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January 1, 2026Dinner is extra when Mother Mary Joseph, superior, and two religious sisters of the St. Mary Sisters in Bismarck, eat at the University of Mary’s dining center once a week.
The meal is secondary, according to mother, who explained that eating at the cafeteria allows them to be present to young women who might be interested in a vocation. On Thursdays, after attending vespers and going for supper, many young women have questions and stories to share, drawn in by these women in habits dedicated to teaching and spreading the Catholic faith in schools.
Currently, Mother Mary Joseph shares a two-bedroom convent near the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit with Sisters Maria Bernadette and Mary Elizabeth. She plans to build a house of formation for up to 36 new sisters who will ultimately go into the world to serve the Church. Gound has been broken but the actual building awaits donations, beginning with a chapel that will welcome the public for prayer.
Attracting new vocations before the building is constructed might seem premature, but Mother Mary Joseph’s boundless enthusiasm and faith is unstoppable. After all, none of this was her idea to begin with but God’s through Bishop David Kagan’s invitation to come to the Bismarck Diocese.
Couldn’t say no
“There was a fire in me, and I couldn’t say no anymore,” Mother recalled. It was from the same spark that originally drew her to become one of the first sisters formed with the Ann Arbor, Michigan Dominicans. But after teaching in 14 schools in seven states, she wanted to form other women as teaching sisters to help set the Church on fire. “I was given 12 months of leave to start a community or come back,” she explained.
When word spread among those acquainted with Mother Mary Joseph, she began receiving invitations from bishops within weeks. The first was from a bishop in Armadale, Australia on the east coast.
“I did meet with him,” mother said. “His diocese is out in the bush where there is an anti-Catholic feeling.”
None of that dissuaded her, but under those circumstances, there is a need for four sisters to go together and for money to build a convent. She hopes that in the future, Australia will get those sisters and perhaps they can be formed in Bismarck. She also visited Ireland where sisters in habits are so rare that many asked why she was dressed that way.
Home to Bismarck
The invitation from Bishop Kagan was accepted in 2019, erecting the St. Mary Sisters of Bismarck for women dedicated to serving God through vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and St. Dominic’s four pillars: prayer, study, community and preaching. Once formed, these sisters will be missionaries who go where God calls. Formation begins with one year of postulancy, two years as a novice and five more years with temporary vows before making permanent ones.
Their day begins at 4:45 a.m. and includes prayer, readings, meditation and study. Mother likens the Dominican vocation to being like the Navy Seals by explaining, “We work hard, have a rigorous schedule and we don’t compromise. It is very fulfilling.”
The sisters will earn credentials to teach Catholic catechesis and a state certification in education. Sister Maria Bernadette is observing at Legacy High School, a large public school in Bismarck, right now before student teaching there in the spring and Sister Mary Elizabeth is taking a few more courses in education at the University of Mary. Once they have credentials, they will teach exclusively at Catholic schools; teaching many subjects but especially focused on religion.
Sister Maria Bernadette has been observing business classes for several hours a week, “I’m about to start teaching lessons in accounting and marketing,” she said. “The students have received me with open arms. I’m meeting people who have seen me around town or at Mass. One girl going to 6:45 a.m. Mass, but not in my class, asked after Mass, ‘Are you the sister I’ve seen around school?’”
The goal for Bismarck, according to mother, is to always have sisters here but Dominicans are for the world. She hopes that by having a house of formation—also known as a “motherhouse” for its association birthing new life—the Bismarck Diocese will be a part of this mission. For instance, the Nashville Dominicans (Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia) have sisters in over 40 schools across the United States and internationally.
The two-part goal now in Bismarck is finding support to build the motherhouse and to fill it. Having supper weekly at the University of Mary became an impromptu idea to help attract vocations.
Sister Mary Elizabeth noted that these meals have been an opportunity to get to know some of the students in a deeper way. “There is a wide range of conversation, and they seem to be willing to share their hearts with us. They’ve been very open and vulnerable in a beautiful way.”
For young women open to a religious vocation, they can come for a weekend or longer to help them discern before applying. Mother admits the visits will be much easier once the house of formation is built.
Join the mission
“Priests can’t do everything,” mother said. “We are the catechists to keep the faith strong and help everyone realize why we exist. Look at the many schools and hospitals that exist because of the sisters. Everyone wants heroes. The religious give their lives for others and are an example of discipline and faith because that is what drives them.”
For people wanting to support this mission, they can donate or buy a brick at StMarySisters.org.
“Fundraising is challenging,” mother said. “I am doing it between everything else. My top priority is forming the sisters. So, even just spreading the word—something everyone can do and costs nothing—would be so helpful.”
Investing in the sisters helps to change the world, according to her.
“Look at all the things the sisters have done throughout the world, and they came with nothing,” she said. “It’s because we are driven; we have a mission. We are teachers and we will teach.”