The Benedictine monks of Saint Gregory’s Abbey welcomed a new member to their community on Sept. 14, the Feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross. Brother John Michael (Ford) Nguyen, O.S.B., made his profession of temporary vows as a monk of Saint Gregory’s Abbey.
Rt. Rev. Lawrence Stasyszen, O.S.B., abbot of Saint Gregory’s, said, “We as a community are grateful to God for leading Brother John Michael to this important day in his life, in the life of our monastery and in the lives of those whom we serve. We are enriched by Brother John Michael’s sincere desire to become more closely united to Jesus Christ and the Church. We also are enriched by the great Vietnamese heritage of faith and culture that he brings to the monastery.”
Brother John Michael was born in Biên Hòa, Vietnam, and immigrated to the United States with his parents at age 5. He is the son of Hao Nguyen and Ngan Le. His family settled in Oklahoma City and became members of Saint Andrew Dung-Lac Catholic Church.
After high school, Ford earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at the University of Oklahoma.
At the recommendation of his pastor, Father Gregory Nguyen, Nguyen attended a “Come and See Weekend” at Saint Gregory’s Abbey in 2019. During the visit, he said something resonated with what he was seeking in life. Eventually, he applied for admission and entered the novitiate on Sept. 13, 2020. During the year-long novitiate, he experienced the life first-hand and participated in courses in the teachings of the Church, Sacred Scripture, liturgy, spirituality, human development, the Rule of Saint Benedict and the history of the abbey.
On Sept. 14, he professed the Benedictine vows of obedience, stability and conversion of life. Even though the vows are valid for only three years, he is a Benedictine monk and will receive work assignments within the monastery as well as continue in a period of initial formation. At the end of three years, Brother John Michael will be able to apply for a lifelong commitment through solemn vows.
Br. John Michael Nguyen was invested by Abbot Lawrence Stasyszen, O.S.B., as a new monk of St. Gregory’s Abbey on Sept. 14 in Shawnee. Fr. Boniface Copelin, O.S.B., and Br. Benet Exton, O.S.B., assisted.
Photo Theresa Bragg.