Along with Werner, her husband, she was at the center of what considered as the happiest years of the life. Years of recklessness but also of personal deepening. Rita and Werner, as well as Gerhard and Elsi Grob, Luc and Suzie de Montmollin, and others provided Villa Maria with the safe and solid environment in which many young people could learn about life, and especially about a committed life.
Young people realized what a privilege it was to participate in this life, much less suspected what price others were paying to make it all possible.
These are the prerequisites that Rita, Werner and the others have put in place for spiritual growth. But there is a price to pay for this life in the heart of a community. Moreover, it is not possible to line up results or count souls. Among those who have participated in the Villa Maria community, some have not liked the life, others have left angry or hurt. Mistakes were made. Some took years to fulfill their vocation and those who supported them were no longer around to see it. Most of us do not feel up to the task of passing on this life experience.
Rita, Werner and the others have remained faithful.
