January 12,
2021
Responding
to God's Call
This past Saturday,
January 9, was a day of great celebration for our
community. Brother Nicholas (formerly Scott)
Hejka of Royal Oak, Michigan made his First Profession
of vows during a solemn Eucharistic Liturgy which
began at 3:00 p.m. Present to witness the event
was our Prior Fr. Damien Gjonaj, our monastic
community and members of Br. Nicholas’ family.
The
First Profession of vows follows a yearlong period of
novitiate during which time the novice is trained in
the spirit of the Rule of St. Benedict and the
particular customs of our monastery. He also
learns and begins to practice the spiritual
disciplines through which monks seek God in prayer,
work and community life. Br. Nicholas’
Profession is an expression of his intention to
persevere in his monastic calling and to grow in the
gospel values (“evangelical counsels”) of poverty,
chastity and obedience as well as the monastic vows of
stability and conversion. He may renew these
vows annually for three to six years as he prepares
for solemn Monastic Consecration.
Please pray for Br. Nicholas
as he enters this new phase of formation in monastic
life. He has brought many gifts to our community
and we look forward to his continued developing his
charisms and deepening of his monastic spirit.
May the Lord always be his guide and support!
For the previous news story,
click here.