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July 25, 2014Sister Mariah Dietz, OSB – 50 Years
Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck
Sister Mariah was born in Sentinel Butte, N.D. She says she has done everything she wanted to do in her 50 years as a Benedictine Sister. “As a sister, teacher and nurse, I am grateful for the opportunities to care for others.”
Whether caring for others as a nurse or teacher, Sister Mariah serves with love and compassion. She helped start the intensive care unit at St. Alexius Medical Center, taught nursing courses at the University of Mary for 30 years, and served three years as spiritual care director at St. Gabriel’s Community, a Bismarck care center. She currently is vice president of Mission Effectiveness at St. Alexius Medical Center where she feels she has come full circle and is back at home . “Working with others to engage the mission of Jesus is what we are all about. We are reminded of how we are called to serve.”
Sister Mariah says her greatest gifts of the past 50 years have been her sisters in monastic community. “I have been mentored by the best women ever. They taught me to pray. I love the Divine Office and lectio divina. This life hits at the very essence of why we are. We are created to know, love and serve God. We support and encourage one another. I am grateful I was chosen for this life.”
Fr. Victor Feser, OSB – 50 years
Assumption Abbey, Richardton
Fr. Feser’s work has been primarily in education: He began his monastic work in 1960, teaching a variety of courses at Assumption Abbey High School and Junior College. When the college closed in 1971, he was moved to St. Louis University, in St. Louis, where he lived at an Italian parish and assisted for four years.
After receiving a doctorate in mathematics in 1975, he began working as part-time chaplain to the Sisters of Annunciation Monastery and part-time faculty at Mary College (now University of Mary) in Bismarck. He eventually became full-time faculty at the university, where he has remained ever since, primarily teaching mathematics and computer science.
Beyond teaching, he assisted in various ways at parishes in Bismarck and elsewhere, including summer work at parishes in Cheyenne, Wyo. He recently retired from teaching at U-Mary has returned to Assumption Abbey, where he will continue pastoral work as he is able.
“The pastoral work always seemed to fit in with academic work, and certainly there was plentiful opportunity to do good service in many ways to a variety of people. There was nothing boring about it!”
Sister Patricia Schap, OSB – 50 Years
Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck
Sister Patricia was born in Valley City, N.D. God and teaching are the two great loves of her life. She became interested in joining Annunciation Monastery after reading a vocation story in the “Dakota Catholic Action.”
“It was about a woman who was searching for her place in life. It resonated with me and helped me open my heart and mind to God’s call.
She has taught at Cathedral and St. Mary’s grade schools in Bismarck, Christ the King School in Mandan and again at St. Mary’s as director of religious education for 23 years. Sister Patricia feels children bring a wonderful dimension to her life. She also served as subprioress of Annunciation Monastery for eight years. She directs the monastery’s oblate program, is a certified spiritual director and fulfills her love of teaching by volunteering to help children with their reading at St. Mary’s Elementary School.
Sister Patricia feels fulfilled by the richness of communal and personal prayer. “To live with others who seek God together and support one another on the journey to God is a blessing. We love one another, we live the Gospel values and we have fun. Each day is a new beginning to grow in God’s love.”
Sister Gerard Wald, OSB – 50 Years
Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck
Sister Gerard was born on a farm south of Napoleon, N.D. She credits the priest from her home parish with encouraging her vocation. “He talked about vocations all the time and interwove that into his homilies. I remember dreaming about being a sister and a nurse. The tug in my heart would come and go, but it would never go away.”
Sister Gerard’s love of God and people inspired her to integrate faith, healing and education into her varied ministries. She started the printing department at St. Alexius Medical Center, where she also served as a nurse and director of staff and patient education. She has served as residence director and coordinator of adult education services at the University of Mary and was director of vocation ministry at Annunciation Monastery. She currently directs the student volunteer program at the University of Mary and coordinates the monastery’s health center.
Sister Gerard cherishes the Benedictine monastic life of prayer, community and service with prayer structured into every day. “I love how strong and active our community life is. Benedictine hospitality is key to serving one another. Our life supports prayer and being continually challenged and enriched with opportunities to learn, grow and serve one another with love.”
Fr. Raymond Dietlein, OSB - 60 years
Assumption Abbey, Richardton
Fr. Raymond professed vows as a Benedictine monk in 1949 and was ordained a simplex priest in 1954 (which means he could celebrate Mass but not hear confessions until completion of theological studies one year later). He taught in the Abbey Prep School. In 1956, he suffered a stroke during open-heart surgery. After a long period of recuperation, he ministered in small parishes and as a hospital chaplain. Returning to the Abbey, he substituted at local parishes on weekends.
“I have felt fulfilled as a Benedictine priest in the Diocese of Bismarck reconciling people with God in the sacrament of penance. I am very grateful to God for being able to help people in their spiritual lives.”
Abbot Lawrence Wagner, OSB – 60 years
Assumption Abbey, Richardton
Abbot Lawrence Wagner, OSB was born in Haymarsh and baptized at the Church of St. Clement. He was one of four monks from Assumption Abbey sent to found a bi-lingual school and monastery in Bogotá, Columbia. He also worked at Sant'Anselmo in Rome, was elected Abbot of Assumption Abbey, and was later assigned to parishes at Kenmare, Bowbells and Lefor.
"Now is the time to be grateful for opportunities to spread the good news of the Gospel."
Sr. Rose Schweitzer, OSB – 75 Years
Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck
A prayerful life and a joyful spirit are what keep Sister Rose Schweitzer young at heart. She was born in a little sod house and raised on the Schweitzer homestead near Dodge, N.D. She and three of her four sisters entered religious life at St. Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, Minn. When members of this monastery were called upon to establish an independent religious community in Bismarck, N.D., Sister Rose volunteered. She and two of her sisters were among the 144 sisters who founded Annunciation Monastery.
Sister Rose is grateful to her mother who taught her to cook and bake at an early age because food service became her lifelong ministry. She particularly enjoys baking and did so in hospitals, care centers and convents in Red Lake and St. Cloud, Minn., and in Dickinson, Flasher, Richardton and Bismarck, N.D. She baked at St. Alexius Medical Center for 20 years prior to moving to the sisters’ convent in Garrison Memorial Hospital, where she was well known for her delicious homemade breads, fruit pies and her knack for growing beautiful African Violets.
Sister Rose lives at Annunciation Monastery and recently celebrated her 100th birthday. She says, “I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to be with people in my ministries. We all have gifts we can share to help others. I have always been happy in this life; faithfulness to daily prayer and living in this monastic community bring me peace.”
• Editor’s note: Click here for the recognition of diocesan priests celebrating significant anniversaries of ordination.
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