Who are we?
The Sisters of Notre Dame are an international group of women religious serving the Church on six continents in 15 countries!
- We strive for excellence in all forms of Christian education with special focus on the poor and marginalized. We meet the intellectual and spiritual needs of children and adults at all age levels in many parishes and in some health care and social service agencies in our Province.
-
-
In the spirit of Mary we give vibrant expression to the spirit of our German foundresses, to proclaim God's
goodness
-
and provident care.
Prayer
Prayer is the expression of our relationship with God. While turning our life over to God in vowed love, we are drawn into deeper intimacy and endeavor to experience God in our daily life, celebrating that presence in community and personal prayer. Finding God in the ordinary events, we try to live each day fully, trusting to see God's love in the highs and lows, the joys and sorrows, the challenges and surprises.
You are also invited to give yourself a moment of reflection on a word of Jesus. Simply click on daily meditation for an opportunity for your spirit to be nourished.
|
History
More than 150 years ago, the seed that was to become Notre Dame was planted in Coesfeld, Germany. The winter of 1848 was bitterly cold. For some it meant warmer clothes; for most it meant gnawing hunger and poverty. The children were affected the most.
Two young teachers, Hilligonde Wolbring and Elisabeth Kühling decided to do more than just teach their students―they wanted to provide them with a warm home and food. Together they cared for their charges by opening an orphanage.
-
Their parish
priest, Father Theodore Elting, supported their charitable services and encouraged them to continue their service to the poor
by becoming members of a religious congregation.
-
-
In 1850,
Hilligonde and Lisette became Sisters of Notre Dame
of Amersfoort, Holland in Coesfeld, Germany. In 1855, the new community in Coesfeld became an independent congregation.
-
-
It wasn't long before political unrest forced 200
Sisters to leave Germany for
Holland and the United States.
Sisters began staffing schools in the Cleveland
area in the 1870's. They eventually came to Northwest Ohio
to teach the children of European immigrants who were settling in
the Delphos, Fremont and Toledo areas. The Toledo Province of the
Sisters of Notre Dame was established in 1924.
|
Symbols
-
A crucifix that originated in Coesfeld, Germany, is an important image for the Sisters of Notre Dame. The forked cross style, or Gabelkreuz as it is known, was a popular one in the German towns and villages where the Sisters of Notre Dame were founded, and
in particular, in St. Lambert Church in Coesfeld, the parish where
Hilligonde and Elisabeth and
Fr. Elting met to found the congregation.
- St. Julie Billiart, the spiritual mother of the
 Sisters of Notre Dame, wanted everyone to know the Good God whom she had come to love. Her life centered on God and radiated His goodness and provident care.
-
- In passing on the same spirit to the Sisters who followed her, Julie used the
 image of the sunflower: "As the sunflower turns always to the sun, so should we always turn to God."
Inscribed on the ring of every Sister of Notre Dame are the words, "All for Jesus through Mary."
- So sensitive was Mary to hearing God's every whisper within and around her that she was able to respond freely, "Be it done according to your Will."
-
- As Sisters, we too, yearn to be open to however God wishes to use us for the building up of His kingdom.
-
|
