Br. John Michael Nguyen, O.S.B.

Br. John Michael (Ford) Nguyen professed simple vows as a monk of St. Gregory’s Abbey on September 14, 2021, and professed Solemn Vows on September 3, 2023.

Br. John Michael was born in Vietnam and immigrated to the United States with his parents when he was a child. They settled in Oklahoma City, OK, where he attended school and became a member of St. Andrew Dung Lac Parish in Oklahoma City.   He completed a BS in Chemistry from the University of Oklahoma before becoming a monk of St. Gregory’s Abbey.

During his time in simple vows, Br. John Michael served variously as an assistant sacristan, in The Monks’ Marketplace, and in the Abbey beef enterprise operated by Mission Monks, LLC. Among his duties there was making ground beef patties for a contract between Mission Monks and a local restaurant. He also has assisted with management of the Abbey Information Technology systems and proved his devotion and skill as an assistant infirmarian. processing beef and making Abbey ground beef patties under the auspices of Mission Monks. With skills taught him by his mother and his knowledge of chemistry, Br. John Michael is an avid gardener and is very adept at the science of composting.

Br. John Michael currently serves as Assistant Infirmarian, overseeing the day-to-day of Abbey healthcare for the monks, managing medical planners, coordinating physician visits, and helping monks with ongoing care. He is assuming management of the Abbey IT systems, and in the monastery garden, growing and harvesting produce for use in the monastery kitchen. 

Br. John Michael assists with gardening, meat processing and with The Monks' Marketplace.