By Katrina Genereux
The Sister Annella Guild is hosting a Recollection Day on Sunday, May 31, 2026. All are invited to register and attend. It will be held at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Saint Joseph, Minnesota, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
“The Monastery grounds, the grotto and the grave are all holy ground in and of themselves, of course, but especially to those who believe in the holy witness of Sister Annella,” Father Robert Schreiner said.
Father Schreiner is the Spiritual Director of the Sister Annella Guild. He said it is the Guild’s job to make Sister Annella’s story as widely known as possible. As Spiritual Director, he is involved in cultivating the prayer lives and providing spiritual guidance to Guild members in their various roles, as well as developing and promoting materials to further her cause.
Father Schreiner became aware of Sister Annella when somebody dropped off a pamphlet at the Diocese of Crookston offices, where he was director of the Office of the New Evangelization. A few years later, someone from the diocese asked Patrick Norton to contact him. He attended one of the prayer gatherings at the grotto and the gravesite and has been involved ever since.
Related: Sister Annella Zervas: A Life Set Apart, with Fr. Bob Schreiner
A day of recollection is a mini-retreat that helps participants pause, withdraw from daily noise, and deepen their relationship with God. The focus for this day is the life of Servant of God Annella Zervas, OSB. It will be a spiritually enriching experience for those familiar with her, as well as those just learning about her story.
“The Guild and its leadership were keen on developing a wide range of experiences for people to commemorate the 100th anniversary of sister’s death,” said Father Schreiner. “It seemed natural and right to include gathering people in prayerful reflection around the gift and mystery of her life.”
Over the course of three seminars, Father Schreiner will speak about the nature of suffering and the wisdom of the Little Flowers of Suffering: Saint Thérèse of Lisieux and Servant of God Sister Annella Zervas. He will share meditations based on the writings and experiences of both holy women.
Father Schreiner has several hopes for participants in the day of recollection:
“Firstly, to draw closer to Christ. Secondly, to recognize the possibility of their own suffering in life — great or small — contributing to their own holiness of life in, with, and through Christ. Lastly, perhaps they may learn something or gain a new insight about the life of Sister Annella which can bring them more closely to the love of Christ crucified.”
In addition to Mass, seminars, and lunch, the day will include a time of prayer at the grave of Servant of God Annella Zervas, OSB, with Patrick Norton.
Related: How Patrick Norton Resparked Devotion to Sister Annella Zervas
“It is a special dimension of this day, I think, that we hold it such that we can connect with the monthly prayer gathering at the Grotto and grave of Sister Annella, since that prayer meeting has been going on for years, long before the Cause was formalized and a guild even existed,” he said. “It is an integration of the past and the present efforts to make her story available to people.”
“We will simply join the group that gathers that day — as they have for years now — and allow the time to be guided by their habit of prayer,” said Father Schreiner. “It starts at the Grotto with a brief testimony by Patrick Norton, followed by the Rosary. Then we take the short walk to the cemetery and the site of her grave and conclude that time with some more prayers led by Patrick. In my experience, it is a very beautiful joining of the faithful in joy and gladness for what God has done for us and for his beloved.”
Members of the Guild’s Board of Directors and other Guild Members will be present throughout the day to join in fellowship. A donation is requested to cover lunch. Registration is now open and will remain available through May 26, 2026.
About the Author
Katrina Genereux is a wife and mother living in the Diocese of Crookston. Katrina has served the diocese in communications for more than ten years and now chairs the Communications Committee for the Guild of Sister Annella. She has developed a spiritual friendship with Sister Annella and treasures the opportunity to share her story and the canonization process with her children.