Early in 2020 our monastic prayer took on greater urgency and sharper focus as the COVID-19 virus spread across borders and oceans, and the number of infections and deaths rose exponentially.

Here at Santa Rita our retreat house and our chapel were closed to the public in mid-March. Since
we did not have a resident chaplain at that time, we went five months without Mass. The social restrictions required during the pandemic led to the closing of churches and thereby to a dramatic reduction in sales and income for our bakery, Cistercian Altar Breads.

Download the entire Christmas Newsletter from the Santa Rita Abbey here

Baking and selling whole wheat altar breads to parishes across the country is our main source of income, but this year our production crew of eight sisters and two hired employees was virtually unemployed for several months. This fall our parish customers began ordering our breads again—although in reduced amounts—and we are happily back at work two or three days a week. We recognize that many others in the world are in far greater need than we are. As the pandemic continues, let us all pray for one another!