banquet galore....

@2:30PM USA Time, Saturday, April 12th, 2008, Dom says: WE just finished with the Buffet banquet in honor of three Vietnamese monks who professed their Solemn Vows in the ceremony that was held and was conducted at the Abbey Church of our monastery this morning at 10:30Am.

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

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

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 us all a chance to TALK while at table as the banquet was declared by the Abbot as a TALKING MEAL.

The following pictures were taken by no other than yours truly while the Banquet went on.

Pictures and images of the Profession Ceremonies of the three Vietnamese monks inside the Abbey Church will be posted on my next update as they will still be handed to me by brother Cecilien-the Madagascar monk who had the access to the whole Profession ceremonies with his digital camera.

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

Images of the Profession Ceremony at the Abbey Church will follow shortly.