Mother of God Monastery
110  28th Ave. SE ~  Watertown,  SD  57201
Phone: 605-882-6600  Fax: 605-882-6658
monastery@dailypost.com

COMMUNITY

SISTER VERONICA HAAG

I am Sister Veronica Haag.  As a child, I was inspired by the Benedictine Monks of Assumption Abbey, Richardton, ND who shared St. Mary's Parish Church with the parishioners.

Every night when we prayed the family Rosary in German, my parents included a prayer so one of their children  would become a Religious.

I went to Catholic school for all of my education and had Benedictine Sisters for my teachers.

My first 23 years as a Benedictine Sister, I taught the elementary grades, gave music lessons, directed the choir and was the organist.

In 1974, I began doing parish ministry in several different parishes.

For the past 12 years, I have been in Onida, SD as the Parish Associate, the Religion Coordinator plus a variety of other things.  I have found to be ready for anything and everything.

Below are some special events in my life;

•  In 1967, I hitch hiked to the Oglala Sun Dance and was named into the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Marha ska (White Swan).

•  I made a four month sabbatical in San Antonio, "Ministry to Ministers" and then 5 months in Israel following the steps of Moses and Jesus in 1989 with the St. John's Program, Collegeville, MN.

•  My 33 years working with the Native Americans in North and South Dakota.  I was humbled and learned so much of their rich history and customs.

•  The 30 day retreat of spiritual renewal at Clarkston in 1993.

•  Celebrating my Golden Jubilee in 2001 as a Benedictine Sister.

•  In 2003, being part of the Benedictine Renewal Program in Rome and seeing so many places where Benedict lived and the historical churches.