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.

Sister Shirley Celebrates 60th Jubilee in Chicago

To celebrate her 60th Jubilee, Sister Shirley Stockus chose to celebrate in a unique way. Instead of one large celebration, Sister Shirley opted for a few smaller gatherings. At all the events, the Sisters shared prayer, refreshments, lively conversations, and laughter. Blessings and prayers from all of us to you on your Jubilee year, Shirley!

Brother Ken Shares Stories of Hope and Healing

On Friday, 21st June 2025, the School Sisters of Notre Dame welcomed Brother Ken, a Holy Cross Brother from Ghana, for a heartfelt and inspiring talk. His testimony, drawn from years of working with people affected by leprosy, left a profound impact on the community. Brother Ken spoke openly about the harsh realities of life and ministry in Ghana. He described the deep stigma still surrounding leprosy—how those suffering are often marginalized, feared, and forgotten.

Beach Balls and Bubbles at Stella Maris

Sisters at Stella Maris enjoyed a summer deck party recently, courtesy Sister Missy Gugerty's sister, Carolyn Gugerty Hrdlick! Carolyn, an NDP alumna and nurse, owns a business that assists elders in their homes. Through an internship program promoted by NDP to help students explore different career paths, Carolyn brought three NDP students who are interested in becoming nurses to visit our Sisters for an afternoon.

Freeing Butterflies at the Royal Botanical Gardens

A group from SSND Waterdown enjoyed a trip to the Royal Botanical Gardens on May 20 in Hamilton, Ontario. We visited the beautiful Lilac Dell. It was a real treat for all the senses with the amazing smell and variety of colours of lilacs everywhere

Good News from Haiti Shared with Province

"Good News Rules," a presentation from the Haiti Collaboration Committee (HCC), was given to Sisters and Associates at three locations in the province over the past month: Marian Village near Chicago, Villa Assumpta in Baltimore, and Senior Living Hospitality in Bridgeport, CT.

Chicago Crosstown Rivalry 2025

A friendly baseball team rivalry was in full expression recently at Marian Village in Homer Glen, IL, when the Crosstown Classic was played. Both baseball teams - the Cubs and the White Sox - are from Chicago, but the fans tend to favor either the North Side team (Cubs) or the South Side team (White Sox).

May Crowning at Villa Assumpta

On May 14th, the Sisters at Villa Assumpta devoted time to honoring Mary. Many gathered physically in the Chapel, and others participated through closed-circuit TV. The prayer was led by our 2025 SSND Jubilarians. The Opening Song was “Immaculate Mary.”

Marian Village Sisters Enjoy Province Jubilee

The Province Jubilee Celebration on May 17, 2025, was a wonderful opportunity for Sisters in Assisted Living and Independent Living at Marian Village, Homer Glen, IL, to come together.

Ontario Sisters Join Indigenous Peoples on Red Dress Day

"Our Red Dress Day was better than ever," Sister Celeste said of the event. "That is probably because the Indigenous and we worked together on it, and because we are getting comfortable working with each other. It was very powerful."

Waterdown Volunteers "Just Like to Visit!"

SSND Waterdown LEAD has been blessed with many volunteers over the years. Some, who want to be part of our faith-based environment, are from the local community. Some are friends of our sisters. Most recently, we've been doubly blessed to have Associate-Volunteers!