June 2022 full of blessings for Santa Rita Abbey
Photo above: front row–Sisters Pam, Miriam, Sharon, Margarita, and Clare; back row–Sisters Rita and Jacqui, M. Vicki, Abbot General Bernardus, Sisters Hildegard and Esther.
This June was full to overflowing with blessings for our community!
Abbot General’s visit
The newly elected (in February 2022) abbot general of our order, Dom Bernardus Peeters, and his secretary, Fr. Raphaël Garcia Pelayo, came for a brief visit June 12-14. Dom Bernardus is traveling to the various regional meetings of the abbots and abbesses of our international order between now and September. He stopped by here after attending the regional meeting in Canada and making a brief visit at our monks’ monastery in Colorado. We were delighted to meet him and show him our little monastery in the desert grasslands and are most grateful for his kindness, wisdom and encouragement. From here Dom Bernardus and Fr. Raphaël, along with our own Mother Vicki, traveled to the US superiors’ regional meeting in California.
Photos below: Dom Bernardus speaks to the community in the chapter room; Dom Bernardus and Mother Vicki singing during the Divine Office; Sr. Rita, Fr. Raphaël, and Dom Bernardus at the Eucharist; Dom Bernardus and Fr. Raphaël enjoyed using our red golf car to get around the monastery grounds.
Sr. Hildegard’s Change of Stability
On June 29, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Sr. Hildegard Wanjiku Mberere changed her vow of stability to our monastery. A native of Kenya, Sr. Hildegard entered our Order in 2002 at Abbaye N.-D. de Bonne-Esperance in Echourgnac, France. She made her solemn profession there in 2010. Sr. Hildegard came to Santa Rita Abbey in 2019 to experience life in an English-speaking community. Now, three years later, Sr. Hildegard has changed her stability to our monastery, thus becoming a permanent member of our community. Mother Bénédicte, Abbess of Echourgnac since 2021, came for the occasion, adding to our joy. We were also blessed by the presence of Fr. Ed, monk of St. Benedict’s Monastery in Colorado, who offered the Eucharist for us on this special day, and throughout his nearly two-week stay.
Please join with us in praying that Sr. Hildegard may continue to flourish in our midst, and that we may all continue to grow together in the love of Christ for the sake of the Church and the world.
Photos below: At chapter after Lauds Sr. Hildegard made her promise of obedience; during Mass she read her change of stability and signed it on the altar; at the offertory Sr. Hildegard and M. Vicki presented the gifts of bread and wine to Fr. Ed; and after Mass the entire community posed for a portrait with Fr. Ed, M. Vicki, a glowing Sr. Hildegard, and M. Bénédicte in the back row.
