Dom Francis professes his Solemn monastic vows...

Yesterday was a triple celebration in my community as the day was the Solemnity of the birth of Saint John the Baptist, the day we commemorate the founding of my monastery ( it was founded in June 24, 1964 ), and the celebration of the Solemn monastic profession of our brother Dom Francis Martinez Muro, OSB.

The day was filled with blessings when we all of our communoty brothers shared the joys of these blessings with Dom Francis and his invited family members and relatives as well as his friends and friendsof the monastery. The celebration of the profession was a solemnly conducted and a banquet at our refectory shortly followed afterwards.

The day did not end , not until after the community witnessed a celebration of talents that converged in an evening recreation of monks with Dom Francis and his guests.

The following photos are just but few of the numerous ones taken during the Profession ceremonies and the evening recreation and party.

They crossed the high seas for their beloved Dom Marcus

Today is the first Friday of the month and is therefore our monastic desert day- a day of greater silence and solitude for the monastic community and our guests. In silence, it is very good to reminisce the significant days filled with significance. One was the monastic profession and solemn consecration of Dom Marcus last May 31st.

It was very evident that Dom Marcus has merited the love of his family and friends as shown by their coming over to the monastery on the day of his Solemn monastic profession last May 31st.

Dom Marcus' Parents came all the way from Quezon City Philippines and had to travel for sixteen hours by plane just to show their love for their beloved 'Samuel'.

The siblings of Le family in Houston, Texas drove themselves for several hours from Texas to New Mexico just to be able to witness the profession of their buddy and friend, Dom Marcus. Filipinos from Albuquerque and Espanola cities woke up very early to trek the heights of the canyons to the monastery just to be able to catch up with the ten o'clock Am profession ceremonies of Dom Marcus.

Other guests and friends from other parts of the country came over to witness the ceremonies and share the blessings of the profession of Dom Marcus Santiago, OSB.

Fr Mauricio, CMF of the Claretians in Zamboanga City Philippines had to struggle for permission from his community superior just to be able to fly to the USA and be with his former housemate 'Samuel' and beloved friend on the occasion of his monastic profession.


Dom Marcus' parents, Ret, Judge Pedro Santiago and Mrs. Rose Santiago had all the reasons to be with their 'Samuel' in his Solemn monastic profession.


friends from Espanola city, Oblate brother Thomas Aquinas, OSB with the couple Amy and Dani Flores - originally from Baguio City Philippines - took this rare chance to witness this monastic solemn profession of their friend and compatriot Dom Marcus, OSB


Two of the members of the Franciscans of the Renewal whose community resides in the busy downtown of Albuquerque City NM, came over to share the blessings of Dom Marcus' profession and consecration


Deacon Bro. Aaron Brunner, OSB- a monk of Maria Einseideln Archabbey in Switzerland, my schoolmate in Saint Meinrad Seminary - came over with his cousin Favian and a childhood friend from Switzerland, Raphael, to witness the Solemn monastic profession of Dom Marcus,OSB


Brian despite his sustaining arm injury from an accident and his son Shade were driven by their family driver all the way from Texas to New Mexico just to be with their beloved friend and buddy, Blessed Dom Marcus


The postmaster of Abiquiu Post office, Carol came with her husband to witness the profession of Dom Marcus,OSB


the dentist of the monastery, Dr Roxanne Collins, DMD came over to be able to witness the mystical profession and consecration of Dom Marcus, OSB


Isabel, Dom Marcus Pinay friend from Los Angeles stayed days before and after his profession just to be able to share this momentous event in his life.


OFW Filipino teachers from Espanola city who, for the first time in their lives, had witnessed the profession and consecration of Dom Marcus, were awed from the solemn ambience of the celebrations


Jojo and his fiancee, who live in Espanola, came over as well, to bring cheers to Dom Marcus on the occasion of his profession and consecration


The Le brothers from Houston Texas, did not only join as witnesses of Dom Marcus professing his Solemn Vows but also took turns in helping the Vietnamese monk Dom John Baptist in cooking for the banquet that followed shortly after the two-hour celebrations Viet, the eldest from the five siblings doing the slicing of the fried chicken that was served at the banquet


Peter, the youngest from the five brothers, helped his eldest brother at the kitchen


the Le brothers and me on a souvenir pose L to R: Francois Viet, Peter Quoc, me, Michael Anh, Antoine Nam and Agustine Khoi

Dom Marcus and Dom Anton profess their Solemn monastic vows...

It's been four days since I last posted my update and now I am feeling guilty for such failure to post my updates. I am sorry about that my friends. Please accept my apologies.

Just to give you a recap of what occured to me for these past few days of silence from the net, let me glady tell you that last May 31st, on the celebration of Pentecost Sunday, two monks from my community professed their Solemn monastic vows and the consecration of these monks on that day marked the beginning of their perpetual monastic journey to our community. Let's give Dom Marcus, OSB and Dom Anton, OSB a big hand for having persevered from their monastic journeys to holiness.

Likewise, the occasion of their profession brought me back to a reconnection with some old friends whom I have not seen for a least ten months as I was away from the monastery for my seminary studies at St Meinrad seminary in Indiana. Some of these friends are long time friends who have witnessed my monastic travails since year 2002 when I entered the community as postulant. It is good to reconnect with friends and once again to have an exchange of pleasantries and bonding with them.

Tons of photos were taken during the profession ceremonies and banquet, and these photos below are just but a handful of them.....

the profession of monastic vows

the mystical burial

the prostration and consecration

just one of the souvenir poses after the rites of profession and Eucharistic celebration

monastery update: Dom John Baptist professed his Simple Vows

Dom John Baptist Chinh, a Vietnamese novice of my community professed his SIMPLE Vows last February 2nd. It is always our delight to receive new brothers in our community as it is a blessing for both the monk professed and the good of the whole community. But he will hurdle three years of being in SIMPLE vows before he gets professed with his PERPETUAL vows. To my confrere Dom John Baptist: "Congratulations and persevere!"

Photos were sent to me by dom John Baptist. (thanks to you my friend and confrere).

"Do not grant newcomers to the monastic life an easy entry, but, as the Apostle says, Test the spirits to see if they are from God (1 John 4:1)".

John Dat & Dominic Dat take Solemn Vows, Peter Khoa transfers his Vows...the Ceremonies!

Yesterday was a BIG day for three Vietnamese monk-brothers of my community. Dom John Dat and Dom Dominic Dat took their Profession of Solemn Vows. Likewise, Dom peter Khoa transfered his Solemn Vows from his former community in Vietnam to my community at Christ in The Desert Monastery.

The one hour-and-a-half Solemn Consecration ceremony of the three monks highlighted the celebration of the Holy Eucharist which was presided by the Abbot Superior Rt. Rev. Abbot Philip Lawrence, OSB and was assisted by me as his Master of Ceremonies.

The one-and-a-half hour ceremony was followed shortly by a reception banquet for the guests, the monks of my community and the nuns of our neighboring community for women, at the refectory in Phase three.


Images of the Ceremonies at the Abbey Church


The Liturgy of the Word


the Abbot's Homily


the presentation of the candidates and proclamation of the Profession


the ceremonial 'burial of the 'old selves' of the candidates for Consecration and the congregation's laying of hands


the consecrated black cowls


The clothing of the consecrated black cowls to the two candidatesDom John Dat receiving his black cowl


Dom Dominc Dat receiving his black cowl


the heartwarming chanting of the 'Suscipe Me Domine'...


the joyous reception of the newly professed monks to the community


the final blessing of the Abbot to the newly professed monks


the Liturgy of the Eucharist resumed after the lengthy Profession ceremonies

John Dat & Dominic Dat take Solemn Vows, Peter Khoa transfers his Vows...the banquet!

A Buffet banquet was held at the refectory in honor of the three Vietnamese monk brothers who professed their Solemn Vows in the ceremony that was held at the Abbey Church of our monastery this at 10:30Am.

The banquet, as it was a buffet, gave the monks, guests, and nuns a chance to mix themselves together as they enjoyed the food that was cooked and prepared by the Vietnamese nuns of our neighboring community of the Benedictine Nuns of Our lady of The Desert, just a mile away from the monks' compound. It also gave them all a chance to TALK while at table as the banquet was declared by the Abbot as a TALKING MEAL.

The images of the Banquet.

The newly Professed Vietnamese monksDom John Dat (38 years old) with yours truly(52 years old)



Dom Dominic Dat (32 years old) with yours truly

Dom Peter Khoa(37 years old) with yours truly

The foods served at the Banquet table

















The monks, nuns, and guests partake the foods at the banquet table





While at the refectory, monks and nuns with guests enjoyed the food and the 'talking-meal chance' of their lifetime, LOL...





and the Sub-prior, Fr Christian (white American) together with Fr. Romualdo(Korean) and brother Anselmo(Mexican), took initiative to open the red and white wines for the banquet

Dom John Dat's guests of honor, Calvin and Liza, a couple from Colorado Springs who graced the occasion of his ProfessionCalvin

Liza