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Archived
Monastery Happenings
June 2008
Reflection from Prioress Sister Nancy Miller
for the occasion of the 50th Jubilee Liturgy
for
Sisters Eleanor Stockert and Rachel Mayer (June
28, 2008)
Sister Eleanor and Sister Rachel, this is your special day. It is a day you
have been waiting for for a long time. And now it is here. It is your 50th
jubilee and we rejoice with you. All of us are happy that Bishop Zipfel,
our chaplain, Father Daniel, the priests of the diocese, your families,
friends and co-workers are here to celebrate with you. All of us,
especially the Sisters of Annunciation Monastery give thanks for you and
your 50 years of dedication to the monastic life.
50
years is a long time to be faithful to anything. But you, Sisters Eleanor
and Rachel, are witnesses that such a commitment is possible. Day in and
day out you have persistently lived out what God called you to 50 years
ago. As young women chosen by God, you heard a call to follow Jesus through
the Benedictine way of life and you said “yes.” You said “yes” to daily
common and personal prayer. You said “yes” to living with other women who
heard that same call. You said “yes” to serving the people of western North
Dakota. For 50 years you have heeded Jesus’ command to love others and
because you have done this, Jesus calls you friends.
Sisters Eleanor and Rachel, you are generous, loving women, staunch in your
faith and in your devotion to the people you serve. You love people in
diverse ways. Sister Eleanor, you have a special way of seeing the needs of
others and responding to them. Throughout the years you have lifted the
spirits of others in such roles as nurse aide, dietary aide, housekeeper,
errand driver, certified T’ai Chi Chih instructor and in a very special way
– your storytelling. We appreciate your cheerful, friendly and affectionate
nature. Sister Eleanor, thank you.
Sister Rachel, you have brought many children and adults deeper into the
Church and closer to Jesus especially in your 37 years at Cathedral Parish.
You prepared children for the sacrament of Reconciliation, to receive the
Eucharist and to be confirmed. You coordinated children’s liturgies and now
work with the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. We all know it is a
ministry close to your heart and you will do whatever you can to bring
people into the Church you love so much. Thank you, Sister Rachel.
In
the Gospel you chose for today, Jesus commands all of us to love others as
He loved us. He says no one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s
life for one’s friends. Sisters Eleanor and Rachel and all of us are
invited to lay down our lives for others. Whether in the monastic life,
priesthood, married or single, there are always people to love and to care
for – people for whom we can lay down our lives.
To
love over a lifetime is not easy. How is it done? St. Paul says by
putting on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience
─ bearing with one another and forgiving one another. These virtues are
difficult to practice in whatever lifestyle God has chosen for us. But they
are essential if we are to love as Jesus loved.
As
Benedictine women, Sister Eleanor and Sister Rachel have grown deeper in
these virtues. They have put on love and want to continue to be transformed
into flames of love.
In a
few moments we will hear Sister Eleanor and Sister Rachel recommit
themselves to the call they heard 50 years ago. They will renew their
promise of stability, fidelity to the monastic way of life and obedience.
I’d like to share a bit about what this means for us as Benedictine Sisters
of Annunciation Monastery.
Stability –
Stability means that as Sisters of Annunciation Monastery we will live our
entire lives with this group of women, in this community, in this place. It
permits the establishment of life-long human bonds. Bonds that promote
healing growth. Stability invites us to grow deep roots with God, each
other and with the people of western North Dakota. We are here to stay and
in the years to come we will continue to celebrate all that God has done for
us.
Fidelity to the monastic way of life – By the promise of fidelity to the monastic way of life, we commit
ourselves to keep on growing in the Benedictine way – to open ourselves
continually to the transforming grace of God. It means being faithful to
the entire monastic lifestyle prayer, hospitality, solitude and community however long we have been here whether it has been one year or 50.
Obedience –
Obedience means listening – As Benedictines, we believe that when we listen,
God speaks to us. We listen to the voice of the Spirit in the Scriptural
Word and in the Rule of St. Benedict. We listen to the community’s leader,
the prioress, and to the voices of the women with whom we live. We listen
to those we serve, we listen to the call of the Church and the cry of the
poor. Through all of these interconnections, God speaks and directs the
movements of our lives. As we listen and respond, we are living obedience.
Today we are thankful for Sister Eleanor and Sister Rachel and we are
grateful for all that has been given us by God. Let us continue our
celebration with gratitude in our hearts for all that God has done for them
and for us – that whatever we do in word or in deed let us do it in the name
of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Sisters Celebrate 50 and 60 Years
of Perpetual Monastic Profession
The public is invited to attend the 50th Jubilee
celebrations for Sisters Rachel Mayer and Eleanor Stockert on June 28 during a
Eucharistic liturgy in Our Lady of the Annunciation Chapel, the Benedictine
Center for Servant Leadership, at 1:30 p.m., followed by a reception.
*Sister Rachel Mayer, OSB
Before becoming a sister, Rachel Mayer served as a
pediatric nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital in Minot. Sister Rachel continued in
her nursing career and worked as a nurse at St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck.
She holds master's degrees in elementary education and in religious education.
She taught 10 years at Christ the King School in Mandan, followed by 37 years at
Cathedral School in Bismarck.
Sister Rachel has prepared children for first
communion, first confession and coordinated their liturgies. She served as
organist, director of the children's choir and confirmation coordinator. She
prepares and directs adults going through the Rite of Christian Initiation of
Adults process. Sister Rachel divides her time between RCIA and working in the
monastery archives.
*Sister Eleanor Stockert, OSB
Sister Eleanor Stockert grew up on a farm south of
New England and at 19 joined the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery.
Sent to St. Joseph's Convent in Mandan, she helped in the kitchen, laundry,
sacristy at the church and was a homemaker there. From there, she worked in a
Dickinson nursing home. In 1959, when all junior sisters were called home to the
monastery, Sister Eleanor returned and worked in the laundry. She was later
assigned to work for one year at the bishop's residence. She spent seven years
in laundry and homemaking at Annunciation Monastery, followed by nine years as a
dietary aide at St. Alexius Hospital. She worked as a nurse aide at Garrison
Memorial Hospital. After five years she was asked to move home and become a
nurse aide at the monastery.
Sister Eleanor learned the art of T'ai Chi
Chih®Joy Thru Movement and became a certified instructor, offering classes
through Annunciation Monastery's Hospitality Center. Within the monastery,
Sister Eleanor cuts hair, has duties within the house and runs errands. She also
has charge of the sisters' cabin at Lake Tschida.
Each of the following Sisters are celebrating
their 60th Jubilees in a private monastic community celebration in July.
*Sister Terence Glum, OSB
Sister Terence, assistant to the secretary at the
monastery, taught science at the University of Mary, helped in the registrar's
office, and was a nurse and anesthetist at St. Alexius Medical Center and
Garrison Memorial Hospital. She tends flowers, works at the monastery
switchboard and knits for the poor.
*Sister Jeanette Hinds, OSB
Sister Jeanette plays the violin in the
Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra and visits patients for St. Mary's Parish in
Bismarck. She helped plan funeral liturgies at St. Mary's for 10 years. She
taught elementary music, private piano lessons and played the organ for 37 years
in schools and parishes in Bismarck, Mandan and Dickinson.
*Sister Audrey Martin, OSB
Sister Audrey taught for 25 years in Dickinson,
Bismarck, Flasher and Mandan. She was a counselor at St. Mary's Central High
School and served as subprioress, vocation director and oblate director for
Annunciation Monastery. She also set up the archives at St. Alexius Medical
Center and was archivist for the monastery.
*Sister Claire Schmitt, OSB
Sister Claire taught elementary and secondary
education and enjoyed being involved in catechetical work. She taught at St.
Mary's Central High School and in Catholic schools and parish religious
education programs in Mandan, Bismarck, Dickinson and Flasher. She tutored
students at the University of Mary and served in parish ministry in Bismarck,
Linton, South Dakota and California. She was a patient visitor at Garrison
Memorial Hospital. She also spent three months in Africa teaching English to
sisters preparing to become elementary teachers.
*Sister Miriam Schmitt, OSB
Sister Miriam is a scholar of medieval women
monastics and mystics. She has shared her extensive research through lectures,
retreats, classes and writings, including co-editing the book, "Medieval Women
Monastics: Wisdom's Wellsprings." She has taught in Catholic schools in the
diocese, at the University of Mary, St. John's School of Theology, Collegeville,
Minn., and was a faculty member of the United Methodist Spiritual Formation
Academies for 20 years. Former prioress of Annunciation Monastery, Sister Miriam
also was treasurer of the monastery, Priory High School and the University of
Mary.
*Sister Neola Winter, OSB
Sister Neola served 23 years as librarian at St.
Mary's Grade School, Bismarck, worked in the monastic library and volunteered
for five years in the library for the Diocese of Bismarck. She also taught
elementary grades in Catholic schools in Mandan and Bismarck.
* * * * *
Grand Opening & Member Appreciation
VUE Community Credit Union ~ June 20, 2008
Prioress Sister Nancy Miller accepted an award to
the Sisters of Annunciation Monastery at the grand opening celebration of VUE
Community Credit Union (formerly St. Alexuis Credit Union). She is
pictured here with Erv Mund, president of VUE Community Credit Union.
(June 20, 2008)
* * * * *
In Loving Memory of
Sister Louista Eckroth
Sister Louista Eckroth, OSB
Sister Louista Eckroth, 89, a founder of the Benedictine Sisters of
Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck, entered eternal life Monday, June 16, 2008
at a Bismarck care center.
Sister Louista (birth name Eleanor) was born Feb. 12, 1919, in Mandan, N.D.
She was the fifth of 14 children of Louis and Eda (Gruenfelder) Eckroth.
Growing up, she always had the desire to be a sister and on Dec. 8, 1939,
entered St. Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, Minn. and made monastic
profession July 11, 1941.
In
1944 she volunteered to help establish Annunciation Monastery because she
saw the great need for sisters in western North Dakota.
She taught elementary grades for 32 years in Catholic schools in Dickinson,
Mandan, and Mott. She also served as librarian for some of those years.
Creative and enthusiastic, she made learning an exciting adventure for her
students. She exhibited joy and pride in their accomplishments and they knew
she loved them.
After retiring from teaching, she spent eight years as a parish visitor at
St. Joseph’s Parish in Mandan. She visited the sick and lonely, took
communion to them, assisted with funerals and did what she could to brighten
people’s lives. “I loved the people and my ministry there,” she once said.
Then she served four years in the medical library at St. Alexius Medical
Center before returning to the monastery. Here she used her creative
abilities by making greeting cards for the monastery’s gift shop.
An
extremely kind and gentle woman, Sister Louista loved God and the
Scriptures. When she proclaimed the Word of God, her listeners knew that
Word was coming from her heart. She enjoyed the outdoors and everyday walked
and reflected on God’s natural beauty.
Sister Louista loved her monastic community and her family. She also shared
a special bond with her two priest brothers and her older sister who also
was a Benedictine.
She is survived by five brothers, Father Leonard, Strasburg, N.D.; Father
Richard, Collegeville, Minn.; Edward, Portland. Ore.; Anthony (Joan) Fort
Rice, N.D.; Charles (Evelyn) St. Cloud, Minn.; two sisters, Louise Brounty,
Port Townsend, Wash.; Marie (Wayne) Louthan, LaGrande, Ore., and the Sisters
of Annunciation Monastery.
Memorials may be made to Annunciation Monastery.
To
share memories of Sister Louista, please visit
www.parkwayfuneral.com and sign the online guest book. (Parkway Funeral
Service, Bismarck)
* * * * *
Reflection for Sister Susan Berger’s Funeral - June 16, 2008
Sister Nancy Miller, Prioress
Thank you Bishop Zipfel, Father Daniel, Priests of the Diocese and all of
you here today who have come together to celebrate and remember the life of
a truly remarkable woman of God. We come together in sorrow. The reality
of death, with all its pain and sense of loss, confronts us at this moment.
But we also come together in faith. Our faith opens our minds and hearts to
the whole picture of life, death, and that which happens after death –
resurrection. And so it is. Our faith moves us to hope in the Lord.
Sister Susan was a gift to so many people, her family – whom she loved very
much - , friends, students, those in the civic community, all associated
with our sponsored institutions – St. Alexius Medical Center, the University
of Mary and Garrison Memorial Hospital. She was particularly a gift to the
Sisters of Annunciation Monastery. We were privileged to have her as our
prioress for the past 12 years. She loved us and respected us and gently
led us by word and example into a deeper monastic life. We in turn, like so
many of you, deeply loved and respected Sister Susan whose courage, faith
and positive attitude inspired us on our journey to God.
Susan had a strong belief in people. She believed in our goodness, and she
wanted us to believe in our goodness too – our own and each others. When
you believe in someone’s goodness, you treat that person with respect and
reverence. That is what Sister Susan had for each of us and it made us feel
important and treasured.
All
who believe in Jesus are His disciples. In today’s gospel, Jesus says,
“Father my disciples are your gift to me.” Like Sister Susan we are gifts
of the Father. Like Sister Susan we are called to spread God’s love to our
families, co-workers and those we associate with.
It
was evident that Sister Susan’s love of God came from reading and pondering
the Scriptures. Many of us reaped the benefits of her delving into the Word
of God through her inspirational reflections and lived example of Gospel
values. Over the years Sister Susan grew a monastic heart, a heart steeped
in the scriptures, the Rule of Benedict and love for God and God’s people.
It is from this heart that she led, spoke and listened.
Many
of us wonder why God would call her home at the age of 63 when she still had
so many hopes and dreams to fulfill. When she was diagnosed with cancer 11
months ago, she lived with the hope that it would go into remission.
When
it did not happen, she had long talks with God. What was said between the
two of them, we don’t know. We do know that Sister Susan clung to her faith
and trust in God even when she became like Job and had everything taken away
from her – her health, her independence, her future plans.
She
could say with Saint Paul, “I am being poured out like a libation, and the
time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the
race. I have kept the faith.”
We
do not understand the mystery of God’s timing. The book of Job says, “In
God’s hands is the life of all living things and the breath of every human
being.” It was God’s time to call Sister Susan home. She is living now in
the loving embrace of God and singing God’s praises with all the saints.
And we are better people for having been graced by her presence.
Sister Susan, we will never forget you and we will always love you. We know
that you will never forget us, and we ask you to help us with your prayers
to do all that God is calling us to do.
* * * * *
Reflection at the Vigil
Service for Sister Susan Berger, June 15, 2008
By Sister Kathleen
Atkinson, OSB
2 Corinthians 4:14─5:1
She died young − at the age of 37, having traveled from Germany to
Pennsylvania to Minnesota −having spent her life for her dream.
This is from our history of Annunciation Monastery
describing Benedicta Riepp. She died young −at the age of 63, having
traveled from Dickinson to Bismarck, Garrison, England, Japan, Taiwan,
Germany, Bahamas, Mexico, all around the US −having spent her life for her
dream. This is from our lived experience of the past few days
describing Sister Susan Berger.
What
was her dream? A dream of life, beauty, and graciousness.
Graciousness??? Life was hectic that day in the registrar’s office.
Susan picked up the ringing phone and in her most gracious voice blurted
out, “May I take a break to go to the bathroom?”
Her
dream was filled with passion for the monastic life, our sponsored
ministries, and teaching. Susan and I lived at St. Alexius Convent while
she was teaching at the University of Mary. She commuted by college bus on
a regular basis, but every now and then she needed to take a car. And more
than “now and then” she would come to my room, giggling, and ask for a ride
to the university to pick up that car she had left when she automatically
got on the bus to come home.
A
dream that delighted in her family and friends, in being a woman, in the
deer and sunsets and living close to nature. Many a car needed to have
shocks repaired after numerous side-trips across back roads in the Badlands,
Audubon, rural Bismarck.
She
died young − having spent her life for her dream. Susan loved life and if
we were to mourn her loss without rejoicing in her gift, she would say to us
“Poof” with a wave of the hand.
What
was her dream? Let me tell you in three lines that she constantly said to
me. And I’m sure to many others.
1. Be faithful to the process. Susan lived intimately with a God who cared about her and
about the entire universe. She knew her own tendency to become discouraged
and want to give up. She knew my impatience with my own process of growth,
with the speed that things sometimes happen in community. As Prioress, as a
teacher, as a counselor, as a woman of prayer she knew that God was faithful
and our call was to stay with it even when everything within wanted to take
the easy route. In the words of tonight’s Scripture, Susan knew that
indeed, everything is ordered to your benefit, so that the grace bestowed in
abundance may bring greater glory to God (4:15).
2. It doesn’t matter. Especially in her illness, Susan would often say this to me. When I
took offense at someone’s cutting remark, became critical of another’s lack
of participation, distraught about an upcoming deadline. Or when I became
overly excited about a sporting event, a new purchase, or some current
trivial fixation. “It doesn’t matter.” What Susan was learning in the
stripping of this past year, was to live a life that does matter. Day by
day. In the big things and the small. Live a life that does matter and let
the rest go. In the words of tonight’s Scriptures, Susan knew that we do
not fix our gaze on what is seen but on what is unseen. What is seen is
transitory. What is unseen lasts forever (4:18).
3. Be faithful to the process. It doesn’t matter. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you.
How many notes have each of us received. How many times have each of us
heard these words. How many experiences have let us know how much she
appreciated our efforts. Susan is with us still. Let us continue to hear
her voice in the unique call of each of our lives.
Susan is still with us. Dreaming. Encouraging. Challenging. Listen to
her:
We now have a choice. Do we believe that we have inherited
a vision, that we will embrace our dreams in the future, that we are women
of faith and that we have a pioneering spirit gifted to us by our
foremothers and founders? I truly believe that we will be inspired to
reflect on our own visions and dreams, values, monastic life and qualities
that are being asked of us more deeply. Our colleagues at St. Alexius,
Garrison and the University of Mary are asking us. The Church is asking.
How will we respond? (Sister Susan Berger, Ash Wednesday, 2007)
She
died young −having spent her life for her dream. How will we
respond?
In Loving Memory of
Sister Susan Berger
Sister Susan Berger, OSB
Sister Susan Berger, OSB, 63, prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of
Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck from 1996-2008, passed into eternal life
June 12, 2008, at St. Alexius Medical Center.
Strong in gentleness and delightful in presence, she inspired all those who
knew her with her strength, courage and trust in God during her year-long
treatment for cancer.
Sister Susan was born May 1, 1945, in Dickinson, N.D. to Christ and Marie (Braxmeier)
Wanner. Christ was killed in World War II before Susan was born. Later Marie
married John Berger who adopted Susan and loved her as his own daughter.
Susan had her eye on the Benedictine sisters since she was 7, admired them
as teachers and wanted to become one of them. She entered Annunciation
Monastery on Dec. 8, 1963, and made monastic profession July 11, 1965.
A
graduate of the University of Mary, Sister Susan held master’s degrees in
professional psychology from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn.,
and in communication arts from the University of Notre Dame. She taught
junior high for nine years in Dickinson and Bismarck and served as a
counselor, registrar and associate professor of humanities at the University
of Mary. In 1996 she was elected by the Benedictine Sisters to be their
prioress, the spiritual and administrative leader of the monastic community.
She held this position for 12 years. As prioress she also served as
president of the boards of the University of Mary and St. Alexius Medical
Center.
She
loved the North Dakota prairie and its people and was grateful to be part of
a monastic community that brought quality education and healthcare to this
region.
Even
when her health was failing, she followed the community’s dream of
establishing a development program that would invite others to help further
the mission and ministries of the sisters as they have done since 1878. “Our
lives are firmly woven with the lives of the people in western North Dakota
through our sponsorship of St. Alexius Medical Center, the University of
Mary, Garrison Memorial Hospital and our work with parishes and the Diocese
of Bismarck,” she said.
Sister Susan is dearly loved and will be greatly missed by her monastic
community, family, friends and the larger world. She was a gracious and
humble person, genuinely interested in others. She listened with the ear of
her heart, respected and loved each person, and gently led by word and
example. She was an extraordinary monastic woman who inspired others to
ponder God’s word and live by it.
She
felt such gratitude for the many people who visited, sent cards and
supported her during her illness. Her deep faith is expressed in her words,
“None of us knows what the future holds, but we do know the power of love,
the power of prayer and that God is truly holding us.”
Sister Susan is survived by a sister Linda (Paul) Schadewald, Bismarck; two
brothers, Jeff, Bismarck; Tom, Milwaukee, Wis.; four nieces, Jessica Berger,
Chicago; Lindsey Berger, Madison, Wis.; Sara Berger and Amy Schadewald, St.
Paul, Minn.; three nephews, John Schadewald, Bismarck; Nathan Schadewald,
Fort Collins, Colo.; Andrew Tyler, London, England; a stepmother, Doris
Berger, Dickinson, N.D.; many friends and the Sisters of Annunciation
Monastery.
Memorials may be made to Annunciation Monastery.
To
share memories of Sister Susan, please visit
www.parkwayfuneral.com and sign the online guest book.
* * * * *
American Cancer Society Relay for Life ~ June 7-8,
2008
We laced up our tennis shoes and pitched a
tent this past weekend and walked in the American Cancer Society's Relay for
Life event. Team "Annunciation Monastery" joined teams from across the
state in honor of those who have lost their battle with cancer, have survived
cancer or continue to fight this disease. Flickering luminaries bearing
the names of loved ones lit the track at Century High School where all gathered
for a common purpose - to wipe out cancer.
Sisters Hannah, Donna, Kathleen, Madelyn and Nancy
G.
Sisters Agatha, Nicole, Melissa, Hannah, Gerard
A friend walks with Sister Nancy Miller, prioress,
and Sister Mariah Dietz
Sisters JoAnn and Janet
Sisters Gerard, Nicole, Agatha and Hannah enjoy a
midnight s'more break
* * * * *
Happy Campers at "Benedict Rules" Camp
"The Frog Song" was just one of many that were
resounding from the hilltop!
Sister Kathleen Atkinson is well-known for her
creative thinking, boundless energy and "diverse" ministries. She spent
three days this week hosting a "Benedict Rules" camp at the University of Mary -
(Remember "Vacation Bible School?") Students enjoyed getting to know new
friends from across the state, singing camp songs, playing games, learning about
the Benedictine values, tie-dying t-shirts, deepening their faith and of course,
campfires and marshmallows. The campers were blessed with a beautiful
rainbow following the rain and the gorgeous sunset over the Missouri River.
* * * * *
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