A New Candidate

Knocking on the door--Zentangle art by Candidate Hieu

On April 10, we were happy to receive Hieu Pham Dang as a Candidate at St. Placid Priory. Our custom is to have a new candidate knock on the Priory door. When she comes in, the Prioress asks her, “What do you seek?” The candidate answers in her own words, and then we all go into chapel together to pray.

I first met Hieu in November, 2024, at a vocation retreat. Initially she seemed a little shy, but then we had time to talk in private, and Hieu’s devotion and love for God touched me deeply. I pray her determination and quest for God’s will in her life do not fade. The more I know Hieu, the greater is my admiration and respect for her deep commitment to her call to religious life. I have the privilege of accompanying her in this process and witnessing her relationship with God through art. With the Benedictine Explorers last year, Hieu learned Zentangle with Sister Monika. Now Hieu is creating her own designs. She writes poetry and accompanies it with music and Zentangle art.

Hieu continues to discern with us whether she has a vocation to religious life with the community of Benedictine Sisters at St. Placid Priory, a discernment which takes several years.

Here is one of Hieu’s poems set to music—called "Lord, at your door I knock" Lyrics © 2026 Hieu Pham Dang

Today I knock on Your door, Lord
My hands tremble
My heart is restless
Please knock upon my heart again
Call my true name in my drifting.

Clothe me in Your robe of mercy
The robe of salvation
Fragrant with forgiveness
I am poor
with empty hands
Yet still sheltered in the shadow
of the cross.

Knock on me, Lord
O my God
In my joy
In my wandering
Let me always come seeking You
hide my face within Your heart.

Knock on me, Lord
O my God
Lead me through all confusion
So that my life
Every moment
Becomes an offering burning for You.

O King of Heaven
Please enlighten my mind
Uncover the darkness hidden within
The small, holy desires
Quietly burning in the depths.

I thank You, with deepest gratitude,
For this fertile soil of my soul
So rich for the seed of faith
To grow into trust offered to You.

Teach me to keep knocking
When I laugh, when my heart is breaking
In the deep night
At the break of dawn
Still whispering, "Here I am, Lord."

Teach me to sow each small seed
In the field You have entrusted to me,
so that one day the Tree of Surrender grows
becoming a full offering given to You!

Lyrics © 2026 Hieu Pham Dang