Latest News

October 9, 2024 – Sister Barbara Pfarr is traveling with the Nuns on the Bus, a project of the Network Lobby for Catholic Social Justice. To learn more read the Global Sisters Report, “Nuns on the Bus Chicago stop highlights multi-issue voting at center for immigrants.” Learn More »

October 2, 2024 – Each year, the Women’s Leadership Luncheon series offers attendees the opportunity to connect with speakers and stories that are timely, engaging and inspiring - and which relate to topics of importance for the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND). Learn More »

October 2, 2024 – In 2015, Pope Francis penned his encyclical letter Laudato Si’, urging all people of the world to take action on the climate emergency and ecological crisis. In 2021, in a heartfelt response to this call, the School Sisters of Notre Dame Central Pacific Province (SSNDCP) dedicated themselves to a seven-year effort to “live more simply, responsibly, and sustainably and to educate, advocate and act in collaboration with others for the dignity of life and the care of all creation.” Walk With Us »

September 23, 2024 – Sister Judy Best talks about recognizing the important role her education through Network and a commitment to Catholic social justice principles aides her conversations with friends whose political views differ from hers. Read More »

September 13, 2024 – Congratulations to Sister Joan Penzenstadler, for receiving the Madonna Medal for her service to Mount Mary University in Milwaukee. An alumna, she was part of the theology department and served as vice president for mission and identity before retiring in 2022. Sister Joan remains an active member of the Mount Mary community, supporting the SSND spirit and mission. Read More »

September 4, 2024 – Sister Sandra Helton, Central Pacific Province Councilor, on her election as a board member for Leadership Conference for Women Religious (LCWR). Her term begins at the conclusion of the LCWR National Assembly in August.

Sister Sandra is serving as a provincial councilor for the Central Pacific Province for the first time. Her leadership experience includes 45 years serving as an educator in Catholic and public schools in Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Sister Sandra’s teaching background includes reading and language arts, drama and technology to elementary, middle and high school students. She has also ministered as assistant administrator, IT coordinator, lead teacher, instructional coach and teacher mentor. She also taught at the Institute of Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University, New Orleans, and Speech and Theater at Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana. Read More »

September 4, 2024 – First founded in the 1950’s, The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) is an association of women leaders from Catholic congregations from across the United States. The School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) have been active with LCWR since the beginning, contributing the thoughtful insight and experience of our own leadership to the collective voice of the organization. Read More »

September 4, 2024 – In 1999, Marian Middle School opened its doors as the only all-girls private middle school in the St. Louis community with a focus on serving urban adolescent youth in a faith-based environment. Last month, the school kicked off not just the start of a new academic year, but a milestone 25 years celebrating demonstrated student success. Keep Reading »

September 4, 2024 – Each September, World Alzheimer’s Month seeks to challenge the stigmas surrounding Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia. It is in this spirt that School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) are pleased to announce that the Women’s Leadership Luncheon theme for 2025 is The Nun Study: Transforming the Future of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Related Dementias. Learn More »

August 10, 2024 – Sister Vincella Lake shares her journey from the convent to the celebration of her 50th anniversary of her vows back in 2012. You will need a subscription to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch to read the full article. Read More »

August 7, 2024 – Major gifts make possible major projects. For more than 190 years, School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) have been known for transforming the world through education. Many people reading this newsletter may have had sisters as teachers themselves! Discover How »

August 7, 2024 – In May, a group of students from Notre Dame High School in St. Louis (NDHS) made the exciting journey to Kyoto, Japan, to visit their Notre Dame Jogakuin Jr. and Sr. High School counterparts. Read More »

August 7, 2024 – In January, Sister Anna Marie Reha joined a ministry trip to South Sudan. What was initially intended to be a one-time event has, instead, inspired Sister Anna Marie to plan a return to the country and its people this fall. Be Inspired »

August 6, 2024 – Sister Addie Lorraine Walker was the opening speaker at the joint meeting of the National Black Sisters’ Conference, the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, the National Black Catholic Seminarians Association and the National Associate of Black Catholic Deacons in Louisville, Kentucky, July 28-31. During the conference, the National Black Sisters' Conference members elected officers and board members. Read More »

August 5, 2024 – “Happy Flour Bakery is nestled inside the Notre Dame School of Dallas, a School Sisters of Notre Dame Sponsored Ministry, a Catholic school dedicated to students with disabilities and teaching them to become independent. What began as a small group of 10 students learning to measure, mix and roll dough quickly grew into a bustling bakery operation. To learn more of the growth of Happy Flour Bakery read and/or listen to CBS News Texas, “Happy Flour Bakery in Dallas empowers students with disabilities from inside school cafeteria.” Read More »