Welcome to Santa Rita Abbey
We Are A Cistercian Monastery, A School Of Charity And The Lord's Service
Who We are
Santa Rita Abbey is a Cistercian monastery, a school of charity and of the Lord’s service. We follow the Rule of St. Benedict with its balance of prayer, work and sacred reading shared in a monastic community. It is a place where love of God, neighbor and all creation come together in a life of prayer, sincere conversion, humble service, simplicity and joy.
The Monastic Way of Life
Monastic life is a particular way of seeking God. It is a life whose center is Christ and the Paschal Mystery of his self-giving love. It is wholly ordered to contemplation, that is, learning to discover and live in God’s Presence in all the ordinary and humble moments that make up daily life. It means opening ourselves to God’s transforming love present in the reality of our lives as it comes to us. Prayer, sacred reading and work form the structure that nurtures God’s life in us and our sharing of that life and love in its daily ups and downs, by providing space to enter more fully into the mystery of Christ and his ‘yes’ to the Father with our own ‘yes.’ Community is the place where, with the Rule of Benedict as our guide, we live the Gospel and Christ’s Paschal Mystery of love.
Explore A Day In The Life
Prayer, Lectio & Liturgy
Our Community
Work
Becoming a Nun
Discover your place in God’s plan. Embark on a journey worth taking. Become a Trappistine sister. If you feel a tug at your heart to give yourself to God, and an attraction to a life of prayer in a monastic community of sisters, we welcome you to explore Cistercian life at Santa Rita Abbey.
If you are interested in learning more, visit the links below:
Visit Our Retreat House
Our Volunteer Helpers Program
Connect With Our Community Through
Gospel Reflections, Journals & Events
Read through our Gospel reflections, most recent journal entries, upcoming and past events, and learn about our Monastic way of life.
Altar Breads
We have been baking altar breads for over forty-five years. It is a joy for us to prepare the bread which becomes the Bread of Life for the People of God.
Donate to Santa Rita
Donations to our Monastic Fund support the life of the monastery. If you have any questions about who we are and our mission, please reach out.
Learn More About Our Monastic Life Today
Cistercian monastic life shares in a long tradition of monks and nuns for whom Christ is everything. The self-gift to God in a community united in charity around Jesus is lived out by accepting a share in his Paschal Mystery in our own lives. To plan a visit or learn more about us, we invite you to contact us by phone or email.