Santa Rita Abbey 2021 Monastic Experience Weekend, October 1-4
We hosted a Monastic Experience Weekend (MEW) October 1-4 for young women interested in our monastic way of life. The last time we’d offered one of these vocation weekends was in February 2019, pre-COVID. The women who attended our 2021 weekend were both from Arizona and drove up to our front door just before 4:30 p.m. on Friday.
B. and A. stayed in our retreat house for the weekend, joined in our liturgies (even Vigils at 3:10 a.m.!) from the monastery’s guest chapel, and met with our MEW team (Sisters Rita and Pam) at our family guest house. On Saturday they listened to conferences on monastic history and monastic prayer, did a little outdoor grounds work, and toured our altar bread bakery. On Sunday morning Sisters Hildegard and Sharon joined the group to share their vocation stories, and in the afternoon there was a viewing of “Hidden: A Life All for God,” a vocational documentary from our motherhouse, Mt. St. Mary’s Abbey in Massachusetts. There was plenty of time for questions, as well as lots of time for private prayer and reflection, and to just “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 45/46:11).
Here are some of their impressions and responses afterwards:
What did you find most meaningful/helpful about the weekend?
–I really felt God’s vivid presence. The sisters clearly loved Him so deeply. I also absolutely love the location and the simple beauty of the chapel, church, library, and rooms.
–Everything! But, more concretely, the vocation stories were the most meaningful because everyone had such different stories and I could see myself a little in each person. As someone who has never thought about monastic life until very recently, it was so helpful to have a picture in my mind of how someone may transition into such a life.
Was there a particular moment that stands out in your mind?
–Probably either the peaceful reverence of compline and vespers, or getting joyfully doused with holy water by Mother Vicki.
–So many! I LOVED the days I actually stayed up and observed the morning reflection time. Seeing all the colors as the sun rose was absolutely divine. The quiet stillness of the morning truly did feel like the strongest moments of hearing’s God’s voice.
We hope to hold another one of these vocation weekends in 2022. If you’d like to be on our vocation newsletter emailing list and be notified when we set the date for the 2022 event, email Sr. Pam at [email protected]. These weekends are for women ages 21-40 who are discerning a vocation to the consecrated life.