Monastic Experience Weekend – Fall 2025
From October 3–5, we joyfully welcomed three women from the Tucson and Phoenix areas to Santa Rita Abbey for our Autumn Monastic Experience Weekend. Each of the sisters participated in some way, and our guests expressed heartfelt gratitude for the program and the spirit in which it was offered.
Bathed in glorious weather, the women immersed themselves in the peaceful rhythm of Abbey life — joining us in choir, exploring the richness of Cistercian spirituality, and sharing the sacred stories of their vocation journeys.
Together, we experienced the gentle beauty of this holy place and the quiet movement of the Spirit among us.
We entrust these women to God’s loving guidance, praying that they may discover the home their hearts seek, led by grace and light.
“I wanted to express my gratitude for the Monastic Experience Weekend at Santa Rita Abbey. It was a deeply enriching and enlightening experience, immersing myself in prayer, reflection, and the rhythm of monastic life. I am truly thankful for the warm hospitality and support from the community. Please extend my thanks to everyone involved. I cherish the memories from this retreat as I continue to discern my path. Many blessings!” – Josephine
“I had a beautiful Monastic Experience Weekend and recommend Catholic women to come with an open heart and welcome our heavenly Father’s voice because the sisters at Santa Rita Abbey are the example of Mary in putting God first and submitting to God’s will, a model of faith we should follow. Experiencing the liturgy of the hours with the sisters was a fruitful experience that I will always carry close to my heart and continue applying to my daily life.” – Susan
M. Vicki Attended our General Chapter in Assisi This September
Superiors
, delegates and all at the service of this event had started the journey, coming together here at Domus Pacis, not alone but bringing every brother and sister of their communities in the heart, representing them at this General Chapter as we all celebrate our “Cistercian charism in today’s world under the sign of hope”.
The Abbot General, Bernardus Peeters, awakened the whole Order with his Opening Conference that we, all of the members without exception, have been affected by a worldly mentality, closed in their self-imposed worldview. Yes, all the members need to 
acknowledge that we are sick, thus realizing how we need each other, to mutually share the gifts and graces we have received. This requires a conversion on our part from “I” to “we”. He prescribed collaboration, working together in our communities and in the Order, as the medicine we all need to take. (Source: O.C.S.O General Chapter 2025)
May Santa Rita Abbey also be refreshed and renewed by the medicine brought to us by M. Vicki from this blessed General Chapter. May each community of our Order be a source of refreshment and renewal for the whole world.
Sr. Hildegard Back Home from Kenya
Our most beloved Sr. Hildegard is safely back home at Santa Rita Abbey after a year’s stay in her native country of Kenya due to the immigrant policy in the US. While staying in Kenya, she studied Information Technology and is now eager to help with our Altar Bread Shipping System. We are all happy to have her back and are most grateful for God’s providential care.
Observership
Lauren Thompson completed her observership from June 24 to 
July 29—an important final stage of discernment before entering, offering the opportunity to live monastic life within the community for at least 4 to 6 weeks. May God continue to lead her toward her destiny in Him.