On Monday, June 11, 2012, eight young men completed their time in the novitiate and professed simple vows of obedience, poverty and chastity. It was a special joy to the friars of the two provinces to witness these men as they began to live as professed religious in the Order of Carmel.

Five of the men are from the Saint Elias Province: Joseph Chuong Hoang Pham, John Baptist Tinh Trong Pham, Joseph Dat Duc Cao, Nicholas Blackwell and Dominic Joseph Huynh Van Dinh. They were joined by three from the Most Pure Heart of Mary Province: James Kinkade, Edgar Varela and Matthew Gummess. At a Mass well- attended by fellow Carmelites and their families, each went before his Provincial, placed his hands in the Provincial’s hands, and publically professed their vows for a period of three years.