conflict in the kitchen between two brothers. This upsets many other brothers. At the evening recreation Abbot Philip talks about what has happened and gives some proposals about what can be done to straighten out the situation. After the recreation, one of the brothers is still angry and so Abbot Philip cancels Compline and has another meeting, where finally all the difficulties are talked about in a straightforward way.We end just about 8:00 pm with a short prayer lead by the Abbot and then the Salve Regina.

Monday, June 23, 2008 Brother Marcus drives Brother Evagrius to town today so that Brother Evagrius can have his physical examination needed for the I-485.Abbot Philip and Subprior Christian go to town today for business at Valley National Bank and then to shop for furnishings for Saint Antony's, so that the brothers can move there quickly.Mother Julianne has knee replacement surgery today at Saint Vincent's Hospital in Santa Fe.We have First Vespers of the Solemnity of the Birth of Saint John the Baptist tonight, the major patron of the Monastery of Christ in the Desert.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008 Abbot Philip presides at the Holy Mass today. Brother Gerard and Brother Lawrence are the cooks.It is the Solemnity of Saint John the Baptist today and so a major feastday for Christ in the Desert. We have a Sunday schedule and then an enormous, wonderful, tasty banquet after None. We have another recreation for the monks in the evening. A very joyful and happy day.After Holy Mass today, Brother PauLavang and Brother Odon drive to Albuquerque where they will meet a nephew of Brother Odon, a priest from Finland, who will spend some time with us.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008 Brother Francis and Brother Paul go for the regular shopping today.Brother PauLavang and Brother Odon return today with Father Tri Nguyen.

Thursday, June 26, 2008 Brother Lawrence goes for an appointment with Dr. Salim today. He also takes George so that George can get his prescriptions.Brother Michael goes to the doctor because he is still having problems with his colon.In the late afternoon, Sr. Kateri arrives and takes Brother PauLavang with her to Blanco, where they will stay for a couple of days.

Friday, June 27, 2008 Subprior Christian and Abbot Philip leave after the morning Work Meeting. They go first to Abiquiu and mail the mail. Then they go to the Department of Motor Vehicles and try to register the mobile home for the Sisters, but they are told they do not have enough documents. So they go the Valley National Bank and get a lot more!Then they drive to Santa Fe and meet with Rima Litke at Wachovia Securities in order to set up the accounts that will be there.Then they shop for about four hours to get things for the refurbishing of Saint Antony's.Then they meet with and have dinner with Barbara Barlow.Later they drive to Wal-mart in Española and do more shopping and get home about 9:30 pm.

Saturday, June 28, 2008 George takes Brother Benedict to Española to get his medicine.Brother PauLavang comes back with Sister Kateri and Sister Theresa about the time of Vespers.At the Council Meeting today, we make some guidelines for Father Stephen Frost to live in the community. We also talk about silence in the community. Abbot Philip will preside at Vespers tomorrow in place of Brother Romualdo. We announce that there will be no Opera Trip this summer. And we work at the finances, which are in difficult shape right now because of the enormous fall in the stock market.At the evening Chapter Meeting, Father Paul Tri Nguyen speaks to us about his experience with Opus Dei, with whom he studied in Rome, and about the life of his Diocese of Helsinki in Finland. It is very moving and helps us all understand more the Church in Finland.

Monks' Chronicles from June 15, 2008 through June 21, 2008

Sunday, June 15, 2008
Brother Sipho presides at the Conventual Mass today. Brother Rodrigo and Brother Romualdo are the cooks. The reader is supposed to be Brother Francis, but he is cutting up the turkey and Brother Gerard reads.

In the afternoon Subprior Christian, Fr. Steve Frost, Brother Francis and Abbot Philip walk through the former Sisters' Monastery, which we will call once again: St. Antony's.

Mother Benedicta phones in the afternoon and tells Abbot Philip about how they are settling in at Blanco. The Bishop will visit them there on July 18.


Monday, June 16, 2008
Brother Rodrigo and Brother Anselmo go for dental appointments. Brother Michael goes with them to purchase a cable for Brother Mayeul in South Africa and to look for memory for the computers.

Mother Julianne takes Brother John Dat and Brother Cecilian to get their new glasses.

Roger goes to town for two days.

Two priests from Texas come to visit and stay for lunch. The are from the Diocese of Dallas and are in the area for the 25th anniversary of being a bishop of Archbishop Michael Sheehan, which will be celebrated tomorrow at the Basilica-Cathedral.

Tonight we have a party to welcome home Brother PauLavang and to say good-bye to Brother André, who leaves for South Africa tomorrow.

Abbot Philip also announces the retirement of Father Martin Boler as Prior of Mount Saviour Monastery, which is the mother house of Christ in the Desert. Fr. James Cronen has been appointed as Prior Administrator.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Abbot Philip drives Brother André to the airport. They take a huge amount of parcels to mail at the Post Office in Abiquiu first. Then they go to the airport and Brother André checks in without any problems He check two bags to Johannesburg and he is not charged for either of them

Abbot Philip then returns to Santa Fe, eats lunch, and then has an appointment with Carla Skeen, the monastery lawyer for much of our business.

At 4:45 pm Abbot Philip arrives at the La Fonda and dinner for the Archbishop's 25th Anniversary as a bishop begins at 5:00 pm. There are speakers during the meal part of the time. By far the most outstanding are Father Lambert Luna, the Vicar General, and Bishop Ricardo Ramirez of Las Cruces. After the speeches and the meal, we all go to the Cathedral Basilica and Holy Mass begins at 7:00 pm and lasts until 9:30 pm. Afterwards there is a special reception for the Bishops and for Abbot Philip and for the Franciscan Provincial at the San Miguel Building at the IHM Complex near the Carmelites. Abbot Philip arrives home at 12:20 am!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Brother Dominic Dat and Brother Francis go for the regular shopping.

In the late morning, there is some serious trouble with a guest who had arrived unexpectedly late last night. He begins to make sexual advances to another male guest, who then comes to Subprior Christian to explain what has happened. So we have Brother Rodrigo take the unexpected guest out of the monastery. Brother Rodrigo also takes Brother John Dat and Brother Cecilian so that they can pick up their new glasses.

Thursday, June 19, 2008
Brother Gerard, Brother Caedmon and Mother Julianne drive to Blanco, New Mexico, today to visit the Sisters of Our Lady of the Desert and to bring Sister Kateri here to help Mother Julianne during the surgery to replace her left knee.

Abbot Philip has a dental appointment in El Rito. His tooth is still infected and he begins a third rounds of antibiotics. Brother Lawrence has an appointment with Hannah-Leigh, his counselor.

At the evening recreation, Abbot Philip announces that in a week or two, Father Romualdo and Brother Dominic Dat will move into Saint Antony's along with the novices and postulants.

Abbot Philip also announces that Brother Michael Zielinski will continue in the novitiate after spend about two months thinking about leaving.

Friday, June 20, 2008
Brother Francis goes to town with Mother Julianne to Santa Fe and they visit Whole Foods and ask for free food. The results are not known yet, but are likely to be positive.

Monks begin to clean Saint Antony's and to prepare it to receive the novitiate group.

Saturday, June 21, 2008
Brother Gerard and Brother Francis go to shop for June 24th, the Solemnity of Saint John the Baptist.
Brother Caedmon, Brother Christian and Abbot Philip go to sing at the Monks' Corner today.

monks' chronicle...from June 1 through June 14, 2008

Sunday, June 1, 2008
Brother Gabriel presides at the Conventual Mass today. Brother Anton and Brother John Baptist are the cooks. The reader this week is Brother Caedmon.

Abbot Philip again meets with Berkeley Merchant in the afternoon.

We get word that Sister Donna Ferguson died on the First Vespers of the Sacred Heart.

After Mass, Brother Romualdo brings Brother Antonio to coffee and cookies. From then on Brother Antonio joins the community again in a normal way. He comes to the Office of None and then also to the main meal and sits with the monks. He comes to Vespers and then to the party in the evening.

At the party, the Sisters sing a farewell song to us. Brother Antonio does a folkloric dance. Brother John Baptist and Brother Anton sing a duet. Brother Dunstan sings a Coptic chant in English which is very long!

Monday, June 2, 2008
Abbot Philip and Brother Antonio leave at 7:30 am and drive to Abiquiu and check the mail, which Brother Lawrence will pick up later. Then they drive on to Valley National Bank in Espanola and Abbot Philip meets with Nick Vigil. Then they go to Santa Fe and have lunch at Maria's. Afterwards they drive in the direction of Lamy and talk until the train comes at 2:00 pm. Brother Antonio then leaves to return to the Monastery of the Holy Cross.

Abbot Philip drives back to Santa Fe and goes to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Center, where he will give the retreat for the priests of the Archdiocese. The retreat begins with Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm, the supper at 6:00 pm and the first presentation at 7:00 pm.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Abbot Philip gives three presentations to the priests today and also preaches at Holy Mass. He meets with several priests privately.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Again, Abbot Philip gives three presentations to the priests and preaches at Holy Mass. He also leads a penance service and then afterwards hears confessions until almost 11:00 pm.

Thursday, June 5, 2008
Today, there is only one presentation in the morning and the Abbot Philip preaches at Holy Mass and the retreat ends about 11:30 am. Father Lambert Luna, the vicar general of the Archdiocese, invites Abbot Philip out to lunch in Santa Fe. After lunch they return to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Retreat Center and then Abbot Philip drives to Española and makes a bank deposit. He tries to see Nick Vigil, but Nick has left for the day. Abbot Philip arrives home about 4:50 pm.
It is a movie night because tomorrow is a Desert Day.

Friday, June 6, 2008
Brother Bernard goes to see an eye specialist today. He has wet macular degeneration in one of his eyes and there needs to be something done fairly soon.

At the Chapter Meeting tonight, Abbot Philip gives some guidelines on the kitchen and asks the community for their comments. They are in agreement—at least no one expresses any disagreement.

Abbot Philip also announces that Father Steve Frost will now be attending the evening Chapter Meeting and the morning Work Meeting. The hope is that eventually Father Steve will become a Regular Oblate in the community and so he is being incorporated slowly into the community.

Saturday, June 7, 2008
Brother Marcus drives to Albuquerque today for shopping.

At the Council Meeting in the afternoon, the following is decided:
1. We will have the Chapter for the Solemn Vows of Dom Cécilien on Monday at 8:00 am
2. Bro Gerard will be retreat this week from Sunday through Wednesday
3. For the light meal, the brothers will begin to eat at the same time as the guests—brothers on one side and guests on the other
4. Brother Marcus and Brother Anton will renew their vows on Wednesday evening
5. Whenever Gasoline is purchased from RHOC, please bring the receipt home. If one is not given at the pump, then go and ask for one. We have huge gasoline bills and no proof that they are all ours!
6. Keep the Chapter Room door open during regular meetings now for ventilation
7. Keep Church doors open front and back during the Divine Office now
8. The proposal for repairs at Holy Cross Hermitage was approved
9. The proposal to hire a development director was approved
10.For now, Fr. Bernard will serve as the Chaplain for the Sisters. After him, probably it will be Fr Romualdo and then Fr Gabriel. After that is not yet clear!

Sunday, June 8, 2008
Brother Bernard presides at the Conventual Mass today. The cooks are Brother Caedmon and Brother Lawrence. The reader this week is Brother André.

There are about 25 people at Holy Mass today, which is a fairly large crowd for us. Eva Fleischner is present and has not been here in about 25 years. She is now 83 and living in California.

Monday, June 9, 2008

We have a Chapter of the Solemnly Professed this morning and accept Brother Cécilien Ratsimbazofy to make solemn vows in our community on August 15, 2008.

Brother Henry Sammon from the NRRO is here today to see our monastery and speak with Abbot Philip. He gives some very good suggestions about a couple of grants for which we can apply.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Brother Lawrence, Brother Anton, Brother Paul and Brother Xavier go to town today. Brother Paul takes his first driving test, but does not pass, and is scheduled again for this coming week. Brother Lawrence has an appointment with Dr. Salim and Brother Xavier with Dr. Ryan.

Roger takes the Bronco for maintenance and takes Brother Anselmo for an appointment with Dr. Miller. On the way home in the evening, the Bronco breaks down and has to be towed back to Santa Fe. Luckily, Abbot Philip and Mother Julianne are able to pick up Roger and Brother Anselmo and bring them home.

Abbot Philip and Mother Julianne go to Española and Santa Fe. Abbot Philip makes a bank deposit and has an appointment with Nick Vigil at Valley National Bank to discuss the mobile home that the bank will probably give to the Sisters and also to discuss the loan for the property in Texas. Mother Julianne then has a dental appointment in Pojoaque. Then they go on to Santa Fe and Abbot Philip has an appointment with Mr. Manuel Monasterio of Wachovia Securities to discuss the investments of the Monastery, which are being move to Wachovia from Merrill Lynch. After that, there is shopping for a new portable computer to be used by Fr. Bernard when he is chaplain for the Sisters. Then there are other and smaller purchases at other stores. On the way home, Mother Julianne and Abbot Philip pick up Roger and Brother Anselmo.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Brother Michael went out with the technicians from Lyman Brothers today. They are working on the internet connections and found an underground cable badly corroded and will fix it.

Brother André and Brother Francis go for the regular shopping.

Roger takes the Honda for maintenance.

George drive Brother Benedict for a hearing aid appointment. They also go to the Social Security office and arrange for a new card to be sent to Brother Benedict. They go to the MVD and get a new identity card for Brother Benedict as well.

In the evening, at the Chapter, with the Sisters present, Brother Marcus Santiago and Brother Anton Vo renew their simple vows, beginning their third year of simple vows. Then we go for a party in the refectory.

There is a lot of entertainment tonight at the party. Four sisters and five brothers sing a song about freedom, which is very well done. Then the Sisters put on hats and sing a song to say "good-bye" to us. The Filipino brothers (Dom Caedmon, Dom Lawrence and Dom Marcus) sing a song saying "good-bye" to the Sisters! Brother Caedmon sings "The warrior is a child" for the first time in 2 years—and it is wonderful. Brother Anton sings a song with guitar accompaniment, which he also does. Abbot Philip sings "How Great Thou Art." Sister Elizabeth has music and does a Tai Chi performance with it. Father Romualdo sings a short Korean song and does a dance with it. At the end, Brother John Dat does a skit with Brother Dominic Dat and Brother John Baptist about cutting hair. It is wonderful and has us all laughing.

Thursday, June 12, 2008
Dom Gerard goes to work on some business for Desert Packaging today. He will also visit the benefactors who pay for his school costs: Jane Serna and her family & Fr. John Rodriguez and his family.

Abbot Philip accompanies George to Social Security today so that George can apply for permanent disability. They also take Brother Anton and a guest to Albuquerque. Brother Anton and the guest both stay at the home of Mr. Tai. Afterwards, George and Abbot Philip go to visit the Franciscans of the Renewal. Then they go back to Santa Fe and pick up envelopes from the porch of the home of Marie and Berkeley. In Española they go to Wal-mart and make some purchases. They arrive home around 8:45 pm.

Friday, June 13, 2008

This is a very important historical day today because the Sisters of Our Lady of the Desert are moving to Blanco, New Mexico, today. Many of the brothers are helping them. George and Brother Michael go with them. Brother Bernard goes later with Mother Benedicta.

Brother Sipho drives Brother Cecilian and Brother John Dat to medical appointments today.

Fr. Steve goes to the Post Office today and then for some shopping.

Roger takes the Xterra for maintenance today.

When Brother Sipho speaks tonight in the Chapter, he tells us what happened during the trip to Española. When he and Brother Cecilian and Brother John Dat arrived at Dr. Bratten's office, they took a nap in the car. Then shortly before 2:00 pm, they entered the office of Eye Associates and began to fill out paperwork. While they were doing that, three police cars pulled up outside, all with their lights flashing. No one knew what was happening. Eventually the police came in and questioned both Brother Cecilian and Brother John Dat. They went on in to their eye examinations. Then they spoke with Brother Sipho, telling him that someone had phoned and reported that the monks (the police didn't know they were monks) had a gun with them. So they questioned Brother Sipho, checked his driver's license and then asked him to go out to the Honda with them so that they could check the car. Eventually they discovered that there was no gun and that the monks had no gun at all. So they left.

Saturday, June 14, 2008
Roger drives to Albuquerque to bring home Brother PauLavang, who arrived last night, and Brother Christian, who arrives this afternoon.
At the Council Meeting we don't make any major decisions. We do decide to purchase some Walkie-Talkies for the Guestmaster and the Guesthouse cleaners.
Subprior Christian and Brother PauLavang arrive home shortly before Compline.

end of chronicle

historic 'old cells'

This is a view of our historic old cells. These were the first cells occupied by the first four monks who joined together and founded the monastery in June 1964.



As the years passed by, a new of set cloistered cells were built nearby the old cells. Right now, these old cells have become the haven for our guests from members of Religious congregations, Religious Houses and Dioceses throughout the country.

Right now, we number to thirty five monks and is still counting for more arrivals in the near future.

monks choir

The monastery choir... the ABBOT, The SubPrior, and the rest of my co- members...
Me, Dom Jerome-Korean, the Abbot, The SubPrior, Dom John- American, Dom Mayeul-Vietnamese.

Monday is the busiest day

In monasteries and even out there, Monday is always considered the busiest day of the week-and the toughest one, too.

What makes this day the busiest day for the monks in my community? let me tell you the reaasons:
First- very early morning as early as 6 o'clock, Dom Marcus was already moving his gears for his town trip. He will be buying maintenance stuffs for the power plant of the community.

Second- Dom Benedicto(Mexican) left so very early for his trip back to his native land Mexico. Dom Benedicto , who tagged along his buddy Dom Jerome(Korean), needs to come back to Mexico to renew his Religious Visa which will expire any time this week, and Dom Jerome , who has been sick for almost a month now, needs a break, too.-and discern more of his vocation. Whether he will go back to our community or not, we really don't know. It's only God who knows, and it's only Him who can tell if this Korean Junior monk will still go back and continue with his period of probation in our monastery.
(Dom Benedicto- pic shown below. Dom Jerome-pic shown below right.)

Third- Dom Patricio (pic shown below) just came back from his trip in Rome!... Sometime last month, his two sisters who are members of a Benedictine community in Rome had their Profession of Simple Vows,so he needed to attend the occasion. However, tomorrow will be his trip going back to Mexico as his Religious Visa is also expiring and needs to be renewed. He seemed to have lost a lot of his baby fats while in Rome...

Fourth- I am cooking today and so that makes life with me in here such a busy one, or rather the busiest of the week.
And I am just taking a break now that's why I am able to post this update. So, there you go my friends, the latest update of what is going on in my life, in our lives inside the Cloister. Oh! by the way- don't get confused about my latest look! I just shaved my hairs on my head and on my face and chin! So, I am all clean and shaven!..

Anyways,such look is our official look and the official look of all Contemplative monks (whether Catholic or Buddhist).

Happy Monday to all of you!......

featuring Dom Rodrigo, OSB

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me and my friend in an Asian store

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perking you up with many faces of life in my community

amusing faces of life in the monastery...depict the lighter side of monastic life at the canyons of the wilderness.....

Oswaldo- 21 yrs old American from Chicago is currently having his one month observation of our Cloistered life.

taking time with his antics and hilarious stories...during our leisure time after the main meal..

caedmon and his many faces depicting his happy conviction and disposition...

it is good to show wrinkles from laughter...

make no mistake about it--- gutom na gutom na si caedmon sa tagal ng aming shopping sa Sam's Club...

Fr Luis, OSB, waiting for the banquet to start during the occasion of Dom Michael's Simple Vows last feb 5, 2005.

featuring my junior master: Dom Andre

this image is a scanned one from my digicam showing a cleanshaven lawrence with dom andre during one of our town trips to Sta Fe in the year 2003.




a close up range of dom andre's image with me who's cut from his left-- dom andre is attending a three-month Formators Conference in Rome , so he will be away from the monastery starting next week...

monks and nuns in different occasions at the Cloister

dom hugo and dom luis during dom michael's profession of his first Vows last feb 5,2005.

me- while doing the postings of my Lj and photoblog earlier today...

dom rodrigo and his -sunday- lazy- day looks.

dom michael's sweetest smile- my junior brother who had just professed his Simple Vows last feb 5,2005.

amused michael posing for my digicam the second time around...-in front of his numerous unanswered emails..

dom caedmon as cook for today-has to attend to numerous kitchen works for hours in preparation for the 4pm mainmeal today. he cooks with dom hugo- masarap na pinoy adobong manok na binudburan ng mga buo-buong paminta-at pinalangoy sa suka at toyo...

sr therese-a Vietnamese Novice of the women's community-Our Lady of the Desert Monastery.. our neighbor... this image was taken during our coffee-with-guests- after the 9:15Am Sunday Mass today.

dom hugo in his civilian attire-

another image of dom hugo-thanks to him for allowing me to take this last one yesterday.

my abbot , caedmon and me in leisure moments

my abbot superior, Rt. Rev Dom Philip Lawrence,OSB and me inside caedmon's accounting office on feb 5, 2005

the best way to combat loneliness is to give your best smile to it...

caedmon and me during valentine's day...--All we did was to smile, laugh and giggle at our own antics and anecdotes..as antidote to our homesickness.(wala kaming ginawa buong araw kundi ngumiti, ngumiti at ngumiti pa rin.)