International Day of the Girl
By Sister Joan Pikiell, SSND, UN-NGO Representative
The International Day of the Girl was celebrated this year on Friday, October 10, with an intergenerational town hall forum at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. The 2025 theme, “We are here: Bold, Diverse, and Unstoppable – Demanding Action for Girls’ Rights,” set the tone for an inspiring day of dialogue and empowerment.
Among those present were eleven 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, the students heard powerful testimonies from girls around the world – both in person and through video – on issues ranging from access to education and healthcare to online safety and discrimination.
Senior Ava Castro shared, “Before attending the International Day of the Girl event, I was not really sure what to expect. However, at the end of the day, I was left with such an inspirational and empowering feeling. … Attending this event has provided me with confidence that I can make a change in this world, no matter if it is big or small.” While Kiara Vales reflected, “The stories shared and the discussions held reminded me of the strength and potential girls have to shape the future. It was a day full of hope, purpose, and a renewed commitment to gender equality.”
The experience left all who attended inspired to continue amplifying girls’ voices and to work toward a world where every girl can thrive and lead without limitation.
Season of Creation – SSND Living Laudato Si’
By Tim Dewane, Shalom International Network Coordinator
As a Congregation, we have made a public Laudato Si’ commitment to take specific, measurable, transformative actions in the spirit of integral ecology to rebuild our common home in order to leave a future to the next generations. We made this commitment in faith, hope, and love, knowing that we are participating in God’s transformation work, “for we know that things can change”. (LS 13)
Throughout the Season of Creation, we highlighted the various and creative ways SSND is walking forward this congregational Laudato Si’ commitment. Photos with captions from each Shalom Branch can be found here on our Gerhardinger congregational website (scroll down to “Living the Laudato Si’ Goals” section to view).
In her report on the efforts sisters of the Province of Africa are making toward fulfillment of our congregational Laudato Si’ commitment, Sr. Sarah Tanjo, the Africa Shalom Branch Rep, concluded with the following message: “As a Province and Congregation, we proudly say that, we are resolved to continue to share and to live out the call of Laudato Si’, to deepen in us Shalom as our way of life, and to creatively find new ways of promoting Shalom values wherever we find ourselves. May all our ancestors continue to be with us on this sacred journey.” Amen Sr. Sarah! Amen.
“We, as a Laudato Si’ congregation, unite with the church’s movement to address the environmental and humanitarian crisis within the framework of an integral ecology.”
- Call of the 25th General Chapter
Season of Creation – SSND Living Shalom-Inspired Pilgrimage of Hope
Hundreds of sisters, associates, and colleagues in mission throughout our international congregation participated in one of our two SSND Shalom-Inspired Jubilee Pilgrimages held October 26 and 27. Participants were taken virtually across our global congregation to hear stories of hope and to witness how SSND is responding to the cries of the earth and the cries of the poor.
The pilgrimage began with a visit to our sisters and associates in Guam and Japan, before moving on to Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean (ALC), North America, the United Nations, and Europe (with a brief stop at the Generalate in Rome). With each stop, we took time for reflection and to consider what the spirit is saying to us through this experience (and how we might respond). What a lovely way to build awareness and community, to help motivate and inspire us to overcome challenge and fatigue in our ongoing efforts to promote justice, peace, ecological conversion, and the fulfillment of our Laudato Si’ commitment in the SSND spirit of Shalom. For those who missed participating in a pilgrimage, or would like to re-experience the journey, just click here.
Happy 80th Anniversary to the United Nations!
By Sister Joan Pikiell, SSND, UN-NGO Representative
The United Nations was established on October 24, 1945, in the aftermath of the Second World War, with the primary goal of preventing future global conflicts and fostering international cooperation. Its creation marked a pivotal moment in world history.
The founding principles of the United Nations center on maintaining international peace and security, promoting human rights, and encouraging social and economic development. The organization’s structure includes six main bodies, the most prominent being the General Assembly, where all member states have equal representation, and the Security Council, responsible for maintaining peace and authorizing collective actions when necessary.
This year, the President of the General Assembly (GA) is Annalena Baerbock. President Baerbock is from Germany and is only the fifth woman to lead the GA. In her acceptance speech, she said: “As only the fifth woman in this position in 80 years, I am fully aware that peace and development can only be sustained when half of the world’s population, when women have an equal seat at the table.” Her theme for the year is “Better Together,” promising to “focus on what we can do together instead of asking what divides us. Because we are better together.”
Today, the United Nations comprises 193 member states and remains a vital forum for dialogue and diplomacy. Despite challenges and criticisms, it remains the world’s foremost institution for promoting peace, justice, and cooperation among nations. Good luck to President Baerbock!
SSND and the United Nations
By Sister Joan Pikiell, SSND, UN-NGO Representative
With the 80th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) being celebrated this year, it is a fitting time to recall the School Sisters of Notre Dame’s (SSND) history at the UN.
The journey began during the 1977 General Chapter, when sisters first discussed the possibility of affiliating with the UN. The 1992 General Chapter unanimously decided to pursue this goal. Sister Henrita Frost was tasked with researching the necessary steps. One reason given for affiliating was “the world … is a place where there are many opportunities for building a more human world. One of these opportunities is collaboration with international organizations.”
Sister Ethel Howley became the first SSND representative in 1993, humorously recalling that her first directive from the General Council was to learn how to use a computer! She was succeeded by Sister Ann Scholz (2002–2010), Sister Eileen Reilly (2010–2019), and Sister Beatriz Martinez-Garcia (2019–2025). I began my term on September 1, 2025.
According to the current job description, “the role of the SSND representative to the United Nations is to bring the gospel perspective – as expressed in You Are Sent – to the work of the UN: … fostering awareness and commitment for SSND to become a more globally responsible congregation, witnessing to Christian concern for peace, justice, and human development.”
At the UN’s opening session this September, I heard repeated calls for the first woman to be elected Secretary-General when António Guterres’ term ends in 2026. Stay tuned for more history to be made!
Celebrating 30 Years of Shalom Network Animation
By Tim Dewane, Shalom International Network Coordinator
It was in 1995 when Sister Krisztina Vargacz (Hungary) and Sister Margaret (Peggy) Mattare (USA) responded to a call and were appointed the first Coordinators of our Shalom International Network. You’ll recall that Shalom was founded in response to the Call of the Mandate for Action: “As a congregation, we will establish an International Network for Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation” (19th General Chapter, 1992). Urged by the love of Christ and of our sisters and brothers, we work actively toward enhancing just structures that foster fullness of life and toward changing unjust structures that inhibit it.
In recognition of this 30 year anniversary, we utilized the 2025 Solidarity Reflections to revisit and consider afresh the objectives and goals of the Shalom Network. In March, we gave congregational wide recognition to Blessed Antonina and 31 other SSND WWII martyrs who serve as our Patronesses of Shalom. These are women of faith whose lives and sacrifice symbolize for us both the atrocity of war, and the violence and abuse of women as weapons of war, something that is sadly still very much an issue today. They are our Shalom interecessors who motivate and inspire us to be pilgrims of hope and agents for systemic change.
This summer, we took time to commemorate our historic 2015 Shalom International Seminar when Shalom Contacts from every country, along with their respective Provincial Council liaisons, gathered at the Generalate in Rome to build community and momentum for our Shalom animation efforts. A highlight and focal point for much of that seminar was the newly promulgated encyclical Laudato Si’. View video highlights.
This fall, we took time to assess our progress toward fulfillment of our congregational Laudato Si’ commitment and embarked on a global pilgrimage to hear stories of hope and to witness how SSND is responding to the cries of the earth and the cries of the poor all around the world. What a year it has been! We pray these efforts bolster our energy for the journey ahead and help us overcome any fatigue or obsticles that challenge us in our efforts to promote justice, peace, and care for our common home in the SSND spirit of Shalom. Patronesses of Shalom, pray for us!
“The goal of Shalom is to take actions which lead to reconciliation, solidarity with the oppressed, the promotion of human dignity, and collaboration with ecological movements to safeguard the earth. In the spirit of Laudato Si’ we work to protect and preserve our common home and to develop an integral ecology.” Built upon the dynamic relationship of all SSND sisters, associates, women in formation, and partners in ministry, “Shalom takes a prophetic stance by joining its voice with those who cry for justice and by providing a voice for those who are voiceless in their struggle for justice. It is action-oriented.” – Shalom Document
Click here to view a short video celebrating 30+ years of SSND Shalom Network animation and United Nations engagement.
