Annunciation Monastery

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.

Annunciation Monastery Year of Mercy Project

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On November 19, 2016, the sisters of Annunciation Monastery gathered to wrap gifts and pack bags to be sent to two orphanages and a special needs home for teens and adults in Piedras Negras, Mexico.  Sisters Hannah Vanorny and Idelle Badt and others from the Benedictine Volunteers program participated in an immersion mission trip this past May.  They worked with Sister Ursula, a Benedictine Sister of St. Scholastica Monastery, Boerne, TX, who resides in Eagle Pass, TX.  There was quite a buzz of activity in the community room as sisters sorted, wrapped, and packed gifts while others wrote notes in Spanish for the children and adults receiving the gifts.  The project concluded the sisters’ ongoing formation study of the Jubilee Year of Mercy.  

Sister Stephanie, Sister Rita, and Sister Nicole

Sister Stephanie, Sister Rita, and Affiliate Krista

Annunciation Monastery update

snkunze Houses of the Federation, Monastery News

The Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck, ND, met on Saturday, October 22, 2016, to discuss and approve their four year plan.  Work on the plan began in August 2015 and was helpful as they discerned and elected a prioress in April 2016.  The five main areas of the plan are community life, leadership, membership, ministries, and sponsorship.  

The sisters are pictured in the community room of the monastery.