By 
Recently, three Sisters of Mother of God Monastery in Watertown marked milestone jubilees. Sisters Joyce Piatz and Ida Hericks both marked 70 years as Benedictines, and Sister Teresa Ann Wolf marked her 60th Anniversary. All three renewed their vows at a Mass celebrated at the Monastery Chapel.
Sister Ida Hericks is a native of Hoven. After completing her high school education, she entered Sacred Heart Monastery and received the religious name of Sister Gervais. She taught in Tabor and Stephan. She then volunteered for missionary work in Guatemala. At the suggestion of her superiors in Guatemala, Sister Ida reverted to her baptismal name. Sister Ida spent 22 years there, where she taught students directly and also trained catechists. Upon returning to the United States, she worked at the Mexican-American Cultural Center in San Antonio, Texas and later at the Benedictine Multicultural Center in Watertown, sponsored by the Sisters of the Monastery. She still enjoys gardening for the Community.
Barbara Piatz grew up in Aberdeen. In high school, she entered Sacred Heart Monastery- which she now calls “Grandma’s House.” She was given the religious name Sister Joyce. She spent the early years of her ministry in education, teaching in Glen Ullin, ND and Hoven, SD. She then furthered her education and became nutritionist. In this role, she served at St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre and River Park Treatment Center. Returning to the Monastery, Sister Joyce has served as the Community’s treasurer and as secretary to the Prioress.
Monica Mary Wolf, a native of Raymond, entered the newly-established Mother of God Priory at Pierre, South Dakota. She was given the name Sister Teresa Ann. She taught at the Fort Yates mission and Kranzburg. She then did pastoral ministry on the Papago Reservation in Arizona, before venturing to Peru and Guatemala. Upon her return to the United States, Sister Teresa Ann ministered to the Hispanic communities in the dioceses of Crookston, MN, Madison, WI and Youngstown, OH. In Watertown, she established the Benedictine Multicultural Center (now known as Glacial Lakes Multicultural Center) and served as the organization’s Director for serval years. Sister Teresa Ann is currently the Monastery Archivist.
Sisters Joyce Piatz and Ida Hericks recently celebrated their 70th Jubilee. Sister Teresa Ann Wolf celebrated her 60th. All three are numbers of Mother of God Monastery in Watertown
All three Sisters note changes. Notably for them, Latin prayers are now said in English. Habits are mostly gone. They now limit their ministries to the immediate area. In recent years, the Monastery campus has given way to the Village at Harmony Hill. The Sisters went from primarily living communally to individual apartments in the Village and Benet Place. This was a challenge for some members of the community. Yet the Benedictine tradition of adjusting to circumstance with prayer and work remains strong. Sister Teresa Ann explains, “We are diminished. We are not dead.”
In spite of the other changes to the Monastery, the Chapel will remain. The Sisters’ cemetery will remain as well. Perhaps even more than these physical manifestations, the joy of these jubilarians and their Benedictine Sisters remains.
