What Do Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Do?
During the early history of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, St. Julie Billiart, our foundress, knew God was calling the Congregation beyond France to a worldwide Mission. Her fidelity to that divine inspiration resulted in disapproval from the Bishop of the Diocese of Amiens, France, who expelled her from the diocese. Invited to another diocese by the Bishop of Namur, St. Julie was able to expand her vision beyond Belgium to a global Mission.
Since the early nineteenth century, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur have been on the move! We live and work among people of different cultures on five continents, in places as varied as Liverpool and Lima, Belmont and Boston, Hiroshima and Harare. What an experience of the many facets of God's goodness and boundless creativity!
Click on the map below to view how the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur participate in a worldwide mission to spread the goodness of God beyond the boundaries of nation, state and tribe — placing a special emphasis on education, especially of poor women and children, and ministering where others may not choose to go.
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| North America | South America | Europe | Asia | Africa |
Ministries and Impact
Today, she is Sister Carmen. In years past, she was Officer Silva. Not many women make the transition from police officer to religious life, but Sister Carmen Silva did. “I certainly never saw myself in religious life,” Sister Carmen says. “I was happy where I was. I thought of religious life as teaching and nursing. It wasn’t until I saw that it was all about service to others, that I began to think about joining.”
On February 15, 2023, F.L.I.G.H.T. (Faith Leaders in God’s Hands Today), a select group of seniors at Chaminade Julienne High School, and their moderators visited Mount Notre Dame. Archivist Kim Dalgarn welcomed them to the Museum.
Over the past year, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, supported by associates, friends, f...
“Go Make a Difference…You Can Make a Difference …” a line from a familiar hymn
Maybe that is Dorothy’s message to us 18 years after her death. We do not want to be active in the destruction of the beautiful forest which serves as the lungs of our Earth. We do not want to cause the deadly heating of our beloved planet. We do not to be involved in the poisoning of our oceans, the polluting of our air and water. We do not want to have any responsibility for the hundreds of thousands of refugees just looking for a place to live. We do not want to be responsible for “letting it happen.” But we are. This is our Earth, our gift from God to love and care for.
To celebrate Catholic Schools Week, we invite you to learn more about Sister Rita Sturwold, SNDdeN. She has a wealth of experience working as a teacher and administrator, and currently has several roles with our schools in Dayton and Cincinnati, Ohio.
Get to know the Sisters through Book Nook and other news:
Looking for a retreat resource? I recommend two books. The first is "Awakening Love: An Ignatian Retreat with The Song of Songs" by Gregory Cleveland, OMV. This is a refreshing approach to the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius.
Sister Ann Fanella, SNDdeN enjoys novels by Adriana Trigiani. The books are replet...
With you, we change lives
With the support of generous friends like you, we are able to continue our mission of educating and taking a stand with those in poverty— especially women and children.
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