Santa Rita Abbey Spring 2023 update
Our 50th Anniversary Celebration
On April 22 we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of our monastery. It was a glorious day in every way! Bishop Edward Weisenburger presided at the Jubilee Mass with eight priests concelebrating. Our monastic community was temporarily expanded by the presence of monks and nuns from several other Trappist Cistercian monasteries, and about 150 other guests packed our little chapel and overflowed out into the hallways and onto the front porch. It was a great joy to have so many come celebrate with us! In the photo above are pictured the five superiors of the five nun’s monasteries in the US–left to right: Mother Sofia of Mt. St. Mary’s Abbey (our motherhouse), Mother Kathy of Redwoods Abbey, our own Mother Vicki, Mother Rebecca of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey (our older sister-house), and Mother Kathy of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery (our younger sister-house).
Here are a few more photos from the happy occasion–
After the Eucharist, everyone was invited into our backyard where a catered picnic lunch was provided.
In honor of the occasion, we offered once-every-25-years tours of the monastery and of our altar bread bakery. The monastery tour included the sisters’ chapel, the chapter room, the library, the infirmary, and a peek into the dormitory. In the mailroom, guests enjoyed a photo display from our fifty years in Sonoita.
The next day we enjoyed a quieter celebration just with our Cistercian guests. We especially enjoyed meeting with them in the chapter room and hearing news from each of their communities. Here’s the whole gang!
First row, seated: our Sister Margarita, Sr. Gilchrist of Tautra MariaKloister (Norway), our Sisters Miriam, Clare, Mother Vicki, and Jacqui, with Sr. Nettie of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey (Iowa). Second row, standing: Fr. Charlie of St. Benedict’s Monastery (Colorado), Mother Kathy of Our Lady of the Angels (Virginia), our Sisters Esther and Rita, Mother Rebecca of Mississippi Abbey, our Sr. Sharon, Mother Sofia and Sr. Robbie of Mt. St. Mary’s Abbey (Massachusetts). Back row: Mother Kathy of Redwoods Monastery (California), Father Elias of Gethsemani Abbey (Kentucky), our Sisters Hildegard and Pam, and Father Joseph of Holy Cross Abbey (Virginia.)
Our hearts are full of gratitude to God for all his many blessings throughout our fifty years. We can’t begin to list them all! A big thank you to all who came and celebrated with us on April 22 and to all who sent cards and gifts in honor of the occasion. Thank you to all our families, friends, and benefactors who have supported us through the years. A special thanks to Vicky Westover and Jonathan VanBallenberghe who photographed our special day.
The following passage from the Letter to the Colossians (3:12-17) was the second reading at our anniversary Mass. It sums up the monastic way of life so well, and indeed all Christian life, that we wanted to share it with you.
Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
And over all these put on love,
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one Body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
May God bless you and give you his peace
and fill your hearts to overflowing with love and thanksgiving!