Fr. Schmidt

Mass of Christian Burial for Father Sebastian Schmidt, OSB, 82, of Richardton will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at the Assumption Abbey Church, followed by burial in the Abbey Cemetery.


Visitation for Fr. Sebastian will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a Vigil service being held at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 21, at the Assumption Abbey Church.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service on Wednesday.


Father Sebastian (Leopold) Schmidt, OSB, 82, died at the Richardton Health Center on February 18, 2017, from pancreatic cancer.  Fr. Sebastian was born in Hosmer, SD, on November 23, 1934, to Ludwig and Clara (Lacher) Schmidt.  He received his elementary education in Hosmer.


He mentioned to his pastor that he was interested in becoming a priest and was directed to Assumption Abbey, Richardton, ND.  At the Abbey Fr. Sebastian received his high school education and first two years of college.  On June 17, 1954, he entered the novitiate and made his monastic profession on July 11, 1955.  He went to St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN, to finish college and graduated with honors.  After completing seminary studies at the Abbey he was ordained to the priesthood on May 26, 1960.


During the summers of 1959 and 1960 Fr. Sebastian attended Marquette University where he studied biology.  He volunteered to go to the Abbey’s daughter house, Monasterio Benedictino de Tibatí, Bogotá, Colombia.  He received his appointment to Tibatí on June 8, 1961, and departed on July 30, 1961.  Even though his work at Tibatí and its two schools of Colegio San Carlos and Colegio San Benito de Tibatí was his signature work and where he made many lifelong friends, he was asked to return several times to Richardton to help out at home.


On August 23, 1966, Fr. Sebastian was appointed Superintendent of the Abbey Prep School.  During 1967 and 1968, he studied at North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND, from where he earned a MED in Counseling.  In the fall of 1968 he returned to Colombia.  The year 1975 found him at the Abbey again and on July 1, 1976, he was appointed Formation and Vocation Director.  With 1978 he returned to Bogotá, Colombia.  Over the years he worked in many positions at Tibatí and its schools, especially Colegio San Carlos, including Rector of Colegio San Carlos from 1965 to 1966, administrator, teacher, coach, chaplain, and formation director.  He was Prior of Monasterio Benedictino de Tibatí from July 1, 1987, to April 7, 1996.  He also served as
economo
at Tibatí.


After returning to the United States at the end of December, 1999, he was named pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Glen Ullin, ND, on January, 2000, which included a Mass during the summer at Lake Tschida.  Later St. Ann’s Church, Hebron, ND was added to his responsibilities.  Fr. Sebastian concluded his work at Glen Ullin on June 30, 2007.  On August 14, 2007, Fr. Sebastian went to Madonna Living Center, Rochester, MN, as resident chaplain.  In May of 2009 he returned to the Abbey and on September 1 was appointed guest master.  He also served as Subprior for many years and did pastoral substitute work.  He was substitute chaplain at CHI St. Joseph’s Hospital, Dickinson, ND.


Fr. Sebastian is preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Anton (Alta) Schmidt and Larry (Shirley & Jeanie) Schmidt; four sisters, Barbara Schmidt, Phyllis (Herbert) Hieb, Florence (Anton) Gisi, and Martha (Ken) Halvorson.  He is survived by three sisters, Deloris (Andy) Imberi, Magdalene (Marvin) Carroll, and Cathy (Gary) Parks; 28 nieces and nephews and his monastic community.  Always competitive, hardworking, and faithful to the monastic life, he was a sports man to the core.


Burial Date: February 22, 2017

Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at the Assumption Abbey Church
Vigil Service:  7:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 21, at the Assumption Abbey Church