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Reflections on the Gospel

A New Humanity

May 29, 2022: A reflection for the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord   In today’s feast, Jesus returns to the one who sent him: the Father, the giver of life. He has fulfilled his mission as the Son of Man or the Son of Humanity and his final gift is to send us the Promise of the Father,

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2022 Journal

April 2022: Holy Week and Easter at Santa Rita Abbey

We hope you had a blessed Easter rejoicing in the risen Lord Jesus! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! The Liturgy of Light which begins the Easter Vigil, when the Paschal Candle is lit from the blessed fire and carried into the dark church, is always so meaningful in the face of all the suffering in our world. In 2020 and 2021 it

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Reflections on the Gospel

Glory

May 15, 2022: A Reflection for the Fifth Sunday in Easter Time, Yr C John 13:31-33a, 34-35 Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. (Jn 13:31) Jesus, if you don’t mind my saying so, you have a very different perspective about what glory is. On this planet, we think of glory as being on

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Reflections on the Gospel

Firmly in Your Hand

May 8, 2022: A Reflection for the Fourth Sunday in Easter Time, Yr C John 10:27-30 No one can take them out of my hand. (Jn 10:29) “I’ve got you! Don’t worry, I’m holding on to you.” As a child, it meant a lot to hear those words from my mother or father when life seemed so much bigger than

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2022 Journal

Brother Lawrence Oluf Koester, OSB

Our dear friend and brother, Brother Lawrence (Oluf) Koester, monk of the former Benedictine Monastery of Erlac in Sonoita, passed away on Sunday, January 30, 2022. He would have reached 91 years of age on February 16 this year. Pictured above, left to right, are Br. Lawrence, Abbot Pachomius, and oblate Br. Dominique. On Easter Saturday, April 23, a beautiful

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Reflections on the Gospel

FOLLOW ME

May 1, 2022: A Reflection for the 3rd Sunday of Easter, Year C John 21:1-19 So much had happened after the Apostles lost their Lord and Master, and best friend. Nothing was the same anymore. In fact, everything seemed upside down and inside out. They had seen their beloved Jesus die and yet he had come to them and shared

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Reflections on the Gospel

April 23, 2022 Mother Vicki’s Eulogy for Br. Lawrence Oluf Koester, OSB

Brother Lawrence Oluf Koester, 1931-2022 “Prayer! Prayer! Prayer! That’s what the peacocks cried out every day to remind me.”  Br. Lawrence recounted that story to me around this time last year when I went to visit him in Tucson.  The peacocks had long before been given away, but their cry remained in Br. Lawrence’s depths.  “Prayer, prayer, prayer.”  You might

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2022 Journal

March 25, 2022: Sr. Sharon’s Simple Profession

Sr. Sharon Bezner entered our community as a postulant in 2019 and was clothed as a novice on March 25, 2020. After three years of prayer, study, spiritual direction, work, and the daily living of the monastic life in our community with all its joys and challenges, Sr. Sharon was ready for the next step in her vocation journey. During

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Reflections on the Gospel

March 25, 2022: Mother Vicki’s chapter talk for Sr. Sharon’s Profession

At the beginning of the profession ceremony, Sr. Sharon read aloud selected verses from chapter four in the Rule of St. Benedict, “The Tools for Good Works.” First of all, love the Lord God with your whole heart, your whole soul and all your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself . . . Your way of acting should be

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Monastic Experience Weekend

WHO: Women ages 20 to 40 who are interested in or discerning religious life

WHEN:  April 10 (Fri) 4 pm ~ April 12 (Sun) 6 pm, 2026

WHERE: Santa Rita Abbey, 14200 E Fish Canyon Rd Sonoita AZ 85637-6545   

COST: No fee    

REGISTER:  Monastic Experience Weekend, 2026

CONTACT:  [email protected] / 520-604-7972

FURTHER INFORMATION:  Monastic Experience Weekend

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