... from the Abbot's office
June 9, 2003
Yesterday two new observers entered the community that makes four in the last few weeks. Three are here now to add numbers to our choir. Another finished just a week or so ago and should be coming back in a few weeks, hopefully to stay for life. Noell is one of the new ones. He is 30 years old and had spent some years with an active Order in Luzon but it seems he is called to a more monastic style. He certainly is convinced in his own mind that this is where the Lord is calling him. May they all persevere!The monsoon season has revealed that there are still leaks in the church roof so we have a crew attempting to repair the defective joints, which swell due to the very hot weather and thus crack the bonds. The shape of the roof presents a challenge to engineers and architects due to the numbers of angles as can be seen from the attached photo.
Work on the new water reservoir for the Food Manufacturing building is now proceeding with notable speed since we have had a few days without the heavy monsoon rains. The technicians are now fitting the pipes that are to carry steam to the various machines. We are trying to have the machinery shipped at the earliest possible date from Manila. In a few days the electricity should begin to be installed, including the transformers. Cleaning up the grounds in preparation for landscaping has begun. I hope things come together within the next 3 or 4 weeks.
I received word from Ava Monastery in Missouri that my successor, Fr. Alberic, will arrive in Iloilo on June 28th. That allows for some six weeks of preparation here for him to enter into office on August 15, during which time I hope to give some information and instruction.
Tomorrow I leave for Sujong, Korea where I am to represent the Asian-Pacific Region as a consultant to a seminar for novice masters and others engaged in formation programs. Fr. Gerard who is master of the junior Professed here will attend as a participant, but leaves only a couple days later. I shall be giving talks to the Korean sisters prior to and during the meeting so will travel there alone. It is nearly 10 years since I was last in Korea. It will be interesting to be there again. The monastery of Sisters is located at a village built on a bay of the sea on the southern coast of Korea. They were founded by the Japanese Trappistines from Hikkaido in Northern Japan. At present all but one or two sisters are Korean
Abbot John Eudes Bamberger