2025 Entrances, Vows, and Ordinations

[Luigi]

The Dominican Friars of the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus (western province) cordially invite you to the First Profession of

Br. Joseph Sadoc Lee
Br. Serafin Guadalupe Malfabon
Br. David Nadeau
Br. Pius Carlo Enclona
Br. Dominic Mary Beaupre
Br. Jude Angelico DuCharme
Br. Mark Joseph Soto

into the hands of The Very Reverend Christopher Fadok, O.P., Prior Provincial

Saturday, August 30, 2025 at 10:30 a.m.
St. Dominic's Catholic Church
2390 Bush Street
San Francisco, California

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From the Dominican friars of the Province of St. Albert the Great (central US)

SIMPLE PROFESSION, Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. CST
St. Dominic Parish
3005 West 29th Avenue
Denver, CO 80211

Each of these young men discerned, with the help of the prior provincial, to continue their studies in the Dominican Order. Now they will begin their formal graduate studies at Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri with the rest of the brothers in formation. If you are able, please join us in Denver!

Brothers listed from left to right: Br. Thomas Goble, Br. Lukas Wiedman, Br. Joshua Heinricksen, and Br. Basil Stewart

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From the Dominican friars of the Province of St. Martin de Porres (southern US)

The Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Martin de Porres joyfully announce the Simple Profession of their Brothers

Br. Joseph Diogo Palhano Gonçalves

Br. Louis-Marie Lim

Br. Simon Ferrer Vettikunnel

Br. Paul Marie Porter

Br. Matthias DeCuir

Mass of Profession
Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 11:00 A.M.
University of Dallas
Church of the Incarnation
1845 East Northgate Drive  •  Irving, Texas 75062

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All three provinces receive novices in the last week of July or so; they are clothed in the habit and begin their novitiate usually on the feast of St. Dominic (August 8). So announcements about novices should come out in a couple of weeks. 

Edited July 13, 2025 by Luigi

[Luigi]

From St. Bernard Abbey (Benedictine monks) in Cullman, AL: 

Back on March 21, three postulants were clothed as novices - brothers Anthony, Damien, and Raphael. 

2025 Novices - St. Bernard Abbey

[Luigi]

From the Dominican friars of the Central U.S. Province (St. Albert the Great): Central Province Dominicans - 2025 Novice Class

Six novices are entering this year. They had five in 2024 (four are making first vows), seven in 2023, two in 2022, two in 2021, five in 2020, and one each in 2019, 2018, and 2017. So it seems that - on average - the number of men entering has been increasing slightly over the last decade or so. Ain't that good news?!

[Luigi]

From the Passionist nuns' monastery in Ellisville, MO (a suburb of St. Louis): 

 

"Praised be Jesus Christ! It's been about a month since our last newsletter post. A lot of pictures to enjoy! The main news was our Aspirant Basia Budz ' entrance on June 20, 2025 (Corpus Christi weekend! ) She is doing very well!"

Pictures and additional information on their FB page: https://www.facebook.com/Passionistsofellisville

[Luigi]

From the Dominican friars of the eastern U.S. province (St. Joseph): Nine Dominican Novices Make First Vows 

[KaytePost]

The Sisters of Life had 3 perpetual professions on August 6th!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DNBgNiVvX11/

Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament had two first profession of vows on August 2. 

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1akQpWUTHL/

[KaytePost]

Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus has two first professions last week. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMtjPvmvtyC/?img_index=1

[Luigi]

This is from Assumption Abbey's (Benedictine monks in North Dakota) FB page. I'm a little bit late. This is from July 19th. 

"Assumption Abbey

Last week on the Feast of St. Benedict, our Br. Leo made his first vows as a Benedictine monk in the midst of the community of Assumption Abbey and his family. A wonderful day for all! He was formerly known as Novice Corbin. May your weekend be filled with blessings."

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And this is from Saint Martin's Abbey (Benedictine monks in the state of Washington), also a little late - from July 29th. 

"Saint Martin's Abbey

Our hearts are full of joy as we have received the perpetual vows of Br. Pachomius Hamor, O.S.B., last Friday, on the Feast of St. Benedict. Now a solemnly professed capitular member of Saint Martin's Abbey, Br. Pachomius entered the community as a guest and postulant during March of 2020 after a long journey following God's will. We are overjoyed to have a new member in our ministry and in our contemplative vocation. Please join us in congratulating Br. Pachomius!"

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From Mount Angel Abbey in (Benedictine monks in Oregon) - also late - June 30th  (a recurring theme in my work...)

"Mount Angel Abbey & Seminary

We give thanks to almighty God for the newest priest in our monastic community, Father Anselm Flores, OSB, who was ordained a priest of Jesus Christ on Saturday, June 28th.

We express our deepest gratitude to Archbishop Alexander K. Sample, of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, for celebrating the Mass of Ordination and for raising Father Anselm to the Order of the Priesthood.

We also thank Father Anselm’s family and friends, whose love, prayers, and support brought him to this day.

Please pray for Father Anselm as he begins his priestly ministry among his brother monks and in the larger community. May he bring Christ’s presence to all through the celebration of the Sacraments, the preaching of God’s Word, and the practice of pastoral charity."

Edited August 8, 2025 by Luigi

[Luigi]

From Saint Anselm Abbey (Benedictine monks) in New Hampshire, from June the Two-th. This past March, the previous postulant entered the novitiate, so they have at least two men in formation. They've received a lot of vocations in the last 12 or 15 years. 

"Saint Anselm Abbey

On Monday June 2, Mr. Noah Manuel was received into our community as a postulant by Abbot Isaac Murphy, O.S.B. Noah is a member of the Saint Anselm College Class of 2023. Noah is a native of Newport, Rhode Island.

Please pray for Noah as he begins his monastic life with us.

Please also pray that our community will continue to be blessed with vocations."

[Luigi]

From St. Gregory's Abbey (Benedictine monks) in Oklahoma, from July 29th: 

 

"St. Gregory's Abbey, Shawnee, Oklahoma

Renovation is underway of the convent building on the Abbey grounds. It will become the discernment house for those young men considering the consecrated life. Work is currently being completed by the three abbey postulants and Abbey staff member Manny Sauviller."

If you know any prayers, say 'em now for these guys - this monastery is holding on, and they've had a few vocations in the last ten years, but they could really use an infusion of monks.

 

[Luigi]

Five men entered the Dominican province of St. Martin De Porres (U.S.A. southern province) as novices on August 11th.  2025 Novices - Dominicans, USA Southern Province.

So the Southern Dominicans have five novices and the Central province Dominicans have six. The provinces have separate novitiates, but those who go on to make vows then move to the Central province's studium in St. Louis. They live in St. Dominic's priory and study at the Aquinas Institute.

St. Dominic's priory used to be a Catholic girls' high school. It closed and sat empty for a number of years, but then eight congregations of women religious converted it into a women & children's shelter. When government funding for that ended, it sat empty again for some years, until the Dominicans bought it and rehabbed it into their studium. It has fifty rooms for students and senior friars. Since the two provinces share the one studium, the house is close to full this year ('25-'26) - 40 students, plus six or eight senior friars; it should be even closer to full next year - maybe 45 or 48 students. I guess the senior friars will have to sleep in the linen closets or something! 

And it's good to know that Aquinas Institute will have a good base of student friars for the next several years. They also admit lay students and have a wide range of degrees and graduate certificates, but I think the student friars form the core or the foundation of the student body. 

[Luigi]

The Dominican friars of the eastern province (St. Joseph) received 9 novices on July 22, the feast of St. Mary Magdalen. 2025 OP Eastern Province Novices

[Luigi]

Jesuits of the US Central & Southern province had five men make first vows this year, on August 9th.  2025 Central & South SJs, First Vows Class

I'm start to scout around for the other provinces, too. 

[Luigi]

From Saint Bernard Abbey (Benedictine monks) in Alabama, Facebook, 8-18-25: 

"Congratulations to Brother Augustine Munkachy for his solemn profession of monastic vows on Friday, August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary! Many thanks to Joshua Viola for his artistry in documenting this blessed event with stunning photographs."

Photos - Final Vows - Br. Augustine Munkachy

[Luigi]

Clothing Ceremony

June 26, 2025

The Habit and New Name

On Holy Trinity Sunday, June 15, 2025, our two postulants Renee Kendall and Angelica Dizon received the habit of the Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and their new names and titles. Renee is now Sister Beatrice Yona of the Holy Word of God and Angelica is Sister Karith Michael of the Sorrowful Mother. They are now novices and official members of our Carmelite community in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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Their web site says: "We are a community of 14 at present, including one sister information for the extern vocation. "  I think was before these two novices entered, so they might be a community of at now. 

[Luigi]

From the Facebook page of the Newark Abbey (Benedictine monks). No one has joined there this year (that I've read about), but the Franciscan friars of the Renewal had six men make first vows. There's an interesting story that goes with it. 

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Newark Abbey - Benedictine Monks

August 2 at 1:51 p.m.

Traditions revived! Br. Bruno visited The Community of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal this morning to celebrate six friars professing first vows. After Mass, the friars presented him with a basket of fish, making a playful nod to a centuries-old ecclesiastical tradition.

Since the time of St. Francis, Franciscans in Assisi have paid an annual rent of a basket of fish to the local Benedictine community for the use of the Portiuncula, a chapel beloved by St. Francis and devoted to Our Lady of the Angels. Today’s good-natured exchange between the two Newark communities shows that the spirit of fraternal support and accompaniment is alive and well in the Church today.

Please pray for the monks of Newark Abbey, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, and all religious communities who serve the Church and the poor here in the city of Newark. Our Lady of Angels, pray for us!

[Luigi]

On 8/13/2025 at 10:02 AM, Luigi said:

The Dominican friars of the eastern province (St. Joseph) received 9 novices on July 22, the feast of St. Mary Magdalen. 2025 OP Eastern Province Novices

Actually, it was 10, according to today's FB post. 

[Luigi]

From the Handmaids of the Precious Blood in Tennessee: 

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Handmaids of the Precious Blood

8-25-25

We would tell you the name of our next Novice, but we don't know it yet. Well, at least it is known between Rev. Mother and the Holy Spirit, but remains a well guarded secret for the rest of the Handmaids. Postulant Sarah's parents will be able to join us for her clothing day and we ask for prayers for their safe travel from Kansas, while Sarah enjoys a short retreat just prior to investiture.

[Luigi]

A recent novice at Saint Joseph Trappist Abbey in Massachusetts. https://spencerabbey.org/monks/brother-justin/

These are the brothers currently in formation at the abbey: https://spencerabbey.org/in-formation/

[Nunsuch]

According to their Facebook page, the Nashville Dominicans have 21(!) new postulants.