People are called to follow God by different paths. Three of these paths that are connected with the Sisters of Notre Dame are described below.
Sisters of Notre Dame
Sisters of Notre Dame are women who desire to grow ever closer to God, and who witness to God's goodness and provident care through
a consecrated life of chastity, poverty and obedience. Centered in Jesus Christ, and united as a community in his love and in the spirit of Mary, we share a life of faith and joyful simplicity, ready to take up our cross daily in love. Consecrated for mission in the (Catholic) Church, we serve people, especially those who experience poverty in its various forms, through our ministries.
Our tradition of witnessing to God's goodness and provident care goes back
more than 150 years to our foundress, Sister
Maria Aloysia, our co-foundress, Sister Maria Ignatia, our first Coesfeld sisters
and our spiritual mother, Saint Julie, and has
been lived and transmitted by thousands of women in Europe, the Americas,
Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Once women have discerned that God is calling them to become
Sisters of Notre Dame, they enter an extended time of formation (at least
eight years) leading to their commitment to God and the community through
profession of perpetual vows. To find out more about the Sisters of
Notre Dame, explore this website. You can also request more
information, or contact a vocation
director for assistance or to schedule a visit.
Associates of the Sisters of Notre Dame
Associates are women and men who, while maintaining their state of life,
whether married or single, are attracted by the spirituality of the Sisters
of Notre Dame and have chosen to affiliate themselves with the sisters.
A period of guided instruction and discernment helps both the community
and
the individuals seeking association to determine whether this call is truly
from God. An associate aims to be a daily witness to God's goodness and
provident care. Associates participate in life-giving spiritual and social
gatherings,
deepen their spiritual life through liturgical and personal prayer, and
share their gifts and talents in many ways with their families, their
parish, diocese
and the Sisters of Notre Dame. To find out more about an associate relationship
with the Sisters of Notre Dame, you can request more
information or contact
an associate director for assistance.
Volunteers of the Sisters of Notre Dame
Volunteers assist the sisters as they fulfill their ministry to the people
of God. Volunteers pray for the sisters and actively volunteer for and with
the sisters. Some of the projects that attract volunteers are assistance
with
outreach
activities,
such as nursing home visits, student tutoring, inner-city projects, and
missionary activities. They also assist
the
sisters
in clerical work such as typing, data entry and filing; sharing talents
and expertise with the sisters in their ministries;
and serving on committees or working on special projects in a variety
of areas such as finance,
buildings and grounds, public relations, and advancement. Some opportunities are found in links on our volunteer service page. To find out more about becoming a volunteer with
the Sisters
of Notre Dame, you can request more information or
contact a volunteer coordinator for volunteer experiences suited to your talents
and interests.
