On Sunday, December 27, 2015, the Solemnity of the Holy Family, two novices, Brother Bonaventure and Brother Faustino, of the Monastery of Christ in the Desert made their first monastic profession of simple vows, renewed each year and normally lasting for a period of three years, before making solemn profession. During those three years, the Juniors, as they are called, study a wide range of topics, including monastic and Church history, liturgy, philosophy and theology. During this time they live more fully their monastic vocation within the community of Christ in the Desert in obedience to the abbot while embracing stability and conversion of life.
Our Brother Bonaventure (Thang Van Nguyen) was born and raised in Bac Giang, Vietnam. He studied theology and religion in college and then came to the monastery in 2014 to begin his postulancy, when he was given the monastic name, Bonaventure. When asked why he was making simple vows, he said that it would help him to be a better monk because, “I want to follow Jesus in everything I do, in my work and my prayer, in my whole life.”
Our Brother Faustino (Denver Torres) was born and raised in Durango, Colorado. After graduating from high school, he came to the monastery in 2014 to begin his postulancy, when he was given the monastic name, Faustino. When asked why he was making simple vows, he said he became a monk to seek God and making vows “would help me convert my life so that I become more holy. I truly want to be with God as one of his saints.”
At the liturgy of profession during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Abbot Philip Lawrence, OSB, noted how appropriate it was that these two brothers were making simple vows on the same day that the Church celebrates the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, since these young monks were becoming ever more fully members of the monastic family which resides at the Monastery in answer to God’s call and in commitment to a monastic life lived for the people of our world.