Author: snkunze

Stepping Stone Ministries to open

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Stepping Stone Ministries, a new nonprofit organization in Bismarck, ND, will provide transitional care for individuals experiencing homelessness who are too ill to return to the streets or shelters but no longer require or qualify for acute care. Sister Idelle Badt, a member of Annunciation Monastery, is one of the founders and serves as the CEO. Martha Reichert is the other founder and the executive director.

Open houses were held September 27 – 29 to show their new space to area providers and partners, donors, Sisters and oblates of Annunciation Monastery, and the general public. Stepping Stone Ministries hope to start receiving clients the week of October 6.

Martha Reichert, Executive Director, and Sister Idelle Badt, CEO. of Stepping Stone Ministries
Ribbon cutting in front of the Stepping Stone Ministries building with representatives from the Bismarck/Mandan Chamber, Stepping Stone Ministries board members, and Annunciation Monastery
L to R: Sister JoAnn Krebsbach, Oblate Jeannine Saabye, Sister Patricia Schap, and Sister Kathleen Del Monte (St. Scholastica Monastery, Duluth) at the open house

St. Alexius celebrates 140 years in Bismarck

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The Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, the leadership and associates of St. Alexius, and the Bismarck/Mandan community celebrated the 140th anniversary of St. Alexius Hospital on May 6, 2025. A Mass of Thanksgiving was held at the Pro-Cathedral of St. Mary with Bishop David Kagan, Bishop of Bismarck, presiding. A celebration at the medical center followed with comments from representatives of CommonSpirit Health and the City of Bismarck.

Sisters from St. Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph, MN founded St. Alexius Hospital, the first hospital between Seattle and St. Paul, in 1885. Abbot Alexis of St. John’s Abbey assisted the sisters in purchasing a hotel to become the hospital building. They were the first Benedictine Sisters to work in healthcare ministry. Sponsorship of the hospital was given to Annunciation Monastery when they were established as an independent community in 1947. Benedictine Sisters have served at St. Alexius since its founding. Two Sisters currently serve at St. Alexius and several sisters volunteer at the hospital.

Sisters of Annunciation Monastery and guests at the Mass of Thanksgiving
Sister Nicole Kunze, Prioress, reading at the Mass
Sister Nancy Miller, Director of Mission, speaking at the celebration

Sister Marena Hoogland makes her perpetual monastic profession

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Sister Nicole Kunze, Prioress, and Sister Marena Hoogland

On July 11, 2025, Sister Marena’s Hoogland made her perpetual monastic profession as a member of Annunciation Monastery. Sister Marena’s family and friends from Wisconsin attended. Sister Marena has been a part of Annunciation Monastery since 2017. She teaches seventh grade math at St. Mary’s Academy in Bismarck. Over 50 of her former students and colleagues were in attendance.

Sister Marena Hoogland reading her profession document.

Sister Nicole Kunze conferred honorary degree

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Sister Nicole Kunze, Prioress of Annunciation Monastery, delivered the Founders’ Day Convocation reflection at Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, on November 21. The college also conferred an honorary degree to Sister Nicole at the ceremony. Saint Vincent College was founded in 1846 and is the first Benedictine college in the United States.

L to R: Father Paul Taylor, OSB, President of Saint Vincent College; Sister Nicole Kunze, OSB; Archabbot Martin Bartel, Saint Vincent Archabbey

Annunciation Monastery celebrates 75th Anniversary

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Annunciation Monastery was established as an independent monastic community in the Diocese of Bismarck on March 24, 1947 by papal decree. 140 sisters had volunteered as founding members in 1944.

To celebrate the 75th anniversary, our community hosted a Vespers Service on March 24, 2022 in Our Lady of the Annunciation Chapel at the University of Mary, our former monastery building. A social followed. Sister Kerry O’Reilly, President of the Federation of St. Benedict, was present.

Sister Rosanne Zastoupil, Subprioress and Treasurer, standing next to one of our 75th Anniversary signs.
A photo from the Vespers Service – Sisters Nicole Kunze, Idelle Badt, and Krista Ferrell (L to R) in back row, Msgr. James Shea, President of the University of Mary, in front of the sisters.
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Conference of Benedictine Prioresses 2020

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The Conference of Benedictine Prioresses held their annual meeting from January 28 – February 3, 2020 at Sacred Heart Monastery, in Yankton, South Dakota. The theme for the meeting was “Called To Serve”. In addition to the business meeting, the prioresses and presidents had two days of retreat with Sister Michaela Hedican of St. Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, MN. The topic of Sister Michaela’s retreat was the Sermon on the Mount and Leadership.

Sister Susan Rudolph, prioress of St. Benedict’s Monastery, was elected to the CBP Coordinating Committee for a three year term. Sister Nicole Kunze, prioress of Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck, ND, completed her term on the coordinating committee and will continue to serve as treasurer for the group. Sister Aileen Bankemper, St. Walburg’s Monastery, Covington, KY was elected chair of the committee.

Sister Kerry O’Reilly, President of the Federation of St. Benedict, giving a presentation.Sr. Kerry O’Reilly giving a presentation at the business meeting.

L to R: Nicole Kunze (Annunciation, Bismarck, ND), Sandra Brunenn (St. Mary, Rock Island, IL), Catherine Nehotte (St. Paul, St. Paul, MN), Kerry O’Reilly (Federation President), Susan Rudolph (St. Benedict, St. Joseph, MN), Marva Coakley (St. Martin, Bahamas)

L to R: Sandra Brunenn, Marva Coakley, Nicole Kunze, Catherine Nehotte, Susan Rudolph, Michaela Hedican, Kerry O’Reilly

Prioresses gathered in Tucson for annual meeting

snkunze Conference of Benedictine Prioresses

The Conference of Benedictine Prioresses are meeting at the Redemptorist Retreat Center in Tucson, AZ.  At their business meeting, the conference approved a structural change.  A chairperson will oversee the conference and have a four member committee that will work with her.  Members elected Sister Jennifer Mechtild Horner of Our Lady of Grace Monastery (Beech Grove, IN) as the chairperson.  Committee members will be elected on Saturday, February 4.

Prioresses from the Federation of Saint Benedict in attendance include:  Nicole Kunze, Annunciation Monastery; Annie Thompson, St. Martin’s Monastery; Sandra Brunenn, St. Mary Monastery; Michaela Hedican, St. Benedict’s Monastery, MN; Beverly Raway, St. Scholastica Monastery; and Paula Hagen, St. Paul Monastery.  Kerry O’Reilly, President of the Federation of Saint Benedict, was also in attendance.