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2019 Journal

July 2019 News from Santa Rita Abbey

  We’ve been blessed this summer to have several different visiting priests who have kindly offered Mass in our chapel during their stay. Sr. Hildgard’s family friend, Fr. Josephat (pictured above), was here in early July. Not long after, the superiors of seven monasteries of our Order held their pastoral meeting in our family guest house, and the five abbots

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2019 Journal

June 2019 at Santa Rita Abbey

Feasts of the Lord All of the post-Easter season solemnities fell in the month of June this year: the Ascension of the Lord, Pentecost (photo above), Most Holy Trinity, Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ, along with the feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on the last Friday of the month. In addition, June has two solemnities

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2019 Journal

May 2019 at Santa Rita Abbey

Laudato Si’ Care for Creation Mass Our friend Msgr. Tom Cahalane, along with several members of the Care for Creation Committee at his parish of Our Mother of Sorrows in Tucson, celebrated a Mass for Creation here on Saturday, May 4th. They invited us, too, along with a few of our local friends. We all gathered on the spacious porch

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2019 Journal

Holy Week and Easter 2019 at Santa Rita Abbey

Christ is risen, Alleluia! We had a beautiful Holy Week and Easter this year, and we hope you did, too! We are most grateful to Fr. Thomas, monk of New Clairvaux Abbey in CA, for being our chaplain during these special weeks, and to his abbot and community for sharing him with us.  Now as we bask in the over-flowing

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2019 Journal

Santa Rita Abbey April 3, 2019

We are happy to introduce two new additions to our community of Santa Rita: Sister Hildgard and Postulant Sharon! Sr. Hildgard Wanjiku Mberere is a native of Kenya. She grew up not far from the Trappist monastery of Our Lady of Victoria and felt called to monastic life from a young age. Her call persisted over the years, and at

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Reflections on the Gospel

OPEN OR CLOSED

March 22, 2019: A Reflection for Friday of the 2nd Week of Lent Genesis 37:3-4,12-13a, 17b-28 Mt 21:33-43, 45,46 Yesterday I began the usual Spring, Summer and Fall ritual of watering the various growing things on the grounds. Suddenly, as I half-mindedly opened the faucet to allow the flow of life-giving water to refresh some trees, it hit me. The

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2019 Journal

Santa Rita Abbey March 16, 2019

Spring has arrived! Remember that huge snow storm we had on February 22nd and how we were buried in snow for three days? Spring arrived within a week! Our ornamental pear tree in the garth south of our church decided it just couldn’t wait to bloom any longer. We’ve never seen it bloom so gloriously, but then again, it has

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2019 Journal

Santa Rita Abbey February 22-24, 2019–the great Arizona snow storm

Hi! It’s been a while since our last journal entry. Instead of looking back to the Christmas season, which seems like ancient history now, we’ll begin this one with current events. The big excitement of the last few days was the huge snow storm which enveloped Arizona. It began with rain last Thursday, Feb 21, which turned to snow on

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Reflections on the Gospel

THE ECHO OF GOD’S LIFE WITHIN US

January 26, 2019: A Reflection for the Feast of the Founders of our Cistercian Order Quite a few years ago on a warm summer’s night, I awoke in the middle of the night. There was no moon, so the land lay in darkness and profound stillness as only the night can produce. My window was wide open to catch any

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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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