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. A woman of faith, longing for the oneness for which Jesus Christ was sent and ever seeking God’s will, Blessed Theresa founded the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Bavaria in...Read more

The SSND Guide to Laudato Si’ Commitment focus for April 15-June 2 is Response to Cry of the Earth. The following is a short prayer and a sample list of ways to work toward that goal: Creator God, You fill the earth with life. Lead us to live in harmony with your creation. May we respect all life from the...Read more

We all know what an ATM is. But an AVM? In summer 2023, the SSND North American Vocation Team (NAVT) invited sisters to consider becoming Area Vocation Ministers (AVM), creating a personalized commitment, a “build your own burger” version of local vocation ministry. We are grateful to the initial group of sisters who responded to this invitation: Sisters Patricia Hammond,...Read more

For 52 weeks a year, School Sisters of Notre Dame and all women religious give public witness to Christ through a diversity of ministerial works such as teaching, pastoral care, health care, retreat and spirituality programs, and a multitude of other outreach efforts. They often work on the frontlines of global change, striving to improve various aspects of society, especially...Read more

Dr. Maggie Flanagan, MD, director of the Nun Study at UT Health San Antonio, recently received a $100,000 Rising STARs award from the University of Texas Board of Regents to advance research relating to Alzheimer’s Disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. This is exciting news for the School Sisters of Notre Dame, who have had a particular connection to this work...Read more

In response to Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, School Sisters of Notre Dame are working toward a better future for our Earth in many large and small ways. Here are just a handful: In Sierra Leone, Sister Sarah Tanjo and Sister Vera Owoh are engaging their students in ecological education and action inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’. At...Read more

See the complete SSND Guide to Laudato Si’ Commitment...Read more

by Sister Limeteze Pierre-Gilles “…some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold” (Matthew 13:8) Recently this hopeful scripture passage came to life for me in a new way. Sister Cathy Bonfield, a teacher at Saint Martha Catholic School in Sarasota, Florida, and Tammi Peters, the school counselor, invited me to their school for...Read more

The SSND Guide to Laudato Si’ Commitment focus for January 15-March 3 is Ecological Education. The following is a short prayer and a sample list of ways to work toward that goal: God of All, You teach us how to live so that others may simply live. Through our words and actions may we inspire others to do the same. Suggested Actions:...Read more

by Sister Bridget Waldorf, SSND Photographs, books, dolls, videos, artifacts from around the world and more, were all part of my School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) exhibit at Cristo Rey Dallas (CRD) College Prep School (an affiliated ministry of the SSND Central Pacific Province) for three days in October, including Foundation Day. Sometimes I’m not sure where my ideas come...Read more