Ordinary Time: Not so Ordinary!
When invited to reflect on Ordinary Time, my gut response was, ORDINARY TIME … is there really still such a thing??? There simply doesn’t seem to be anything “ordinary” about all of this!
Pray With Us
Lessons of the Liturgical Year
In life, we experience four seasons regardless of our geographic location – Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. Then in our faith life, we experience six Liturgical Seasons, all of which are extraordinary!
Journey of Encounter - Synodality in Action
135 people travelled from every province in Canada to attend Journey of Encounter, a synodal processes training event, at St. Jerome’s University, Waterloo, June 15-18. It was truly a pilgrimage of hope.
![Stephenson, Mrs. Charles (Grace Murray). [Emancipation Day Celebration, June 19, 1900], photograph, June 19, 1900; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth124053/m1/1/: accessed June 11, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Austin History Center, Austin Public Library.](https://atlanticmidwest.org/files/styles/medium/public/images/post/metapth124053_m_pica05476.med_res.jpg)
Juneteenth 2025
Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States. It is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States. Join us to celebrate this important day with prayer!
Feast Day Prayer of Blessed Mother Theresa
Each year, on May 9th, we celebrate the anniversary of the death of our foundress, Mother Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger. May we as a congregation faithfully follow the example of Mother Theresa who placed her trust and hope in God. Her life was anchored on the firm ground of faith.
Remembering Pope Francis
It is with great sadness that we, School Sisters of Notre Dame of the Atlantic-Midwest Province, join with the global community to mourn the passing of our dear Holy Father, Pope Francis. Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the gift of his life and pontificate.
The Resurrection Power to Change
I've offered this prayer to and for family, friends, and community members at Easter, as seems fitting. I've also offered it at other times, when a special uplifting of strength and resolution are called for. Because Resurrection power is real.
It Is Finished: A Good Friday Reflection
Many times, we as a people do not see eye-to-eye with each other. So, can we see eye-to-eye with Jesus, can we identify with Him in life and in death?
After Every Good Friday
Whenever anyone shares a difficulty they are experiencing, Sister Ruth McPherson always says, "Remember, after every Good Friday, there is always an Easter Sunday."
Reflections for Holy Week
Blessings and grace to you during this Holy Week. Below, you will find thoughtful cues in words, art, and music to inspire your reflection , contemplation, and communal prayer and sharing.
A Time of Preparation and Anticipation
By Sister Maria Iannuccillo, SSND. On Good Friday, we spent the day with my grandmother and cousins. As noon approached, we were called in from playing outside to play ‘quietly’ until 3:00 pm. It took me years to understand why, and to understand why Good Friday was good.
The Joy of Lent?
By Sister Joan Pikiell, SSND "Joy" and "Lent" are not words you often hear together. Their pairing might seem as mismatched as peanut butter and mayonnaise! Yet, this Lent has brought me three profound moments of joy.
Lent - A Time to Stand Up for What Is Right
The opening words of our Ash Wednesday liturgical readings call us all to lament: “Return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Rend your hearts, not your garments and return to the Lord your God.”
Born Again Every Lent
Now that it's Lent again, my thoughts turn to a long-standing tradition in my home parish, St. Joseph Monastery in Baltimore. It was customary in the parish for a large group of parishioners, crossing generations, to produce a Passion Play. "Veronica’s Veil" was staged on each Sunday during Lent.
A Lenten Memory
It was Lent,1963, and the 8 of us at Our Lady of Hope in Baltimore were getting our new habits ready for The Change, March 25th. Sister Mary Lea Abell, our superior, put a shoebox on her desk to collect our large cincture rosaries.
Digging into Earth, Finding Stones
In these later years I have been looking forward to Lent, probably because it signals the sure coming of Spring. Even though Winter has retained its hold on the thermostat, there is something new in the air, so that gardeners have begun thinking of digging into rain-soaked earth to encourage new life!
Quotes to Reflect On
Our Sisters shared such inspiring Lenten reflections in 2024 that we decided to publish excerpts from them for Ash Wednesday this year. Each one offers a rich opportunity for reflection.
Feast of Josephine Bakhita Febuary 8th 2025
The Dismantling Racism and End Human Trafficking committees developed a prayer service for the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita on February 8. Use it individually or communally to pray for an end to racism and human trafficking and for victims of these situations. Thank you for your awareness and prayer for this courageous Saint and for the human dignity of all people.
Commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2025
As we celebrate this day commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s impact and efforts to create a more just society, the School Sisters of Notre Dame’s Atlantic-Midwest Province recommit ourselves “to be credible witnesses of universal communion through deepening our efforts to live as an intercultural faith community of one mind and one heart.” (The Call and Acts of the 25th General Chapter).
Renew Actions for Peace in the New Year
On the World Day of Peace and the Feast of Mary, Our Mother, and Queen of Peace, on January 1, let us recommit our efforts for peace through prayer and action.
2024 Advent Examen
Praying the ‘Examen’ is a tradition that comes to us from St. Ignatius of Loyola. It invites reflection and a review of a time period that can be done on a daily, weekly, monthly basis, or any other meaningful interval. Often people use it in the evening to review their day. Over time, one may sense how God’s Spirit is present with us in the ordinary day-to-day. Engaging this Examen over time, people have found clarity, direction, inspiration and a deepened sense of purpose in mission, ministry and life.
Prayerful Reflection on Migrants for Advent
The Justice for Immigrants Committee invites you to watch the following video and then consider the suggestions at the end as a way you might reach out to our thousands of brothers and sisters, eyes overflowing with tears, waiting with Christ in the darkness this Advent
Advent 2024
Several SSNDs will share reflections here throughout this Advent season. New reflections will be added each week. Enjoy!
Prayer Service for World Day of the Poor and Mother Theresa
The Shalom International Network and the Congregational Communications and Technology Team hosted a prayer service from Mother Theresa’s tomb on Sunday, November 17, at 7:30 pm (Rome time) for about 30 minutes commemorating the World Day of the Poor and Blessed Theresa’s Beatification Day. If you missed it, you can still view it.
