News

Invitation to Action - World Day Against Human Trafficking

On World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (July 30), human trafficking organizations raise awareness of the impact of and root causes of human trafficking. We also call on governments, law enforcement, and society to strengthen prevention efforts and to support victim-survivors of human trafficking. We invite you to pray and work towards ending human trafficking and breaking the link between human trafficking and forced migration.

SSND Shalom News North America, July - August 2023

Please check out the summer edition of the SSND Shalom Newsletter. Please look for the three Voter Voice actions. Let’s raise our SSND voices! Contact tdewane@ssndcp.org to be added to the email list for this newsletter if you do not receive it.

NDP Marine Biology Students in Key Largo

Earlier this month, marine biology students from NDP headed to Key Largo to five days of scientific study and aquatic exploration. During the trip, the students studied seagrass beds, mangroves, and coral reefs to take water-quality samples and research the area’s biodiversity.

94 Calls to Action - Indigenous Peoples Day

The Dismantling Racism Committee will be sharing a "Call to Action" each week during the 94 days between June 21, National Day of Indigenous Peoples, and September 30, National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. The goal is to educate ourselves and the public on the content of the 94 Calls to Action.

In Memoriam: Sister Helenann Nelson, SSND

Helenann taught junior high in the US for eight years. Then she found her true calling, starting many long and adventure-filled years as a missionary to South America when she and her classmate Paula Armstrong joined our Sisters in Santiago, Chile. They were part of a second group that brought the total of SSNDs in Chile to 13. Along with teaching, they also harbored citizens being hunted by the corrupt government until they, themselves, became targets and had to flee.

In Memoriam: Sister Regis Krusniewski, SSND

Sister Regis had a long and varied career as an educator. She was a classroom teacher in Maryland, Massachusetts and Camden, New Jersey before becoming a principal. She worked in the Religious Education Office in Camden, then Baltimore. She was also a consultant for Catechesis and Religious Education in Baltimore. Sister Regis then spent almost twenty years as the Director of Catechetical Ministry and later Vicar for Religious in Florida

A Fond Farewell to Our Beloved Vietnamese Sisters

On Monday, June 5, the Sisters of Villa Assumpta bid farewell to Sisters Hao, Nga and Len, Daughters of our Lady of the Holy Rosary. After a liturgy of Thanksgiving, which included the celebrant Father Raymond and Sisters La and Luot, as well as Brothers Minh and Loi, the Sisters and their guests enjoyed a Vietnamese dinner in the dining room.

World Environment Day

For World Environment Day we are shining a light on plastic pollution. Every action WE can take to reduce plastic pollution matters! It is time to focus personally and publicly to transition to a circular economy. It is time to #BeatPlasticPollution

Today is National Gun Violence Awareness Day

This weekend Take actions on Gun Violence by attending a virtual gathering, praying a novena, writing to congress or attending an event... or all of the above!

Use Your Voter Voice USA!

We have three Voter Voice actions at the moment, reach out to support the Climate Solutions Caucus, urge 10% Cut to Pentagon Budget for the Fiscal Year 2024 budget and urge Congress to Pass Common Sense Gun Laws – to help address gun violence in the USA.

Senate Climate Solutions Caucus - US Action Alert

Join SSND in urging our Senators to join the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus and work pro-actively to address the climate crisis and support the dignity of all God’s creation.

Blessed Mother Theresa Feast Day - May 9th

Each year, on May 9th , we remember and celebrate the anniversary of the death of our foundress, Mother Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger. May each one of us be inspired to rededicate our lives to the charism imparted to us by Mother Theresa and may we faithfully follow her example.

Waterdown Sisters Welcome Laureate Graduates

The School Sisters of Notre Dame Waterdown welcomed some graduating students of Laureate College, the private, international co-ed school that now inhabits the first two floors of the Waterdown property.

Baltimore School With Rich SSND History Now Giving Young Students a Head Start

Archbishop of Baltimore William E. Lori celebrated the grand opening of a new Head Start facility operated by St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore in the former Saints James and John School in East Baltimore on April 12.

The 2023 Milch Award goes to Sisters Academy

The Milch Award recognizes one community group, organization, or agency annually that contributed most significantly to the betterment of the intellectual, cultural, social, or commercial life of greater Baltimore over the past year.

Spa Day in Waterdown

During the Holy Thursday Spa Day, which included foot soak and massage, and paraffin wax soak and nail care, time was taken to reflect on how we as a community can theoretically wash the feet of those in need around us.

Prayer for Earth Day 2023

"Compassion is not a beautiful feeling, it is not pietism; it means creating a new bond with the other. The world needs this creative and active charity, people who do not stand in front of a screen to comment, but instead, people who get their hands dirty to remove degradation and restore dignity."

Pacem in Terris 60th Anniversary and U.S. Action Alert

As School Sisters of Notre Dame committed to a more just and peaceful world, we are called to take a clear stand for creative and active nonviolence and a stand against all forms of violence. We recognize that peace requires justice and justice requires peacemaking. We are being called to pray, speak out, advocate, educate and take decisive action.

Chicago Associates Host Lenten Retreat

Sisters and Associates gathered on March 18, 2023, for their annual Lenten Retreat. This year’s leader, Rev. Barbara Cathey, chose the theme “Prairie Fire: A Symbol of Lent.” She explained that controlled prairie fires are used for the restoration of the prairie.

Western Maryland SSNDs Honored for Their Service

Catholic Sisters Week was celebrated in a special way at the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Basketball Tournament. At halftime during the Bishop Walsh Catholic High game, they paid tribute to the Sister Kathleen Jancuk, Sister Francita Hobbs, and Sister Phyllis McNally, who have collectively taught young people in the area for over 181 years!

Refuse to Use: Give up Single-Use Plastic Bottles

The Atlantic-Midwest Province are one of twenty-three congregations of Catholic sisters of LCWR Region 8 who will observe Catholic Sisters Week, March 8-14, with a challenge: do not consume beverages from single-use plastic bottles.

Celebrating Catholic Sisters Week

Catholic Sisters Week shines a light on the spirituality, mission and community building of women religious around the world. It is a chance to recognize all that Sisters are and do, with the hope that as more young women learn about Catholic Sisters, they will choose to explore religious life and even hear God’s call to it.

Voter Voice Opportunity - Proposed Asylum Rule in the USA

It is not a crime to seek asylum, it is a legally protected right. We reaffirm the inherent dignity of every person and the right of families to seek security and safety for themselves and family members at our nation’s border. Join us in urging President Biden to support a robust, fair, humane, and orderly system for those seeking safety and asylum at our nation’s doorstep.

Laudato Si Weekly Lenten Reflections 2023

Sister Kathy Schmittgens and Sister Lucille Coughlin wrote a beautiful Lenten reflection as part of the Central Pacific Province’s Laudato Si' Action Platform Implementation Team. They connect Laudato Si’ quotes with readings of the Gospel. Follow along each week with a different reflection!

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