Benedictine Father Roger Botz, 91, died April 21 in the St. John’s Abbey Health Center, Collegeville. The monastic community, his family and friends will receive the body at 7 p.m. Friday, April 25, and celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 26, in Saint John’s Abbey and University Church, with interment in the abbey cemetery. The service will be livestreamed at youtube.com/saintjohnsabbey.
The youngest of three children of Peter and Anna (Monn) Botz, he was born in Freeport on Dec. 10, 1933. After his school years at Sacred Heart School in Freeport, he attended Saint John’s Preparatory School and graduated in 1951. He enrolled in Saint John’s University that fall, completing a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and classical languages in 1956. Father Botz later earned a master’s in school administration. Additionally, he earned a certificate in Clinical Pastoral Education from the University of Indiana Hospitals in Indianapolis in 1989.
He entered the novitiate in 1953 and professed his first monastic vows on July 11, 1954. Continuing divinity studies at Saint John’s, Father Botz was ordained to the priesthood in 1960 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud.
After ordination, he served as pastor, educator, and school administrator. He was an associate pastor and high school teacher at St. Bernard’s Parish, St. Paul; a missionary priest, teacher and, later, principal at Colegio San Antonio Abad in Humacao, Puerto Rico. Returning to Saint John’s Father Botz served for a year as an admissions counselor for Saint John’s University. His next assignment was as director of Church and Civic Services for Saint John’s Abbey and University, and then as the director of the Parents Program at Saint John’s University. He later served as executive secretary of the Alumni Association for Saint John’s University.
Father Botz was appointed chaplain for Saint John’s University in 1981 and transitioned to hospital chaplaincy as director of the Spiritual Care Department at St. Cloud Hospital from 1985 to 1999. He continued serving as chaplain at the hospital from 1999 to 2022.
He is survived by his sister-in-law, Sally Botz, Richfield, Minnesota, and the community of Saint John’s Abbey.