Shrine of Our Lady of the Prairies

The shrine's early prominence is largely attributable to Father Frederic Nelson, who opened a chapel in direct opposition to the diocesan church after the introduction of the Novus Ordo Mass.^[4] Under Father Nelson's leadership, the shrine developed a considerable following, despite its remote location. His efforts included a nationally syndicated radio program, "The Marian Hour," a newsletter called "Mary Faithful," and a school that accommodated boarding students from across the country.^[4] Annually, Father Nelson also organized pilgrimages to the chapel, drawing hundreds, and at times thousands, of devotees to Powers Lake.^[4]

In 1970, Father Nelson caused confusion among parishioners by failing to appear for Sunday mass, leading to a note on the church door declaring the parish "under interdict and closed until further notice."^[5] This incident followed Father Nelson's campaigns against local movie theaters, "adult-type films," and his efforts to reform community "morality" by opposing short skirts and uncovered heads, which led him to refuse mass to non-compliant parishioners.^[5]

The Bismarck diocese subsequently stated he had gone on "vacation to the West Coast," a claim not widely believed by the community, given the note signed with his initials, and is likely related to Father Nelson's "frustration" over uncovered heads leading to his sudden departure.^[5]

Following Father Nelson's death in 1988, the shrine experienced a period of decline, characterized by a succession of "difficult and even scandalous clergy."^[4] For several years, the facility remained largely vacant.^[4]

In early 2003, Ryan St. Anne Scott, also known as Ryan Patrick Scott, assumed the role of administrator at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Prairies.^[1][3] St. Anne, 51 at the time, presented himself as a "traditional Catholic priest" and abbot of an independent Benedictine monastery named Holy Rosary Abbey.^[3] He advocated for the Latin Mass and rejected the post-Vatican II changes.^[3]

His arrival at the Shrine was facilitated by Roseanna Gevelinger, the Shrine's treasurer, who had met and admired him through traditional Catholic gatherings.^[1] The board, reportedly desperate for a priest, did not thoroughly investigate his past.^[1]

Bishop Paul Zipfel of the Bismarck Catholic Diocese explicitly stated that he did not recognize St. Anne as a priest, and the shrine itself was not considered part of the diocese.^[3] Similarly, the Diocese of Peoria and at least four other dioceses publicly warned Catholics that St. Anne was not a legitimate priest and that his administered sacraments and ceremonies were not sanctioned by the Church.^[6] Church officials in Dubuque, Iowa, where St. Anne claimed a retired Roman Catholic archbishop validated his ordination, stated that the archbishop was suffering from Alzheimer's disease at the time and has since died.^[1]

St. Ambrose University, where he claimed to have attended seminary, has no record of his attendance, and his marriage during that period would have disqualified him from priestly training.^[1]

St. Anne was involved in numerous legal conflicts. In April 2004, he and Roseanna Gevelinger obtained a restraining order against shrine board members Paul Dobrowski and Jerry Durick, alleging threats and intentions to destroy property and financial records.^[3] St. Anne also claimed the shrine was under investigation for finances prior to his arrival.^[3] Conversely, the Shrine's board members accused St. Anne of inability to properly conduct Holy Week rituals and attempting to gain financial control of the Shrine and its assets.^[1] This led to a lawsuit from St. Anne seeking back pay and damages.^[1]

St. Anne left Powers Lake in August 2004, at the request of the Shrine's board of directors.^[3] He moved to Galesburg, Illinois, where he intended to establish a new independent Benedictine monastery. Roseanna Gevelinger, then 82, and one other elderly former parishioner accompanied him.^[1]

After St. Anne's departure, the Shrine of Our Lady of the Prairies reportedly had "zero" parishioners, though the board of directors expressed a desire to find another "traditional Catholic priest" to offer the Latin Mass and continued broadcasting its radio program, "The Marian Hour."^[3]