Originally published by the Kirksville Daily Express here. Republished with permission.  By Jay Nies When Sister Ruth Ann Klauser was young, several older School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) gave her clear advice on how to live like they were living. She takes it all to heart now in her own season of retirement. “To live one day at a...Read more

By Chloe Gunther Originally published here by Jesuit Refugee Service. Republished with permission. Roxanne Schares heard God’s call as a young girl. With religious sisters teaching her in school and two aunts who had followed the same call, she grew up the eldest of eight children on a small farm in northeastern Iowa, keenly aware of the opportunity to become...Read more

The 62nd World Day of Prayer for Vocations will be observed Sunday, May 11, 2025. This is the Fourth Sunday of Easter, also known as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” The purpose of this day is to publicly fulfill the Lord’s instruction to, “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). Please pray that...Read more

From “Call Stories to Help You Discern,” republished with permission from VISION Vocation Guide 2025, pp. 19-21.  The stories of how God calls people to religious life are as varied as the people in that life. Here we share Sister Limétèze’s story, unique but with some common threads. Like others, her story shows how God’s call is persistent, requires openness,...Read more

Click here for the SSND Atlantic-Midwest Province Lenten Reflections The following Lenten reflections, prepared by the SSND North American Vocation Team, are based on You Are Sent, the Constitution of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. (Print PDF) For more information, please contact sisters@ssnd.org or hermanas@ssnd.org. The Lenten season brings us the opportunity to look more carefully at our life...Read more

“What would the Church be without religious sisters and consecrated laywomen? The Church cannot be understood without them.” ~Pope Francis, February 2022 February 2 is the World Day for Consecrated Life, instituted in 1997 by Pope Saint John Paul II. This celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord which is also known as Candlemas Day;...Read more

To “seek” is defined as “an attempt to find (something).” In scripture alone there are multiple uses of the word: in reference to seeking out a resting place (Numbers 10); seeking the good of a people (Esther 10); seeking to dwell in the Lord’s house all the days of my life (Psalm 27); or seeking the kingdom of God (Matthew...Read more

The SSND North American Vocation Team (NAVT) is ready for the New Year! Several opportunities are planned to connect young adults with SSND and SSND with young adults, as this is the demographic most likely to be in a stage of discerning their vocation in life. Please help us promote the following events to young adults within your circle of...Read more

National Vocation Awareness Week (NVAW) in the U.S. is celebrated the first full week in November every year. The SSND North American Vocation Team invites everyone to consider what can be done to increase the awareness and understanding of religious vocations during NVAW and beyond. 10 ways to help promote a culture of vocation: Pray for all young people to...Read more

We are happy to be a part of the fifth annual Meet Our Sisters Tour during National Vocation Awareness Week (NVAW) November 5-11, 2023. The “tour” highlights the life, mission and ministries of Catholic sisters living and serving throughout Illinois. Learn more here. School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) were founded in 1833 in Bavaria by Blessed Theresa of Jesus...Read more