In our Heritage Library, we have a video that introduces the early years of the SSND educational story. A small circle of friends, like-minded in heart and in spirit, were attuned to the needs of their time. The story begins in the very small town of Stadtamhof, near Regensburg, Bavaria in 1833, with a little girl named Carolina Gerhardinger. It unfolds as she follows an invitation to teach girls in North-America and continues to evolve today with global implications. In a time when there was an overwhelming need for renewal in society, a new dream was born that began to shape the world in terms of a new model for religious life and a new approach to education. Education was no longer about delivering content only; equally important was sharing love. It was a combination of sound instruction and formation of the heart. And it was education at the service of others, mainly girls and those in poverty. Watch this video to learn more about the beginnings of the School Sisters of Notre Dame and their spiritual vision for education.
