News

NY, NJ and Connecticut Alumni Gathering!

SSND held a gathering of alumni, family, friends and colleagues at St. Catherine of Siena, McClinch Family Center in Trumbull on June 1st. Attendees from Connecticut, New York and New Jersey enjoyed an afternoon of reconnecting!

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.

Annual Gathering Feeds Hope

The Annual Associate Gathering was held on the evening of Tuesday, June 10th and during the day on Wednesday, June 11th. It was all via Zoom, with several of the Central Pacific Associates and Sisters joining us. The Associate Area Coordinators chose “Pilgrims of Hope” as our theme for this year’s gathering.

SSND Speaks Out

SSND Sisters, Associates, friends and colleagues gathered with Sisters from 60 congregations from across the United States on June 24 to urge lawmakers not to cut critical government programs. The Sisters Speak Out Prayer and Public Witness Gathering was held at the U.S. Capitol, and approximately 40 "echo events" were held across the country. (Catholic News Agency)

Sisters Speak Out!

School Sisters of Notre Dame from the Atlantic-Midwest and Central Pacific Provinces will be among Catholic sisters from about 50 congregations across the United States gathering for prayer and a press conference at the Capitol on June 24!

Northeast Associates Meet for Prayer, Presentations, and a Fond Farewell

The Northeast Associates and Companion Sisters met on May 24, 2025 for their bimonthly meeting. It was a well-attended, lively meeting with many things happening! It began with a beautiful prayer service led by Associate Carol Jakab which was based on Our Lady Undoer of Knots, a popular Marian devotion, particularly in recent years thanks to the promotion by Pope Francis.

Laureate College Honors Sisters

Last week we Sisters at SSND-Waterdown attended an appreciation event presented by the students of Laureate College. They displayed some of their gifts and talents in music, singing, and dance following coffee and cake together.

"The Best of the Best"

After 45 years of service, Sister Irene Pryle, SSND, has retired from her ministry as principal of Our Lady of Hope/St. Luke School in Dundalk, MD. Sister Irene will cherish her school memories, along with the honor she earned from Pope Francis in 2023, when she received the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice.

A Regal Day at Waterdown

Victoria Day in Canada is a public, national holiday in honour of Queen Victoria, the longest-running queen who celebrated her birthday on May 24. The national holiday is also known as May Two-Four, May Long, and May Long Weekend. It falls on the Monday preceding May 24, giving many a 3-day weekend.

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

SSND Supports Gun Violence Awareness

Eight Baltimore-area congregations, including SSND, have launched a campaign against gun violence called “Put the Guns Down.” Organized by the Sisters of Bon Secours, the goal is to raise awareness about gun violence as a public health epidemic and to take a stand for peace, healing, and hope.

Lesson of the Three Candles: A Gift from 1947

At St. Joseph School, 87th St, Manhattan, our 4th grade always attends 8 AM daily Mass together, in assigned pews. Then we eat a brown-bag breakfast at our desks, mostly milk and jelly bread. We carefully wipe our desks clean. It is Spring,1947.

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).

A Special Mother's Day Tea at Waterdown

On Sunday May 11, we hosted a special Mother's Day Tea at Waterdown. It included a May Crowning Sing Along, two special guests, and a time for sharing memories!

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.”

Celebrate Jubilee 2025!

Saturday, May 17, 2025, was a special day for the Atlantic-Midwest Province. We enjoyed our province-wide jubilee celebration together ... without leaving home!

No Woman is an Island: A Community Weaving in Ontario

Earlier this year, the Sisters came to our local assembly, each prepared to share one gift which she contributes to the life of our faith community. At the end of the assembly, each Sister chose a colour from a basket of coloured yarns.

Sister Sharon Honored by NDP

Sister Sharon Slear, SSND, '61, has been named co-recipient of Notre Dame Preparatory School's 2025 Mother Caroline Friess Alumnae of the Year Award. She shares the honor with her fellow classmate, Peggy Mullan Greenman ’61.

Celebrating Pope Leo!

Press Release

We celebrate with overwhelming joy that God sent us Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, to be the 267th pope.

Meet the Nurse at Chicago's Marian Village

As the Community Nurse for SSND at Marian Village in Homer Glen, IL, I care for Sisters in Assisted Living, Independent Living, and Memory Care. I love it!

Standing for Immigrants

National news repeatedly depicts arrests, detentions and deportations of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers in various parts of the U.S. Activities of ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) include making arrests without any due process or judicial warrant. ICE has even arrested US citizens, leading to numerous court motions to halt those activities.

SSND Helps Immigrants Know Their Rights

There is so much fear and anxiety and confusion in the hearts of our immigrant sisters and brothers these days. Let each of us do what we can to ease their burden. Remember Jesus’ words “WHATEVER you do to one of your brothers or sisters, YOU DO TO ME!”

Chicago Leadership Luncheon: The Nun Study

On Thursday, April 10, the School Sisters of Notre Dame held a Women's Leadership Luncheon in the Chicago suburb of Elmhurst. The luncheon topic was the Nun Study. Dr. Margaret Flanagan gave the keynote address can discussed the methodology used in the study, the key findings, and the future directions determined as a result.

Dispatch from Haiti

Across all regions, we’re seeing more people arrive on Lagonav from the mainland, trying to escape the violence. Cost of living is rising. Fear is everywhere. And yet, we are still making progress. It just takes more—more strength, more resolve, more resources.

Continued