Our October newsletter shares monastery news, hospitality updates, and reflections on service, with an invitation to the Saint James Institute fundraising dinner.
Our October 2026 newsletter looks back with gratitude on August and September at the monastery in DeLand, Florida. This issue brings together community celebrations, hospitality updates, and opportunities to serve, while thanking the friends, volunteers, and benefactors who sustain our life of prayer.
The celebration of St. Augustine brought together more than 100 guests, neighbors, and pilgrims, including groups from Philadelphia and Houston. Their presence renewed our sense of fraternity and our commitment to welcoming others in the spirit of St. Augustine.St. Monica Hall and the outdoor pavilion continue to provide spaces for fellowship, while collaborations with community partners have included financial education seminars for families and local business owners.
The newsletter reports ongoing landscaping and pathway improvements intended to create peaceful spaces for prayer and reflection. It also shares maintenance and cleaning updates for the St. Joseph and St. Rita buildings as the community prepares to welcome guests back to those accommodations.Our guest accommodations and RV hospitality initiative continue to welcome travelers and pilgrims while helping support the monastery’s upkeep and daily operations. This issue also introduces sponsorship and advertising opportunities for the 2027 Florida Vietnamese-American Chamber of Commerce community calendar.
The bulletin announces a fundraising dinner for Saint James Institute on Sunday, November 29, 2026, at ABC Seafood, 2420 E Arkansas Ln, Suite 216, Arlington, TX 76014. The reception begins at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m.The event will support educational opportunities, career mentorship, and technical training for underserved young people. For reservations and information, contact Kevin Vuong at (817) 501-1171 or (386) 766-8862.
This month’s spiritual reflection invites us to make Christian love visible through simple acts of care: welcoming a stranger, comforting someone in difficulty, praying for the sick, and helping a young person pursue an education.Thank you for walking with our community in prayer, friendship, and service. Open the complete October newsletter using the PDF button on this page.
