Each year on May 9, School Sisters of Notre Dame celebrate the feast day of our foundress, Blessed Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger, who died on this day in 1879. We continue to look to Blessed Theresa as a guide for our own lives and times, and pray that the charism entrusted to her might continue to find life and expression...Read more

Thanks to Irene Simmons for sharing these photos from the collection of her mother, Louise Klein Bialobrzeski. The first photo shows Louise’s aunt, Sister Ceslawa Kielpinski (second from left), sewing in the convent yard with a group of fellow sisters. The second shows her working in the garden as a novice, perhaps at St. Adelbert’s in Milwaukee where she ministered...Read more

Sister Charlene Zeisset spoke with Libby Collins at Wisconsin’s WTMJ about the Nun Study, a research project fueled by data from the School Sisters of Notre Dame that has changed the way doctors and scientists understand Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. The study has analyzed more than 30 years of aging and dementia patterns of 678 School Sisters of Notre...Read more

The SSND North American Archives is a treasure trove of documents, photographs, books, audio-visual materials, and other items that date back to the establishment of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in North America. One of the many cherished articles is the monstrance created for the 50th jubilee of Mother Caroline Friess, who led the expansion of SSND into North...Read more

During this year’s Catholic Sisters Week, we are excited to be part of the #LikeaCatholicSister campaign—a national initiative that highlights the incredible work of Catholic Sisters across the country. This campaign showcases the diverse, dynamic, and impactful ways Sisters serve today. Below are just a handful of examples of how SSND are responding to the needs of our times in their ministries,...Read more

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As we celebrate Catholic School Week, we remember the work that Sister Caroleen Hensgen did to break new ground for women in the world of Catholic education. In 1967, this SSND was appointed to serve as the superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Dallas-Fort Worth, making her the first woman to hold that position in the United States....Read more

How are SSND Sisters, Associates, and Sponsored Ministries celebrating Advent? The Season of Advent is here and with it comes a time of hopeful longing, joyful expectation, prayerful penance, and spiritual preparation as we prepare for the coming of Christ. There are many ways to observe this liturgical season—by setting aside extra time for daily prayers or devotional readings, lighting...Read more

The School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) ministered in Liberia for two decades, beginning in October 1970. There they devoted their whole hearts to learning the culture and needs of their neighbors. The sisters undertook curriculum planning, teacher training, and teaching, eventually opening a secondary school. In August 1990, the sisters who were ministering in Liberia at the time were...Read more

The SSND Guide to Laudato Si’ Commitment focus for June 3-July 21 is Ecological Economics. The following is a short prayer and a sample list of ways to work toward that goal: God of Wisdom, You gifted us with right judgement and courage. Help us to share the earth’s resources fairly and to use them wisely. Stand with us as...Read more