Monk's function requiring small container (9)
I believe the answer is:
dominican
'monk's' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'function requiring small container' is the wordplay.
'function' becomes 'do' (both can mean an event).
'requiring' says to put letters next to each other.
'small' becomes 'mini' (short for miniature).
'container' becomes 'can' (can is a kind of container).
'do'+'mini'+'can'='DOMINICAN'
(Other definitions for dominican that I've seen before include "Brother" , "person in the WI" , "Republican" , "Monk" , "See sister" .)