School Sisters of Notre Dame Celebrate Congregation’s 175th Anniversary

School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) celebrated the 175th Anniversary of their foundation on October 24, 2008. The international congregation of women religious traces its roots to 1833, when Blessed Mary Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger founded the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Bavaria in response to the urgent needs of her day.

Today, more than 3,700 School Sisters of Notre Dame serve in 36 countries on five continents. Their life in mission centers on prayer, community life and ministry. The sisters uphold their congregation’s founding vision that education has the power to transform the world, and they do so in a variety of ways, serving as teachers, administrators, lawyers, accountants, nurses, therapists, social workers, pastoral ministers, social justice advocates and much more.

In the IHM community, Sister Rosie Bonk, SSND fulfills that vision by ministering as Young Adult and Adult Ministry Director. Throughout the years, the IHM community has been blessed with the presence of School Sisters of Notre Dame. On Sunday, November 9th at the 9:30 liturgy, Sr. Rosie Bonk and Sr. Elva Wiesner (former teacher at IHM) will renew their vows in the presence of the IHM community. After the 9:30 liturgy they will be in the parish hall joining in Hospitality Sunday.

As a parish community we continue to pray, remember, and support Srs. Rosie, Elva and all other SSND’s who continue to transform our world through education.