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
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 ThanksgivingSister Nicole Kunze, Prioress, reading at the MassSister Nancy Miller, Director of Mission, speaking at the celebration
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.
The prayer intention for Annunciation Monastery’s monthly Day of Contemplation this month is the Federation of Saint Benedict and its future planning. We remember all the members of the Federation and ask the Lord to bless us as we discern what the future holds for each of our communities and the Federation. I
Norcia, Italy was shaken by another large earthquake today, magnitude 6.6. The monks of Norcia are safe, but the Basilica has been utterly destroyed. They ask for our prayers, not only for them but for the people of the area. While suffering alongside them, the monks are also trying to pray and minister to them.
News footage shows drone views of Amatrice and Norcia. As the image below shows, the Cathedral and Basilica in Norcia have been destroyed.
Town plaza in Norcia, October 30, 2016
Reports of this third quake (the previous just 2 days before) in the area in just two months indicate just how difficult this is for the people of central Italy as well as the monks:
Norcia’s 14th-century Basilica of Saint Benedict, built on the reputed birthplace of the Catholic saint, was reduced to rubble.
The church is looked after by an international community of Benedictine monks based in a local monastery which attracts some 50,000 pilgrims every year.
“It was like a bomb went off,” the town’s deputy mayor, Pierluigi Altavilla told Rai News 24.
“We are starting to despair. There are too many quakes now, we can’t bear it anymore.”
Damage was also reported at St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, one of the four cathedrals of the Holy See. It is also home to and maintained by a community of Benedictines.
Images from a pilgrimage to Norcia with a group of Benedictine Sisters in 2010
Monastic Congregation of St. Benedict 