Sister Anne (Dolores) Boeckers was born to Melchior (Michael) and Margaret (Eichoff) in New Munich, MN on September 21, 1929, the sixth in a family of seven, four girls and three boys. In 1944, Sister Anne entered the scholasticate at St. Benedict’s in St. Joseph, MN. As a novice in 1948, she chose to join the Sisters who were founding a new Priory in St. Paul, MN. She made her first Profession of Vows on July 11, 1949. She received a B.A. degree in Science and Elementary Education at St. Catherine’s College, St. Paul, MN. After several years of teaching, Sister Anne went on to acquire an M.S. in Elementary Administration at St. Cloud College. Sister Anne lived her calling to minister as a teacher at St. Bernard’s, St. Paul; Visitation, Minneapolis; St. Philip’s, Litchfield and at St. Anne’s, Minneapolis where she also later served as principal. She received many awards for her commitment to education.
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October 2020 E-Newsletter
September 2020
As a part of our commissioning service at the September 12 day of community meetings, each member of the community was presented with a copy of her first vows. We were invited to reflect on that original commitment to seek God with this community and to be of service to one another and the Church.
The Benedictine Feasts days of February 10 and July 11 are typically the dates marked by commitment for a monastic. October 18 is my anniversary date. It was on this day in 1987 that I professed my first vows. The reason for such a date was due to the fact that I entered the Novitiate on the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross, September 14 of 1986, and so a date in October of the following year made sense.
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September 2020 E-Newsletter
August 2020
Fall is a favorite season for many of us. All around we see folks collecting dried seeds for spring planting, some are nurturing the ground with rich soil or cleaning a bird feeder. Others may be modifying daily schedules to accommodate school or childcare needs. We are all seeking normality in a time of uncertainty amidst global health concerns. All around we are hearing the following words, intending to offer comfort: “We are all in this together.”
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August 2020 E-Newsletter
August 2020
It has now been about a half-year, or perhaps a half-century, since the coronavirus pandemic exploded onto our national, communal, and individual consciousness. The end of the stay-at-home order and the reopening of Minnesota has not brought a return to normal, but a time that feels like no-time, like an in-between place.
At the monastery, we’ve been encouraged to consider this no-time as a “covid pause.” During no-time, we are outside of our normal routine, making this a very good time for us to slow down and be reflective. We are all invited to consider and begin to act on what really matters, what doesn’t matter, and what needs to change in our lives.
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In Remembrance of Sister Duane Moes, OSB
July 2020
Sister Linda Soler, OSB, gave the eulogy at Sister Duane’s service. The following is the eulogy as written and spoken.
The monastic community would like to offer our sympathy and prayers to the family and friends of Sister Duane. We had the privilege of journeying with Sr. Duane because she touched the lives of so many people. A heartfelt thank you to our healthcare staff who cared for Sister Duane with unconditional love. With dignity and grace, she lived her monastic life fulfilling her Baptismal call by letting go to take the hand of God. In the Gospel, Jesus said I am the way and the truth, and the life. Sister Duane would embrace those words knowing someday Jesus would prepare a place for her. As in the Gospel, Sister Duane did believe, and allowed the works of Jesus, knowing life would not always be easy, yet the Gospel message was the fabric of her life when Jesus said “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God, have faith also in me.”
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In Memoriam: Sister Duane Moes, OSB
July 2020
Sister Duane (Patricia) Moes was born on December 27, 1921 and died peacefully on June 30, 2020 in the Monastery Healthcare Center at age 98, having lived her monastic profession 76 years. She was the last living charter member of our Community. Sister Duane was born to John Moes, a farmer and telephone company employee, and Margaret (Gergen) in New Trier, MN. She was second in a family of four children. She had three brothers — Bernard, John, and Nicholas. She received the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation at St. Mary’s Church in New Trier. In 1938 she entered the Scholasticate at St. Benedict’s in St. Joseph, MN. After attending high school at St. Benedict’s Academy, she graduated from the College of St. Catherine. She continued her studies at the College of St. Benedict, the College of St. Catherine, Moorhead State College and Ball State University.
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