Solemn Profession of Brother Osborne

On Sunday 25th January, 33-year-old Brother Osborne Bunn - born in Buka, in Bougainville - made his Solemn Profession (his perpetual vows) in the Dominican Order.  The ceremony took place in the MSC chapel, just up the hill from our place, because our own chapel could not accommodate all attending.  Our thanks to Fr Gerard Savian and the MSCs for their hospitality!

Here are a few photos from the Mass and subsequent celebrations.  The Dominican Rite of Solemn Profession is unusual in its sober simplicity:  there is no litany of the saints, no "consecration" of the professed by the priest.  Rather, the act of making profession itself is considered to be what consecrates the professed to God.

Brother Osborne is, according to custom, wearing the full habit of the Order, with the black capuce and cappa.

The night before: peeling the kau kau in preparation for the festivities.

Before the ceremony.

Some of the congregation.

"What do you seek?" "God's mercy, and yours."

"I, Brother Osborne Bunn, make profession, and I promise obedience to God, and to Blessed Mary, and to Blessed Dominic ...and to you ... in place of Brother Bruno Cadoré, Master of the Friars Preachers, according to the Rule of Blessed Augustine and the Constitutions of the Friars Preachers, that I will be obedient to you and your successors until death."

The "osculum" or sign of peace.

At the Consecration of the Mass: Fr Gerard Savian MSC; Deacon Henry Natowosi OP (kneeling); Fr Martin Wallace OP; Fr Joseph Vnuk, OP; Fr Lawrence Kimaere, OP.

Br Osborne pictured with three Marist sisters.

Celebrating with friends and family.

Cutting the cake - or cakes!

Fr Joseph Vnuk chats with guests.