Posts by Sisters of Notre Dame
Profiles in Ministry: Sister Kathleen McDonnell, SND
I became interested in adult literacy as a ministry when I looked for an alternative to high school teaching. At Al-Anon Family Group meetings, a program where friends and family members share their experiences and learn how to apply the principles of the Al‑Anon program to their individual situations, many women said since joining the…
Read MoreProfiles in Ministry: Sister Mary Luann Bender, SND
Sister Mary Luann Bender, SND, serves as the Mission and Ministry Coordinator at St. Charles Community (SCC) for over 40 years on behalf of the Sisters of Notre Dame. Both her parents and several family members have been residents of St. Charles Community. In reflecting on her ministry at St. Charles, she says, “Truly, my…
Read MoreProfiles in Ministry: Sister Joyanne Sullivan, SND
I have been teaching myself how to paint for the last 15 years. I began when I was invited, by someone I met when I led a senior ministry program at Sacred Heart Church, to join a class at a Ventura area Senior Center art class. She asked me to join her and the class…
Read MoreProfiles in Ministry: Sister Dean Pfahler, SND
Ever since I got my first pair of glasses at age 12, I knew I had been missing way too much. Distinguishing one leaf from another on trees was just the first eye-opener. From then on, life became one revelation after another. I didn’t want anything to elude me: not the intricacies of the natural…
Read MoreProfile in Ministry: Sister Michelle Blevins, Novice, SND
When someone is transitioning into religious life, what does ministry look like? Sister Michelle Blevins, SND is one such example of someone in that transition. She was welcomed as a postulant by the Sisters of Notre Dame in December 2017. She continued in formation for the national novitiate in Covington, KY. She was accepted as…
Read MoreSisters are Like Onions
by Sr. Nicole Marie Varnerin, originally written for The Messenger Growing up, one of my favorite movies was “Shrek.” I loved Donkey’s character and his banter with Shrek. Beyond the silliness, which made it a very relatable movie, there were good images and lessons. One of my favorite scenes is when Shrek is trying to…
Read MoreSisters of Notre Dame Foundation Day
Foundation Day Reflection by Sister Teresita Richards, SND Travel back in time to Coesfeld, Germany and with your mind’s eye step into our Notre Dame history and into some the scenes behind our celebration of Foundation Day. It is late September 1849 – During the cold blustery winter at the beginning of 1849, two young…
Read MoreA Beautiful Vocation
by Michelle Blevins, Sisters of Notre Dame Postulant Despite being drawn to, and thus formed in, various congregations and charisms, there is something about being a young sister in the United States at this time in history which makes differences between us seem very immaterial. We all love our God and our Catholic faith. We…
Read MoreA Journey From Doubt to Holy Boldness
A Nun’s Life had the privilege to sit down with Sister Jenny Zimmerman, SND, and talk with her how she discovered her calling to religious life. A Nun’s Life: What attracted you to religious life? Sister Jenny: I didn’t mean to do this — I never had a plan to be a sister! My best friend entered the…
Read MoreLooking Ahead to 2020
Embrace Change – it is the only constant in life. As we daily experience the reality of change in nature and in our spiritual journeys, it also shapes the social groupings that are the fabric of society. With this background, the Sisters of Notre Dame are excited to announce that the four U.S. provinces will…
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