Christmas Past, Christmas Present
By Sister Regina Mulenga, FMSA, Ozanam Community Leader
News
Carol Brunner, SSND - 1947 - 2025
After becoming a teacher in the Chicago area, Carol continued pursuing her dream of becoming a nurse. She ministered at Resurrection Life Center for over 20 years, 7 days a week, even during the pandemic. When no one was allowed inside during COVID, she went outside the Sisters’ windows, showing pictures and signs, and talking to them on the phone. She was kind and loving. Although she had great health challenges, she prayed at the bedside of people who were dying, comforted and visited many. A minister to the end!
Catholic Social Teaching as Mission
Sponsored ministry leaders recently gathered for a formation session as part of the province’s Ministry Formation program. The session, held Nov.14-15, covered two main topics: Catholic Social Teaching as Mission, and including the Intersectionality with the Call of the 25th General Chapter and Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC).
A Chicago Treasure
Recently, Chicago-area Sisters celebrated the decades of love and care shown by alumna Marge Carroll toward our congregation. Margaret Carroll, Academy of Our Lady (AOL) graduate of 1954, served as Moderator/President of the AOL Alumnae Association from 1970 to 2025, when all records were sent to the SSND Archives in Milwaukee.
Installation of New Provincial Council
The Atlantic-Midwest Province of the School Sisters of Notre Dame have installed a new Provincial Leadership Council on December 8th, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, at the Stella Maris chapel in Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland. Reverand Joseph Muth presided. After previously serving as Councilor, Sister Nancy Gilchriest, SSND, now begins her ministry as Provincial Leader of the province.
Waiting for Santa
When I think of Advent, I have two childhood memories forever etched in my mind: Advent calendars and the countdown to Santa’s arrival.
The Stewardship Report looks a little different this year!
This Fall/Winter edition of Blessings is a revamp of our Stewardship Report. While containing the same financial report information, we redesigned this publication to directly thank our family, friends, and benefactors for all their support in caring for our Sisters and sustaining our mission.
Hope: The Connecting Cord
Maryland Associates began their Nov. 8 retreat and Covenanting day with the inspirational words of Dr. Pat Fosarelli: “Endings, Beginnings and Everything In-Between: Hope is the Cord that Connects Them All.” This was also a special year for 4 Associates who celebrated a milestone anniversary: Lindsay Thompson and Peggy Russell - 35 years; Debra Franklin - 20 years; and Diane MacKenzie - 10 years!
In Solidarity with All
A few hundred Palestinians, Indigenous, Lebanese, Yemeni and other Canadians gathered at St. John’s Anglican Church Hall in Kitchener Oct. 4, 2025, for an Empty Plate Dinner. It was a fundraiser for the people in Gaza. There were two small bowls of Palestinian olives and water on each table. In solidarity, we had no other food.
A Place to Live Joyfully!
Stella Maris officially became "home" for many newly arrived Sisters on Nov. 7 during a Blessing of the Floor and Bedrooms event hosted by leadership teams from Stella Maris and Mercy Health System.
Advent Reflections 2025
Enjoy reflections from the School Sisters of Notre Dame throughout this Advent season.
When Women Lift Each Other Up
When JuQuetta Adams arrived at Caroline Center as a student, she was determined to build a new path for herself. Through hard work and persistence, she succeeded in graduating from the Pharmacy Technician program. Today, she not only leads that program, but she has also been selected for inclusion in the 2026 edition of Marquis Who’s Who, a national honor recognizing individuals who have made meaningful contributions in their professions and communities.
My Voice Has Power: AHA Students Visit UN
The International Day of the Girl was celebrated this year on Friday, October 10, with an intergenerational town hall forum at the UN headquarters in New York City. Among those in attendance were 11 seniors from the Academy of Holy Angels, who chose to spend their day off from school participating in the event, accompanied by their teachers, Sarah Allen and Jennifer Cucchisi.
Saint Saviour Celebrates SSND Foundation Day
Father John Cush celebrated SSND Foundation Day at Saint Saviour High School*, Brooklyn, NY, with a joyous Mass on Oct. 24. The opening song, We’ve Come This Far By Faith, was sung by the gospel choir. The joy on the girls' faces as they sang renewed my sense of faith and mission, especially at this time of the world we live in. We ended Mass with the song, Let There Be Peace.
Southern-Ontario Associates Covenant Celebration
On October 18, the Saturday after the Canadian Thanksgiving, 13 SSND Associates in Southern Ontario renewed their covenant, while Sybil Percy made her first covenant. We were delighted to be able to gather in person with the Sisters in Waterdown!
Celebrating Thanksgiving November 2025
As we celebrate the American holiday of Thanksgiving, some School Sisters of Notre Dame share their reflections on gratitude. Enjoy!
SSND Waterdown Brings Artistic Vision to Life
Hamilton artist Vu Ngo, the founder of StoryPOP, came to speak to us about his vision to transform everyday spaces into living stories of resilience and hope. While listening, the Sisters realized Vu's vision fit perfectly into their charism.
Hearing the Cry of the Earth and the Poor: ORCIE’s Mission to Ottawa
Just 10 days after Parliament resumed this September, members of the Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology (ORCIE) were already knocking on doors on Parliament Hill, bringing faith-filled urgency to the climate conversation.
Tipping Point Reached
Niigaan Sinclair, a Canadian Indigenous leader, notes that this year, 14 million people – a third of Canada’s population - wore the indigenous orange shirts, walked publicly and celebrated together on Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
What is that place?
Over the years, prior to my working here at Villa Assumpta, there were many occasions I would find myself driving down Charles Street, looking over to the left, seeing the chapel and asking, What is that place?
Marion House Hosts 17th Annual Race
Marian House welcomed more than 400 participants—both in-person and online—for the 17th Annual Race to Embrace Independence. The event raised over $34,000 toward its $50,000 goal, supporting Marian House’s mission to empower women on their journeys to recovery and independence!
Our Lives are Bound Together!
Pictures and words of Blessed Theresa and Mother Caroline grace our November board at 3030 Park. We also honor 10 of our dear Sisters whose lives and deaths, from 11/2024 to 11/2025, were celebrated here and at St. Andrew’s Church in Bridgeport, with burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bethel.
Sister Dominica Visits Chicago Area
Sisters at Marian Village enjoyed a visit with Sister Dominica on Oct. 27. She shared many stories from her ministries, including some from her time in Berlin after the wall came down and others from her time in South Sudan.
A Beautiful Outing in Waterdown
We here at SSND took full advantage of the fall beauty with a trip to the Mum Show at a local greenhouse in Hamilton, ON. The theme changes every year, and this year’s theme was “under the sea.”
