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.

A Model Nun

The 1960s were a time of transition both inside and outside the institutional walls of Catholic schools and convents. We saw our SSND teachers change from the more voluminous and starched veil framing their faces to the closer-fitting headgear. One face in either style was unforgettable...

Waterdown Sisters Celebrate 60 Years of Lake Marie

By Stacie Perreault, Waterdown LEAD Department

Florida Associate Celebrates 20 Years

Bernadette Macy shares thoughts from West Palm Beach

Communion through Diminishment

By Sister Justine Nutz, SSND

We hold in our hearts many sisters, beloved relatives and friends who are currently suffering serious illnesses and many who have recently gone on to God.

Waterdown Sisters Celebrate Jubilees

The day started with all the Jubilarians receiving a blessing and corsage for the celebratory day. Following a beautiful Jubilee Liturgy Mass, Sisters and guests and Associates made their way to the dining room to enjoy a turkey dinner, and maybe a glass of rosé to toast the celebration!

The Bluebirds of Nun Migration Season

Small blue envelopes placed atop breakfast plates delivered the news in late June or early July: You would be "flying" to another mission within days. Sister Marcianne Bzdon, SSND, remembers older Sisters calling the blue envelopes "bluebirds."

Death Penalty Abolitionists Attend Tribeca Film Festival

Sister Eileen Reilly, SSND, traveled to New York City in June to see "Rebel Nun," a documentary about Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, and her work to abolish the death penalty. The film was shown at the Tribeca Film Festival, a star-studded event that attracted red-carpet celebrities from Gloria Steinem and Taylor Swift to Robert DeNiro and Trevor Noah. One celebrity was Sister Helen, who is Sister Eileen's friend and mentor in the abolition movement. We asked Sister Eileen to share some thoughts about her ministry, her friend, and the film itself.

A Spring Concert by The Watermark Chorus

Residents and guests of The Watermark were treated recently to a lovely concert performed by The Watermark Chorus. Sisters, staff, family, and friends enjoyed the performance in the auditorium. It was standing-room only!

Chicago Jubilarians Celebrate Milestones

Marking 75 and 60 years respectively, Sisters Jean Phelan and Emily Wollschlager enjoyed the company of their Sisters, families, and friends during their Jubilee celebration. Enjoy browsing the photos from the event!

NDP Students Visit Stella Maris Sisters

By Sister Rose Federici, SSND

NDP graduate Carolyn Gugerty Hrdlick is a nurse who brought students to Stella Maris last week. Five NDP students who are interested in being nurses visited our Sisters on Two South for two afternoons.

An Honor Worth Sharing!

Sister Mary Heather MacKinnon shares "On June 6, 2024, I was honored as I retired after more than 30 years of ministry with the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB), which serves 46 elementary schools, 10 secondary schools, and 3 continuing education facilities in four cities in Southern Ontario".

Remembering the Institute of Notre Dame

By Sister Patricia Murphy, SSND

The morning of June 5, Villa Assumpta Sisters were treated to a traveling exhibit of IND heritage that is permanently housed at Notre Dame of Maryland University.

Going to See the Lilacs (Not!)

By Stacie Perreault, LEAD Co-Coordinator, Waterdown

Waterdown Sisters and staff visited the Royal Botanical Gardens (RGB) recently.

The RBG is made up of many different parks, and special parks for certain plants, nature, and life.

A Pentecost Art Trio

Sister Justine Nutz, SSND

It was a joy and privilege to create a trio of Pentecost art for reflection and enjoyment of the Sisters and other residents at The Watermark.

An Afternoon to Remember

Over 200 alumni, benefactors, and friends - including 33 SSNDs - attended "An Afternoon To Remember" held May 5, 2024, in Bridgeport, CT. A good time was had by all! Many attendees were reunited with former teachers and classmates.

Seeing Beauty and Goodness in All Creation

By Sister Rosanne Mensik, SSND

Our International Community of Sisters and Associates comes together through the Internet. Examples include our Website, the Friday Newsletter, Zoom, and the International Prayer Room.

Keep This Day with Joy

By Sister Delia Calis, SSND

Augustine speaks often of the inner power of the Holy Spirit, both within each person, individually, and within the Church. as the Body of Christ. In celebration of Pentecost, I'd like to share some of his reflections and prayers.

The Dearest Freshness Deep Down Things

By Sister Sharon Kanis, SSND

The Holy Spirit is not white.

She is gray.

Florida 6th Graders Live Out Laudato Si' by Raising Money for Haiti

Sixth-grade students from Sarasota, FL, recently raised more than $2,000 for the people of Haiti. The students of St. Martha Catholic School held a fun and successful fundraising auction in April.

Two Truths in One Heart - Two Peoples in One Land

If I am to share my story these weeks, I must give space to the grief in Israel and Palestine, alongside our shared realization that understanding does not mean justification for either Hamas or Israeli Zionists.

Flames of New Life

By Sister Marcianne Bzdon, SSND

Birthdays! I love birthdays, celebrating my own and those of others!

Charter for Compassion

Sister Barbara Paleczny writes, since I am now connected to a global movement to deepen and spread compassion in all our relationships, I wonder if you know of the Charter for Compassion, written in 2009, it urges peoples and religions of the world to embrace the core value of compassion.

Sent Forth in the Spirit

By Sister Mary Roy Weiss, SSND

In the early months of 2020, the theme for the 8th grade closing ceremony at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Towson, Maryland was chosen: “Sent Forth in the Spirit.”

Easter Transformation

Enjoy Sister Delia Callis' beautiful Easter poem: "I wait with Mary in stillness, peace and hope/I wait with her for hard lifeless seeds to sprout, be nourished, grow to fullness,/bearing fruit a hundred-fold."

Continued