weekend snapshot #17

As what the author says, ....Everybody loves weekend, it is the time for leisure, recreation and other religious activities. And when everyone is having a grand time, you want to capture it and share it with others.
That’s why a special Weekend Snapshot is here for you.

Southern California Wildfires

Quote: "In October 2007, over a dozen wildfires across Southern California, United States forced the evacuation of thousands of residents. This evacuation comes almost four years to the day after the Cedar Fire of 2003.
At least one person has been reported dead.
Fires burned in Malibu , Lake Arrowhead , Irvine , San Diego , and many other places. California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles , Orange , Poway, Riverside , San Bernardino , San Diego , Santa Barbara , and Ventura counties as a result.
This is the worst case of wildfires Southern California has ever had."Unquote.
Pray for all the people who have lost their homes.

On the eve of New Year 2008, please be very careful and be cautious with using firecrackers and anything that has something to do with fire...an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!...Happy New Year to all of you dear friends!!!!! =...prayers for you from your very own Dom Lawrence, OSB!

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Weekend Snapshots #16

Another long(est) day for me and Dom Marcus
As what the author says, ....Everybody loves weekend, it is the time for leisure, recreation and other religious activities. And when everyone is having a grand time, you want to capture it and share it with others.That’s why Weekend Snapshot is here for you.

Yesterday was the day that me and Dom Marcus were to buy the ingredients that we will use for cooking on the Solemnity of the birth of Jesus Christ: December 25th. We left the monastery at 8:00Am. Listen to my story…

According to our community’s Customary, Solemnity cooks are supposed to take charge of grocery shopping for whatever food they will prepare for the Solemnity’s buffet banquet.
So, yesterday was the day we scheduled shopping for the ingredients. We planned to bake five medium sized turkeys for the monks, for our neighboring nuns ( who usually join the monks in Solemnity banquets), and for our guests (who usually arrive in the eve of Christmas: Dec. 24th). We needed to complement the baked turkeys (as main dish) with fish escabeche for the Asian monks (mind you, as of this writing, the Whites have been outnumbered by the Asians in our community).
Dom Marcus will prepare ‘pansit guisado’, leche flan, crema de fruita, and special vegetable salad while I will take care of baking the turkeys with stuffings, brown gravy and cranberry sauce. I will sautee beans and steam jasmine rice. The banquet table presentation will be taken cared of Dom Marcus while the white and red wines, assorted beer in cans and assorted softdrinks in can will be chilled by me in two huge coolers.

The day for our shopping could have been just as simple and as fast as an ordinary Wednesday grocery shopping wherein the monk-shopper shops solely for groceries and is not asked to do other tasks like errands and drop-offs besides the main purpose of his town trip, and so gets back at the monastery around 7:30Pm. But because the day was supposed to be the day when the candidate of our community Jose Rodriguez, (whose week-long retreat and observation ended up yesterday),left the monastery, Prior Christian asked us to accommodate him and drop him off at the Franciscans of the Renewal community in Albuquerque.
Jose stayed overnight with the Franciscans and took off via United Airlines this morning for Chicago where his family lives.
On the other hand, the blood brother of our Abbot, George Lawrence, was supposed to check-in at Fairfield Marriot hotel in Albuquerque (nearby the airport terminal) at 3:00PM yesterday and stayed overnight for his 7:30Am flight this morning for Seattle.
It took us long to do all these drop offs, and so at the end: Dom Marcus and I were able to start with our shopping at exactly 4:20PM and onwards. We finally arrived the monastery at 12:05 Midnight! Very tired and sleepy, but accomplished, fulfilled and edified.

The 13 1/2 miles dirt road to civilization. Marcus offered to drive us all down the road.

Mr. George Lawrence, the Abbot's brother whom we dropped off at Fairfield Marriot Hotel in Albuquerque at 3:00Pm.

Jose Rodriguez, our vocation candidate whom we dropped off to the community of the Franciscans of the Renewal in Albuquerque an hour before we dropped George to the hotel.

First stop-over along the highway to Espayola: Georger requested for a short drop at Maya cafe in El Rito interesection for a cup of cappuccino.

On the way to the slippery snowy Espanyola road.

Second stop-over at a gas filling station in Espanyola.

Third stop-over: early lunch (around 11:30Am) at Sta Fe's famous The Pantry Restaurant as per request of George.

Fourth stop-over: We dropped-off Jose, the vocation candidate at the Franciscan's community in Albuquerque's Central District.

Fifth stop-over at Albuquerque international airport: Jeorge requested to drop-by at the airport before checking-in at his hotel to confirm his electronic ticket at Southwest airlines but failed to do so because of a long line of passenger lining up for their weekend going-home-to-their-families Christmas flights.

Sixth stop-over and the last one: After so many hours of driving and stopping by, we finally dropped George to his hotel nearby the airport terminal at exactly 3:20Pm.

Finally, the actual shopping began at 4:20Pm.
First station was at Talin Asian store in Lousiana, Albuquerque. I failed to buy fresh fish for my escabeche becuase there was no one left at the display!... (I resorted to buy tilapia fish fillets at Sam's Club instead). Note: Taking photos inside the Asian store was not allowed!

Second station was at Sam's club back in Sta Fe where most of our ingredients were bought.

Third station was at Trader Joe's in Sta Fe where we picked some good tasting Porto wines for the banquet on the 25th.

Dom Marcus was rushingly looking for Porto wines from the bunch of displayed wines at the shelves.

The last station was at Wal-mart back in Espanyola where remaining items, where we failed to get at Sta Fe Sam's club, were picked up.

The car filled with items for our Christmas cooking from the major ingredients down to the least items.

Going back home at 10:30Pm.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzz ngooorrrrrrrrrkkkkk zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.Finally reached the monastery panty parking area to unload our grocery stuffs at 12:10Am... Indeed another long(est) day spent outside the monastery...

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Weekened Snapshot #15

As what the author says, ....Everybody loves weekend, it is the time for leisure, recreation and other religious activities. And when everyone is having a grand time, you want to capture it and share it with others.That’s why Weekend Snapshot is here for you.

Yesterday, I went out to attend the 2007 Christmas party sponsored by the Filipino-American Foundation of New Mexico which was held at the School Arts Building of Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque in which I was invited to give the blessing and invocation prayer.

On my way to Albuquerque, I passed by the Country Farm Supply store in Espanyola which is owned by a good friend of the monastery, Mr. Richard Lucero, to pick up the gift package sent to me by my dearest one Rebeccca but unfortunately, it has not arrived yet in the store at the time I dropped by to claim it.

Anyways, I found Jorge the son of Mr Lucero very apologetic even if he was not supposed to be, and I was so grateful when he promised he will call me once the package arrives and will monitor its arrival, too, so he can ask someone from the monastery who usually drops by their store on his way back to pick it up for me.

This is one thing that he does not usually do whenever FEDEX packages for the monastery are delivered to their store. This drove me to take snapshots of him as my way of saying, "thank you Jorge for your concern and kindness"...

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Weekend Snapshot #14

As what the author says, ....Everybody loves weekend, it is the time for leisure, recreation and other religious activities. And when everyone is having a grand time, you want to capture it and share it with others.That’s why Weekend Snapshot is here for you.

Las Vegas Nevada has always been festive, whether in ordinary days and in holidays, that's why my friend Carlo from Espanyola never gets tired of going back to this place especially when he needs to unwind...














Happy weekend to everyone...

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weekend snapshot #13

As what the author says, ....Everybody loves weekend, it is the time for leisure, recreation and other religious activities. And when everyone is having a grand time, you want to capture it and share it with others.

That’s why Weekend Snapshot is here for you.

Hotel Santa Fe is one of the tourist attractions in Santa Fe NM. It is owned by a native American Indian. People, mostly tourists, from different parts of USA come over and stay at this hotel for their weekend stayover at the city of enchantment. I got a chance to take snapshots of its lobby and entrance, during one of my Wednesday shoppings for my community.










Happy weekend to everyone..

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Weekend Snapshot #12

As what the author says, ....Everybody loves weekend, it is the time for leisure, recreation and other religious activities. And when everyone is having a grand time, you want to capture it and share it with others.That’s why Weekend Snapshot is here for you.

Images of my Wednesday shopping ( and stroll as well ) with no less than my Superior Sub-Prior Dom Andre...













Happy weekend to everyone...

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Weekend Snapshot #11...Christmas is in the air

As what the author says, ....Everybody loves weekend, it is the time for leisure, recreation and other religious activities. And when everyone is having a grand time, you want to capture it and share it with others.
That’s why Weekend Snapshot is here for you.

Last Wednesday of this week, I went out for some community errands that I needed to do with two other monks of my community, Dom Marcus, OSB (Filipino) and Dom Anton, OSB (Vietnamese). In the course of my mall hoppings, I realized how their atmosphere were filled with Christmas signs and symbols all over them....How time flies fast! now,Christmas is just around the corner.....















Bless you all and happy weekend to everyone...

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Weekend Snapshot #10...Our 2007 Annual Retreat ends today

As what the author says, ....Everybody loves weekend, it is the time for leisure, recreation and other religious activities. And when everyone is having a grand time, you want to capture it and share it with others.
That’s why Weekend Snapshot is here for you.

Today is the last day of our Nov 3-10 annual closed retreat and it's commenced by a closing talk from our retreat master, Abbot Cutberth, OSB of Farnborugh Abbey in England.

One of the highlights of the Mass that we celebrated in the morning was the renewal of our Vows ( monks and nuns with Simple and Solemn Vows ) and afterwards, the 8:30Am closing talk by our retreat master followed and was conducted at the Abbey Church of our monastery.

After the closing talk, pictorials followed and reception was held shortly at the refectory with doughnuts, coffees and teas with cream and sugars....and it was a 'talking' reception.

Images will show you in the following order: The closing Talk of Abbot Cutberth inside the Abbey Church...The pictorials of the participants, (oh by the way, please do not get scandalized when you see images of nuns with the monks, they are our neighbors a mile away from the monks' monastery, and they usually join the monks in their annual retreat. You can view and visit their website here)... and The reception at the refectory...

Note: You will also see images of other Religious figures in their gray and white habits. Oh yes,we always accomodate friends and brothers and sisters in faith who would want to join us in our week-long annual closed (silent) retreat. This year we, had with us Fr Scott (in gray habit), and two Benedictine novice-monks (in white habits) from Pecos Monastery, NM ,Novices Joseph and Thomas.
















There you go my friends, my weekend snapshot #10 for your eyes’ delight!

Happy weekend to everyone...

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weekend snapshot #9

as what the author says, ....Everybody loves weekend, it is the time for leisure, recreation and other religious activities. And when everyone is having a grand time, you want to capture it and share it with others.
That’s why Weekend Snapshot is here for you.

I have no town trip this week (thanks God) because today is the day my community has started with its annual closed retreat, so I thought of taking snapshots of the ins and outs of the monastery complex.

There you go my friends, my weekend snapshot #9 for your delight!

Happy weekend to everyone...

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weekend snapshot #8

as what the author says, ....Everybody loves weekend, it is the time for leisure, recreation and other religious activities. And when everyone is having a grand time, you want to capture it and share it with others.
That’s why Weekend Snapshot is here for you.

Today, I was out of the monastery from 7:45Am to 11:30Pm for lots of things.

First, I picked up store stocks and supplies from a Filipina friend in Albuquerque, then I dropped by Talin Asian store for supplies of groceries and afterwards, went back to Sta Fe to meet with the electrical engineer of the monastery for a dinner conference on matters that concern our electrical plant. He brought along with him his two sons and we had a 4:00Pm dine-in at Olive Garden restaurant in Cerillos, Sta Fe.

Lastly, I dropped by the residence of a Filipino friend in Espanyola for a short visit while waiting for Dom Marcus who had to pick up a Junior monk in Albuquerque airport who arrived at 7:30Pm from his Chicago home visit.

We, then, all headed back to the monastery at 9:00Pm.

We arrived home sweet home at 11:30Pm.

Well, it was a day spent with delight as it was another day of a whole -day road trip of running for errands and visits with friends.

So, there you go, images of my weekend snapshot #8.


Happy weekend to everyone...

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weekend snapshot #6

Weekend Snapshots #6: as what the author says, ....Everybody loves weekend, it is the time for leisure, recreation and other religious activities. And when everyone is having a grand time, you want to capture it and share it with others.
That’s why Weekend Snapshot is here for you.

For a contemplative monk like me, going out of the monastery happens once in a blue moon only and when it does, routine of works and life inside the monastery changes too.
Ordination and Professions of Vows are big proceedings in a monastery. More or less the images that you will see below will give you some ideas on how a religious community of monks conduct a ceremony in a diaconate ordination.

So folks, here they are, my weekend snapshot #6!...
-------------------->>the monk who's ordained a Deacon

-------------------->>the monks' choir in their recitation of Psalms before the start of the Eucharistic Celebration.



-------------------->>Schola led the congregation in their chant.

-------------------->>monks, young and old alike, sang together at the choir

-------------------->>an elderly monk struggling his way back to their cloister building adjacent to their Abbey church after the celebration.




Happy weekend to everyone...

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weekend snapshots # 4

as what the author says, ....Everybody loves weekend, it is the time for leisure, recreation and other religious activities. And when everyone is having a grand time, you want to capture it and share it with others. That’s why Weekend Snapshot is here for you.

and so, without so much ado, I present to you these images as my weekend snapshot #4…my world is just as vast, huge and as silent as the world of man...

at the end of the day, all retire in their own. all go to their bed of rest , their home for refuge...

after the main meal , around 1:55Pm, i was so delighted upon seeing this post on our white announcement board! it means that we will be sleeping tonight until 5:35Am of tomorrow morning- i am glad because that would mean a longer time for my rest and sleep...

and i am glad that i am back and that i can again show you my smile...


and because of that gladness, i could see and get to appreciate these little creatures around me as silent witnesses of my life's struggles and triumphs over the uncertainties of life (inside and outside)...

and so, i find relief from seeing my name still on my door, that means i am still the tenant of my room and no signs of eviction is taking place now or in the near future until after i have left for my seminary life in August of 2008.

i'm glad i can find pleasure from watching the clouds up the sky...because it means, snow is soon to come...and so, it means more moisture and humidity for us Asian monks who have not gotten used to dryness in where we live.

and i am glad that i can still see myself enjoying the bliss of a weekend even in its most trivial thing: a walk amidst an overcast of clouds up the sky.

Happy weekend to everyone...

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