Experience Together

Meet Sister Anna Marie Reha

Anna Marie Reha, SSNDSister Anna Marie Reha was born in Iowa City, Iowa. She professed first vows as a School Sister of Notre Dame in Mankato, Minn., in 1983 and she served as a teacher at St. Matthew in St. Paul, Minn., from 1984 to 1991. From 1992 to 2002, she was in pastoral ministry at San Sebastian in San Marcos, Guatemala, while also serving as director of vocations in Guatemala from 1994 to 1998. From 2005 to 2015, she was the director of Hispanic ministry for the Diocese of New Ulm in Minnesota.

Sister Anna Marie earned her bachelor’s in elementary education from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 1984 and a master’s of divinity from Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas, in 2005.

On how my ministries have prepared me for leadership …

Perhaps most influential were my years in Guatemala where the sacred responsibility of creating a parish honed my organizational and long-term planning skills. More importantly, ministry in another culture and with a new language called me to listen carefully and learn from the other — beginning from a place of deep vulnerability. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground," has been my leadership mantra. (Ex 3:5)

On models of Christian leadership …

I have been privileged to work with Bishop Alvaro Ramazzini, a person of strong principles who has many times risked his life to stand with and speak for the poor and marginalized. His compassion, great sense of humor and humility inspire me.

One ministry I never expected …

Seven years ago, a young undocumented Latino woman was in a tragic accident. She was convicted of vehicular homicide, though many of us believe her boyfriend was the driver and had fled the scene. I was asked to visit her in prison — jail was a place I’d never been before. I came to understand in a deep and personal way Jesus’ command to visit the imprisoned. I visit Olga every two to three weeks; our relationship is a profound grace in my life.

My hope for our future as SSNDs …

… that our common search for and doing God’s will leads us to deeper wisdom, greater unity – a community of one mind and one heart, especially in this middle space.

Photo credit: Sister Mary Kay Gosch

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