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
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
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
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
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
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
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
We are celebrating three jubilees in 2022! First off, on February 6, was the 50th anniversary of the foundation of our monastery of Our Lady of the Santa Rita Mountains. Next, in April, is our Sr. Clare’s 70th anniversary of vows, and in December, our Mother Vicki’s 50th anniversary of vows. Our Foundation It was on Sunday, February 6, 1972
It’s been a long time since our last journal entry! First we’ll sum up the year 2021 by expressing our gratitude to God for his providential care throughout all the challenges (blessings in disguise) which came our way, mostly in the form of the health of our sisters (not Covid-related). At the same time we are grateful to you, our
Step away from the noise and into the rhythm of monastic life. If you’re a Catholic woman discerning your path, our Monastic Experience Weekend offers a rare opportunity to explore contemplative life at Santa Rita Abbey.
Friday, October 4 – Monday, October 7