On-Going Personal Development in Community

Personal development in community is a life-long process” (YAS C118)

You Are Sent, the Constitution and Directory of the international Congregation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, states that “personal development in community is a life-long process” (YAS C118) and that in her “personal development in community, each sister strives for genuine self-direction  which enables her:

  • to deepen her relationship with Christ and her dedication to his mission, according to her vowed commitment, our constitution and charism;
  • to grow as a vital member of our community, which seeks to know and do God’s will;
  • to minister more consciously out of a prophetic global vision of all humanity united in Christ;
  • to live creatively with the tension between the active and contemplative dimensions of her life.” (YAS GD 114)

You Are Sent (GD 123) acknowledges that “ongoing development occurs primarily in our everyday life of creative fidelity to God, to his call, and to our charism and constitution.”

The Provincial Council calls together a team of sisters and associates to collaborate with  our sisters,  associates and colleagues in order to facilitate for the province the above commitments from You Are Sent (YAS C119). In 2018 the Council established the AM OPDIC Committee (the Ongoing Personal Development Committee) for the province. Currently, the committee is composed of six Sisters (Virginia Brune, Therese Dougherty, Carol Dwyer, Debra Liesen, Mary Heather MacKinnon, Sharon Wall), two Associates (Donna Bilek, Patricia Sortz) and one Council Liaison (Mary Roy Weiss).

In all they do, the OPDIC Committee keeps in mind the directives outlined above from You Are Sent and the Call of the 25th General Chapter. A contemplative stance provides the focus for what the committee offers. Currently the Committee provides for Sisters, Associates, and Colleagues a variety of individual and communal opportunities which are rooted in the vision and goals of:

  • Laudato Si
  • Love Gives Everything  (Congregation Directional Statement, October 24,2017)
  • Province Initiatives
  • Creation-Centered Spirituality and Ecological Justice
  • The Christian Liturgical Calendar
  • Vatican II Theology and Spirituality

Watch this site for opportunities to join with others in answering the Gospel call to bring transformative grace to the many challenges of living faithfully in our world today.

OPDIC Resources

Help Create a World of Love, Hope, and Kindness

By Sister Virginia Brune, SSND

Your OPDIC Committee is offering a follow-up to our November session - “The Power of Love and Hope" - with a new session to be held in February.

Join your Sisters, associates, colleagues and...

School Sisters Gather from Across the Province

Sisters and Associates from Ontario, New York, Connecticut, Chicago, Massachusetts, Florida, and Baltimore - recently gathered for a mini-retreat presented via Zoom by the OPDIC committee. "Spring Growth" explored the wisdom of plants, inviting attendees to prayerful reflection on their own...

Consider Spending A Month with Mary

You are invited to consider creating a small faith-sharing group - perhaps with members of your Local Community, Assembly Dialogue Group, or a group of friends/colleagues. The book suggested is Birthing the Holy: Wisdom From Mary to Nurture Creativity and Renewal by Christine Valtners Paintner.

Ongoing development occurs primarily
in our everyday life of creative fidelity to God,
to his call,and to our charism and constitution.

- You Are Sent, Constitution of the School Sisters of Notre Dame
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