the monks of Christ in the Desert Monastery

So, once and for all, let me introduce you  to the monks  of my Community who were gathered on the occasion of Priestly Ordination of Dom Andrew on  July 7, 2007, who, as of this writing is not offfcially a member of the Community anymore.






These were candid shots of the monks while goin to their places for the final shot....
Front Row Kneeling Position, from Left to Right: Dom Pierre Koa-Vietnamese transferee, Dom Dominic Dat-Vietnamese transferee, Dom Lawrence-Filipino Senior monk who came in year 2002, Dom paul Lavanng-Vietnamese Senior monk, Dom John dat- Vietnamese aspirant, Dom Andre-American and the current Sub-prior and guestmaster, Dom Patricio- Mexican Junior monk transferee from our dependent house in Mexico: Sta Maria Y Todos Los Santos monastery, Dom Dominic Nguyen-Vietnamese Senior monk priest and Canon lawyer, Dom Caedmon(head partly hidden)-Filipino Senior monk who transfered his Vows from San Beda Monastery Manila Phils. in year 2003, Dom Anton(looking at the back)-Vietnamese junior monk, Dom Romualdo(also looking at the back)-Korean monk priest aspirant, and Postulant John Paul-American, the newest to join in the community.

Middle Row, Seated from Left to Right:
Dom Xavier-American, our hermit, Dom Ignatius (Black American) Sub-prior of Holy Cross Monastery in Chicago, one of our community's dependent houses, Dom Rt Rev Abbot Philip-American, our superior, Dom Andrew-Vietnamese Senior monk who was just recently ordained a priest, Dom Prior Administrator Joseph Gabriel-American(face slightly tilted as he was probably talking to dom andrew who was seated at his right) of St Benedict's monastery- our former community member who was appointed by the Subiaco Congregation Abbot President Bruno to be the superior of that monastery in Polokwane South Africa.

Standing at the back, from Left to Right:
Dom Gervais(wearing white habit) of Togo Monastery Africa who took time to witness the ordination of his school mate dom andrew, Dom Prior Christian, American Senior monk priest and our Cellarer too, Dom John-American Junior monk transferee from Holy Cross monastery Chicago and our current accountant, Dom Jerome-Korean Junior monk aspirant, Dom Rodrigo-Mexican Senior monk, Dom Benedicto-Mexican Junior monk transferee from Sta Maria Y todos Los santos monastery-one of our dependent houses, Dom Sipho-South African Senior monk priest aspirant from St Benedict's Monastery Polokwane South Africa, Dom Mayeul- Vietnamese monk priest transferee, Dom Odon-Vietnamese monk priest transferee (both came to CID in the same month of the same year), Dom John Vinanney- Vietnamese Diocesan priest aspirant, Dom Hugo- Pampangueno Senior monk who came from Monastery of Transfiguration, Malaybalay Bukidnon Phils in year 1993, and Dom Cecilien- from Madagascar, junior monk of their monastery for 7 years and who is now our aspirant.

Those who were not in the candid photos were Dom Luis-Filipino senior monk priest from Cagayan de Oro Phils. who was  in Polokwane monastery (South Africa) helping out in the formation of monks there; Dom Bernard-American Senior monk priest, who for some unknown reasons was not at the candid photos ....however, he made it in the final shots -he is standing between Dom John Vianney and Dom Francois- Black African senior monk from Togo monastery East Africa), (wearing white habit) who also witnessed the ordination of his former classmate in St Meinrad, and for some unknown reasons too, he was not at the candid shots but finally showed up and made it at the final shots (he stands beside dom bernard and the last)....


Below are the final shots taken with everybody's eyes on the shutter...notice one monk standing at the back who purposely hid himself from the viewfinder...he is Dom Hugo- from Lubao Pampanga. currently taking his 2nd year of Philosophy in Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon.(he told  me a long time ago that he's allergic to camera flash, but for all he knew it even before he hid himself- candid shots were already taken showing him, LOL!)