Our Sisters

School Sisters of Notre Dame continue to live the vision of Foundress Blessed Theresa Gerhardinger in a variety of ways. Below our Sisters share stories of their work and ministry.

How SSND Communities Practice Communal Prayer

School Sisters of the Atlantic-Midwest Province live across North America and in England, forming small communities with one another where they live. The question of how these small communities practice communal prayer was posed by Sister Marlene Panko, SSND, Chicago, in the weekly newsletter. We will post their answers as the Sisters reply!

My Graced Adventure of Aging

Over the years, I was asked or offered to move into all sorts of unfamiliar ministerial situations. Having lots of physical and imaginative creative energy, I was quick to respond and act - to do anything, go anywhere. I inherited the spirit of my parents who emigrated from Germany for the adventure of America. The adventurous spirit in all the Theresa and Caroline stories helped to attract me to SSND. My life in SSND has always felt adventurous.

Canadian Sisters Share Personal Prayer Practices

In winding up our series on community prayer practices, we share some final thoughts from Sisters Rose Mary Sanders, Barbara Paleczny, and Celeste Reinhard.

Teaching Math for Deep Understanding in Haiti

Teachers in Haiti are gaining new tools and support to strengthen math instruction, thanks to the leadership of Sister Sharon Slear, SSND, and the expertise of Lisa Pallett, Associate Professor of Elementary Mathematics Education at Notre Dame of Maryland University.

"Mother Abbess": Embodiment of Hope

“Mother Abbess” was the title affectionately given to Sister Alice Donnelly by our young, new SSND member, Sister Rebecca Tayag. Rebecca may have called her "Mother," but she really did have ideal motherly qualities. She was generous, gentle, and caring. She made sure we had fresh fruit to eat, to maintain physical health as well as healthy minds and spirits. She was visionary, determined, and fun.

How We Pray at Marian Village

We sisters in independent living at Marian Village near Chicago gather for community prayer in the afternoon, Monday through Thursday. We take turns leading the prayer, a week at a time. We have agreed that the leader in prayer is free to plan it.

Ordinary Time Gifts Us with Time

Ordinary Time is not ordinary at all... in the Church, Ordinary Time highlights Jesus' ministry of healing and teaching and speaking the truth.

Stepping Out in Faith

As I spent time pondering instances when I experienced a call, a sense of being asked to trust and dare, of needing to stop and consider an invitation to step out in faith. After nearly 60 years as an SSND, I have countless examples, large and small. These calls have come from a variety of sources and imply different consequences.

Visiting a 1927 Canadian Convent

I had the honour of visiting Leipzig, Saskatchewan, a quaint and once active village now reduced to two major buildings. The magnificent St. Paschal Roman Catholic Church, built in 1913 by German immigrants, and the beautiful Notre Dame Convent. It was the first SSND mission in western Canada, which opened in 1927 to teach and minister to the German immigrants.

School Sisters of Notre Dame Announce Election of New Provincial Council

The election assembly convened to reflect on the future of the province and elect new leadership for the next four years. As they spent time in prayer and dialogue, the Spirit moved among the body of SSND Electors and called the electors to be of one heart and soul.

Cooper Visits Sisters

Sisters enjoyed some dog joy on Sept. 9 at Villa Assumpta's Rosary Community. Little Cooper entertained all with his antics and affection. Cooper's "mom," Barbra Swann, brought the therapy-trained pup to visit with the Sisters as they continued their preparations to move to Stella Maris.

Claiming our Aging and Life in Community

Preparations are now well underway at Villa Assumpta for our Sisters' upcoming move to Stella Maris, with closing rituals and moving dates scheduled. To help the Sisters prepare individually and communally for the change, Sister Kathleen Cornell reflected with the Sisters on claiming our aging during the morning of August 6. She reflected on aging as a gift of opportunity for inner work and soul work.

How We Pray in Beth Abba Community in Joppa, MD

Personal and community prayer shapes our daily rhythm, keeping us connected to one another and to God. Each morning and evening we gather with Give Us This Day as our guide. We pray their form of Morning or Evening Prayer, listening together to the day’s Gospel. After the reading, we set aside time for quiet personal reflection, allowing both of us to enter silence and personal prayer before we conclude together.

The Reason for "Ordinary Time"

What does Ordinary Time mean to us ? When I was finding the title 'Ordinary Time' inadequate, I looked carefully at the Church Year. Clearly, Advent-Christmas, and later, the Lent-Easter-Pentecost season capture our imagination. But

New Grade School Opens at Waterdown Laureate College

SSNDs at Snake Road received a pleasant surprise recently, what we remembered as the laundry, exercise room, and other SSND workspaces have been totally transformed into a grade school!

God's Ordinary, Everyday, Radical Gift

First, Ordinary Time is called “ordinary” not because it is somehow lesser than the other liturgical seasons, but - according to church historians - simply because the weeks of Ordinary Time are numbered. The Latin word ordinalis refers to numbers in a series. It marks a time when we are neither feasting nor fasting. (Wikipedia)

Our Spiritual Growth at Ozanam

Ozanam has created a really vibrant and deeply spiritual environment for both the Sisters and the residents. Our communal prayer life, here at Ozanam, is centered around the Eucharistic celebration which we are privileged to have every morning at 11 a.m. in our beautiful chape.

Stellar at Stella: A Star-Studded Jubilee!

Heaven to earth: We rejoice in the stellar celebration of Jubilee on August 20, 2025 at Stella Maris in Timonium, Maryland! The stars were Sisters Margaret Marie Giblin (75-year Jubilarian), and Sisters Mary Paulette Doyas, Maria Felipe Lopez, Mary Therese Feeley, and Marie Mack, (70-year Jubilarians). These stars were not light-years away but close to us, especially as they aligned in procession to the chapel at Stella Maris and sat in wheelchairs near the sanctuary.

Call to Worship: Stella Maris Jubilee August 20, 2025

This call to worship is a call to be detectives—we will detect God’s love in the readings, prayers and songs during our liturgy. We will especially relish what we discover: how God’s love and goodness has been and is present, to our celebrating Sister Jubilarians (Marg, Mary Paulette, Maria Felipe, Mary Therese, and Marie), and to all of us assembled here.

How We Pray in Waterdown, Ontario, CA

We in Waterdown are a very busy and involved community! We have daily, weekly, and monthly prayers, activities, and events. We continue to be an active community here in Waterdown!

Human Trafficking: Making A Difference

Combating Human Trafficking occupied several hours of time for SSNDs and other residents at 3030 Park in Bridgeport, CT, recently. We attached the labels to the soap and packed up many boxes for delivery to hotels located near large sporting events, such as the Super Bowl and World Series.

Be Not Afraid!

Our August board in Bridgeport shares this message from Matthew 14:27: Courage! It is I! Be not afraid. We have had moments like this in our own lives - perhaps even at this moment. Do you need courage now?

How We Pray at Charlesgate Apartments, Towson, MD

Sisters at Charlesgate Apartments practice community prayer all together. Typically, all 19 sisters from nine different buildings gather at one of the apartments for our monthly Solidarity Prayer. We take turns hosting the prayer.

Who is Mary to the School Sisters of Notre Dame?

"Devotion to Mary has many expressions in the heritage of the School Sisters of Notre Dame." So begins a section on the Blessed Mother housed on the SSND Sturdy Roots website. From artwork to reflections, the SSNDs explore the question of Mary in many moving and thoughtful ways on the site created and curated by Sister Judy Best, SSND.

Continued