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.

North America South America Europe Asia Africa

Ministries and Impact

An international gathering of students realized a hallmark expression of Notre Dame de Namur learning communities: Infusing classroom experience with global perspectives and integrating classroom learning with civic and cultural interactions.

Carrying the Torch

August 7, 2023

Education everywhere was in chaos. If not complete chaos, managed chaos. Teachers kne...

On Saturday, July 22, 2023, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur welcomed to Cincinnati, Ohio, Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mangalore, India.

Sister Thérèse DelGenio, SNDdeN recently came to visit from her recent assignment as th...

One of the fundamental mysteries of our faith is the presence of God among us in human ...

Get to know the Sisters through Book Nook and other news:

A Visit from Arizona

September 22, 2023

Recently, Norma and Armando Contreras, good friends of Maria Celia Molina and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, came to Cincinnati from Phoenix for two reasons: to visit and to attend the Cincinnati premiere performance of the opera Knock in which their son has a lead role.

Sister Gerry Bolzan's Visit

September 7, 2023

Gerry Bolzan's recent time at Mount Notre Dame during her home visit provided a won...

"Ask a Sister" is a forum where anyone can ask our Sisters about "everything you want to know about religious life but are afraid to ask."

Sister Sarah Cieplinski, SNDdeN sits with three students around a table

Talking only a few minutes about the Global Education Academy in South Central Los Angeles, Sarah Cieplinski, SNDdeN quickly described the school as, "a place of love and goodness" where adults work together to meet the needs of their inner-city students, most of whom are Hispanic, and some are African American. Sarah is in her third year at the Academy which has two campuses – K to grade 5 and Grades 6-8.

Anne Ralston doesn’t mind being called “a crafty lady,” because she has been doing crafts since childhood: sewing, card making, other paper crafts, crewel, regular cross stitch, counted cross stitch, scrapbooking, and watercolor, to name a few. As Anne prepared for Final Vows in 1988, she cross stitched her journal of reflections. Now she has taken her card-making to a new level.

Keeping a secret from Sister Jo Anne Depweg, SNDdeN is no small feat. As Sister Jo anti...

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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