Hear Our Stories
Our Unique Paths Brought Us to God
At Santa Rita Abbey, each Sister comes with a story and unique path that led them to experience the calling and embrace the monastic way of life. Although their journeys are rich with individuality, they share a common thread of unwavering devotion and profound love for God. Explore the personal narratives of these women below.
Sr. Pam’s Story
Born and raised in a Protestant family, Pam has heard the Gospel message all her life. However, it was not until her sophomore year of college that a retreat speaker put the message in such a way that God’s love came alive for her as it never had before. That was the moment Pam lost her heart to God. From that day on, Pam was devoted to embracing her purpose of giving her whole self to God.
Pam recognized a disconnect between the standard Protestant options and her desire to transform her life wholly in alignment with the Lord. She knew she needed more than a ministry career. In her junior year of college, she thought about becoming a nun. However, the idea that she could never marry, as nuns were women for whom God was everything, held her back. It wasn’t until the Easter Vigil of her senior year, in the quiet after Holy Communion that Pam felt the monastic calling beyond doubt. She realized she could not get married because in her heart she was already married to God.
With limited options for Religious Life in the Protestant world, Pam was led to a Catholic parish and its R.C.I.A. class, after graduation. She was instantly delighted by what she found there; the same gospel, people who loved God as fully as she did, and a rich liturgical, mystical tradition. The following Easter Vigil, Pam became a Roman Catholic. Pam then spent time at two contemplative monasteries, immersing herself fully in both communities until it became clear that she while admired the Benedictines, she felt truly at home with the Cistercians. The Cistercian community embraced her and four years after her initial college retreat, Pam entered the Trappist Cistercian monastery of Our Lady of the Santa Ritas.
The Diocese of Tucson has been creating podcast interviews with various priests and sisters in the Diocese. To hear more about Pam’s vocation story, journey into the monastery, and her experiences leading a monastic lifestyle, check out the podcast.
Sr. Clare’s Story
Clare’s story begins in 1950, with more than 60 years of Profession in the order and 70 years in vows. Clare had been at Friendship House, now called Madonna House, in Canada, during the summer of 1949. Friendship House was originally located on 135th street in Harlem, NYC. This was prior to the Civil Rights movement of the 60s, when people were poor and discriminated against. Drugs and prostitution sprawled across the city, and the sense of hopelessness was apparent in the neighbors. College degrees did not mean anything if you could not get a job because of the color of your skin. To Clare, this meant praying for those who had given up and for those who continued to struggle against the odds.
A second turning point that summer took place on a Sunday afternoon picnic with a boyfriend at Riverside Drive Park. It was August and hundreds of people were sitting across the grass. While looking at the sea of people, Clare was so forcefully aware that very few of them, if any at all, were thinking about God – to thank Him or love Him in this peaceful moment. This moment solidified Clare’s connection with God and made her realize that some of us should give our lives to God; not to get anything out of it, but because He was worthy of that dedication. This led Clare to the Catholic nuns and a monastic life. She believes God is still worthy of it and the world still and will always need prayers of peace and love.
Sr. Rita’s Story
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.
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Learn More About Our Monastic Life Today
Standing as a testament to Cistercian monastic life in God’s evolving world, Santa Rita Abbey welcomes you to share in our sacred traditions. To plan a visit or learn more about our monastic community in Sonoita, AZ, we invite you to contact us by phone or email today.