By Amanda Zurface, JCL
When Patrick Norton learned that a special announcement would be made on August 20, 2025, he exclaimed: “I have waited fifteen years!”
That announcement, delivered by Bishop Andrew Cozzens, was the long-awaited message that the Diocese of Crookston is officially opening the cause for canonization of Sister Annella Zervas. For Patrick—whose journey with Sister Annella began in 2010 with a life-changing encounter—this moment marked the fruit of years of prayer and trust in God’s timing.
A Life-Changing Encounter
Patrick’s journey began at the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto at St. Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph, Minnesota. While painting lampposts near the statue of Mary, he paused to pray, thanking the Blessed Mother for the privilege of the work and asking that he might do it well.
At that moment, he looked down and saw a religious sister in full Benedictine habit. She smiled and said: “You are doing a good job.” Patrick remembers that she said more, but he was so overwhelmed by her presence that he could hardly take it in. Then, as suddenly as she appeared, she was gone.
For two years, Patrick carried this mysterious encounter quietly, uncertain of what it meant.
Discovering Sister Annella
In 2012, Patrick met Brendan King, who told him about a “holy nun” buried in the cemetery of St. Benedict’s Monastery. That nun was Sister Annella Zervas, a Benedictine who lived only 26 years.
Patrick’s curiosity grew, and his search led him back to St. Benedict’s Monastery. There, a Benedictine sister—herself named Annella—placed into his hands a copy of Ticket for Eternity, the official biography of Sister Annella by James Kritzeck. The story he encountered was unlike any other: a young woman whose short life was consumed by a rare and painful skin disease, yet who bore her suffering with remarkable peace, surrender, and trust in God.
Sharing Her Story
With the help of generous benefactors, Patrick began distributing Ticket for Eternity and prayer cards so that others could come to know her witness. He organized prayer gatherings at the grotto, where people entrusted their intentions and prayed fervently for the opening of her cause.
Patrick was entrusted with some of Sister Annella’s personal belongings by her relatives. He preserved them carefully, holding on to the hope that the Church would one day open her cause. In October 2024, these treasured belongings were formally placed into the care of the Diocese of Crookston and the Sister Annella Guild, ensuring they would be safeguarded for study and devotion.
Recognition by the Church
Through his perseverance—sharing his encounter at the grotto and distributing her biography far and wide—Patrick has brought her story back to the surface for our day. Countless testimonies have since emerged from people who have drawn strength and hope from her witness. Sister Annella’s faithful endurance in suffering has become a source of encouragement, pointing people back to God in the midst of their own trials.
Now, in response to the prayers and petitions of the faithful, Bishop Cozzens has placed her life before the Church, opening the way for formal study and discernment of her sanctity.
About the Author:
Amanda Zurface, JCL, is the Diocesan Postulator for the Cause of Sister Annella Zervas. Holding degrees in canon law and theology, she was introduced to Patrick Norton in 2020 and moved to assist in advancing the cause. She considers it a grace to share Sister Annella’s story, which shows us how to entrust our pain to God and live in deep friendship with Christ, our truest friend.