Father Roger Botz, OSB

Monk of Saint John's Abbey
Collegeville, Minnesota

Born: December 10, 1933

Professed: July 11, 1955

Ordained: June 6, 1959

Died: April 21, 2025

Roger Botz was the youngest of two sons and one daughter born to Peter Botz and Anna (Monn) Botz in Freeport, Minnesota, on December 10, 1933.  His father worked as a rural mail carrier, and his mother was an elementary school teacher.

After his school years at Sacred Heart School in Freeport from 1939–1947, a parish of Saint John’s Abbey, Roger attended Saint John’s Preparatory School.  Graduating in 1951 he enrolled that fall in Saint John’s University.  He loved his music appreciation course and claimed thereafter to listen only to classical music.  He praised the liberal arts curriculum since, as he said, “it teaches us to appreciate life in a whole new way.”

Before completing a B.A. in philosophy and classical languages in 1956, Roger became a monk of Saint John’s Abbey. He entered the novitiate in 1953 and professed his first monastic vows on July 11, 1954.  Continuing divinity studies at Saint John’s, Father Roger was ordained to the priesthood in 1960 at Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Saint Cloud.  An appointment in the field of education required study over several summers at the University of Saint Thomas where Father Roger earned his M.A. in school administration in 1968.  Pastoral work in hospital ministry later required him to earn a certificate in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), which he was awarded in 1989 from the University of Indiana Hospitals in Indianapolis.

After ordination, Father Roger served as pastor, educator, and school administrator.  As associate pastor and high school teacher at Saint Bernard’s Parish, Saint Paul, from 1960–1962, he was initially terrified by this assignment because “I was a small country boy getting sent to a huge city.”  As a missionary priest and monk from 1962 to 1967, he taught English, reading, math, religion, and science at the Colegio San Antonio Abad in Humacao, Puerto Rico, where he was later (1965–1967) school principal.  Returning to Saint John’s in 1967, Father Roger 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 from 1968–1974, and then as the Director of the Parents Program at Saint John’s University from 1975–1977.

Father Roger served as Executive Secretary of the Alumni Association for Saint John’s University from 1976–1981. He was appointed chaplain for Saint John’s University from 1981–1984, in his own words, “one of the best assignments that I have had.”  He transitioned to hospital chaplaincy as Director of the Spiritual Care Department at Saint Cloud Hospital from 1985–1999, a job he subsequently described as “great work and a good fit for my talents.”  His most recent assignment was as chaplain at that hospital (1999-2022). 

Father Roger loved humor and puns.  Referring to Saint Thomas Aquinas, the “angelic doctor” of the Church, who was required reading in the seminary, he commented, “Aquinas was much more underlined than understood!”  He was also a history buff who had special interests in the Civil War and World War II.

Father Roger was a sensitive listener who considered his chaplaincy work as an extension of the Benedictine tradition of hospitality.   “We treat as Christ all who are ill and give ease in time of dis-ease.”  In his article “Care for the Sick” in 2012, we gain a profound glimpse into Father Roger’s caregiving philosophy: “Whether one-to-one or sacramental, the encounter is always sacred.  It is hugely gratifying to bring to hurting people a God who is incredibly generous, loving, and forgiving.  Sometimes it is the first time a person has met such a God.”

Always an engaging person, Father Roger enjoyed community gatherings and welcoming guests, especially people in need.  His outgoing personality and ready humor were enjoyable and instructive. 

Father Roger died on April 21, 2025 in the abbey health center. He is survived by his nieces and nephews and the community of Saint John’s Abbey.  The monks, family, and friends will receive the body at 7:00 pm on Friday, April 25 and celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial for Father Roger at 10:00 am on Saturday April 26 in Saint John’s Abbey and University Church, with interment in the abbey cemetery.

The service will be live-streamed at youtube.com/saintjohnsabbey.