Rita first recognized the tug at her heart and mind in grammar school. She loved and admired the religious women that led her classroom. These women led her to learn new things and along with her family, showed her a way to give oneself to God. This remained constant throughout her high school experience, where she opened her life in service to the poor and to those abled in ways different than herself both mentally and physically. Rita began tutoring and finding any little way to help others while simultaneously engaging in other activities such as roller skating, attending dances, dating, and getting actively involved in the Sodality and Film Club. Despite these other ventures, the tug at her mind and heart remained present, she just needed to gain maturity and experience to know how to respond to it.

Rita went on to study history and theology in college. After graduation, she taught young children and worked with their parents. She also taught Catechism. The tug at her heart and mind intensified as she read and prayed. During these readings, she discovered Cistercians, leading her to check out the Catholic Directory to see if there were Cistercian Nuns.

Not long after, she went on a date where she would spend the better part of the time talking about how she was considering becoming a nun. After this date, she knew that it was time to act on this unwavering tug she had felt for so many years as it was beginning to take a toll on her social life. This is when Rita met with a spiritual director. She began praying and reading more and eventually went on a retreat to Santa Rita Abbey, one of the Cistercian Nun places she had found. She loved the Southwest and the desert and Sonoita, Arizona seemed like the ideal fit. That’s when her journey into the sacred monastic life began. To this day, the tug at her heart and mind continues. It is forever changing and growing and will remain there as she remains at Santa Rita Abbey until the day she is tugged wholly into God.