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If you have a question about vocations, please contact us at sisters@ssnd.org.

Did you know that the Year of Consecrated Life recently concluded?

Throughout this year it has been beautiful to see an outpouring of love and support for consecrated religious women and men in the US and around the world. SSND's have been sharing their stories, inviting people to pray with them in their community houses, and helping spread the word about what it means to be a School Sister of Notre Dame! If you've missed any of that or would like to see it again, we are continuing to offer Year of Consecrated Life coverage and resources at ssnd.org!

We also want you to know that we, SSNDs and vocation ministers, are praying in a particular way for all of you who are discerning a possible call to religious life this year. Listen to how the Spirit may be inviting you through your experiences, relationships, and the movements of your heart! Be courageous! And, of course, please do contact us if you have any questions about discernment or the School Sisters of Notre Dame.

Day of the Girl

From SSND.org:

Three years ago, the United Nations declared October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child to raise awareness about all issues concerning gender inequality around the world. It’s a day when activist groups come together under the same goal to highlight, discuss, and take action to advance rights and opportunities for girls everywhere.

The International Day of the Girl will be commemorated with a Day of the Girl Speak Out from 3-6 p.m. (EDT-USA) on Friday, October 9.  At this event, poetry, songs, and stories from girls around the world will be performed at the United Nations Headquarters. The event will be live-streamed on the International Day of the Girl Summit website.

We also invite you to view the video that was created to celebrate the new U.N. Sustainable Development Goals and what they mean for Girls.
More information about the International Day of the Girl can be found on the UN Women website.
We invite you to learn more, explore ways to get involved, take action, offer a prayer.

World Teachers' Day

The School Sisters of Notre Dame, as educators in all we do, are celebrating and praying for teachers everywhere today on World Teachers Day. We invite you to join us in praying for teachers of all kinds and their ministry of education - you can find a prayer for teachers here!

Waiting to See Pope Francis

Sisters Rebecca Tayag and Maria Iannuccillo, SSND were among the many faithful who waited along the parade route in Washington, DC yesterday to see Pope Francis. They are pictured here with Br. Paul Bednarczyk, CSC. All three are involved in vocation work, so we can be confident that they brought prayers for all discerners with them!

Update:

Here are some more pictures from Sr. Rebecca Tayag, SSND:

Sister Eileen Reilly, SSND - Notes from the Bus

Sister Eileen Reilly, SSND, is one of several School Sisters of Notre Dame who are directly involved in this year's Nuns on the Bus campaign. One of her reflections about this past weekend's events gives a good sense of what being a 'nun on the bus' is like - check it out here! 

SSND Response to Ongoing Crisis in Hungary

Sister Lucy Nigh, SSND (a vocation team member) was recently in touch with fellow SSNDs in Hungary to see how they are handling the current refugee crisis.

Sister Lucy writes that she "spoke with Sister Eszti-Kinga, SSND, who is on the provincial council in Hungary about their anguish... She (Eszti-Kinga) and especially Sister Fidelis have taken tents and sleeping bags to help the refugees." 

You can see the full collection of pictures taken by these loving SSNDs here. Please keep the people who are migrating in treacherous conditions and those who are trying to help them in your prayers! 

National Day of Prayer with Religious - SSND Report

Our vocation team received a joyful report from Sister Celine Flynn, SSND about how her local community celebrated the National Day of Prayer with Religious on September 13. This day was one of the events suggested by the Bishops of the United States as a way to celebrate the Year of Consecrated Life. Did you attend an event that day? We'd love to hear about it! 

Here is Sister Celine's summary of the SSND event in Connecticut:

"We, here at VND had a lovely day here at 345 Belden Hill Road, Wilton! We scheduled an OPEN HOUSE from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. inviting all of the Churches in and around our area, colleges/universities, many businesses here in Wilton, Norwalk,Westport, New Canaan, and yes, our neighbors in the non-Catholic churches!  The day consisted of:  welcoming our guests, taking them on tours of our Motherhouse, refreshments, and ending it with a Prayer Service in our Chapel!  We had about 80 plus who came and were very happy to come and spend the afternoon with the Sisters!  S. Celine explained & quoted the Holy Father Pope Francis on the Importance of Celebrating Consecrated Life just before the Prayer Service!  Our many Guests found their whole visit to be very 'Inspirational!' very 'Peaceful,' as some of them expressed before leaving our Motherhouse!

"God was good in giving us a Beautiful Day with the weather (the forecast was supposed to be a WASHOUT!), but the Sun was shining brightly! I believe that a good time was had by all!  S. Celine invited our guests to come back anytime to our Beautiful Chapel to pray, or to just sit in the Presence of the Lord! That the doors are always open!  She even suggested that maybe some of the families would ADOPT a Sister or two! The Sisters in the Motherhouse VND ENJOYED the touring, sharing, talking, refreshments as much as the Guests, did! It was truly a 'memorable' Day!"

Education as Salvation?

A concern about 'saving souls' might seem a bit strange to modern ears, especially coming from a woman who was a teacher and founder of schools for country girls. Putting Blessed Theresa and her words in context, however, we can see that there is a sentiment here that very timely or, perhaps, timeless. 

The word 'salvation' comes from the Latin word salus, which means 'wellbeing.' The root meaning of salvation is to improve one's condition, to make whole and well. An educational movement in the European Catholic Church had begun a century before Theresa which was concerned about the salvation of poor children on all levels. These new schools introduced poor and working class children to faith in Jesus, yes, but also equipped them with knowledge and skills to succeed in a society that otherwise excluded them. Learning how to read, write, do basic math, and behave well in public were game-changing tools for kids from both innercity slums and country towns. Their adult chances at wellbeing had been increased exponentially. 

If the social situation I described sounds oddly reminiscent of our time, it shouldn't surprise you that such Catholic schools (and many other schools modeled after them) still exist all over the world. This work continues, and School Sisters of Notre Dame continue to educate in the spirit of Blessed Theresa. Many other SSNDs work for the wellbeing of others in other settings, too - in ESL centers for adults, as dentists and lawyers, as social workers, and even at the UN! Their work is filled with everyday miracles of salvation. 

SSNDs On The Bus

The School Sisters of Notre Dame will again be taking part in Nuns On The Bus  - starting in St. Louis on Thursday! Information about the tour, links to the schedule of events and updates from our SSNDs during the journey will be posted on the ssnd.org website throughout the next two weeks. Stay tuned! 

Ruffling People's Feathers

Once someone has chosen to really begin discerning a call to religious life - out loud, in conversation with a spiritual director and a particular community or two - they are often asked what might have made them worried/anxious/afraid to take that step before doing so. One of the most common stumbling blocks to pursuing the possibility of a vocation to religious life is a concern about what other people will think. It can be very hard for some of us to reveal the deep desires of our heart to others, even those we care about and believe care about us. For others, the idea of being 'weird' or 'different' is difficult to bear. Still others may be concerned about disappointing family expectations of a lucrative career and/or a big family. These are all valid concerns to have. We human beings are made to be relational, and it may indeed ruffle some feathers if you decide to actively discern a call to religious life. In many, many cases, however, discerners are surprised at just how well their families and friends take their decision in stride. In fact, many are surprised to hear that their family and friends saw it coming! 

It is difficult to describe to those who have not yet experienced it the peace that comes when you choose to be most concerned about being true to what is being whispered in your heart and to what you feel God is inviting you to. Two hints while searching for what this may be for you, today:

1. These two things are probably the same thing, or at least related.

2. God always calls us into deeper joy and freedom (though the trust required to get there can sometimes be a bit scary for some of us).

To Make This Love Visible

To discover and live out one's vocation is a joyful and beautiful process, even if it isn't always easy. If you have ever met someone who is clearly being/doing what they were made to do - whether that is being a parent, fighting fires, or leading others in prayer - then you know precisely what I am talking about. It was obvious that this person was lit up from the inside by the joy that comes from living an authentic life, a life where who you are, what you value, and what you do all line up, all make sense together. I think that this is what our Foundress, Blessed Theresa, is asking for God's help to achieve in her own life in today's quote. She is certainly not alone in this desire! You may want to consider making her prayer your prayer; I know that it is one my heart whispers often.

Upcoming Event in St. Louis

For those of you who live in the Midwest, we would love to have you join us for an event that we're calling "Stories Around The Campfire" on Saturday, October 3rd. It's going to be a great night! Full details and registration can be found here.

Join us in Prayer on Tuesday!

Pope Francis has instituted in the Catholic Church the “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation,” which will be celebrated on September 1 beginning this year. The day offers individual believers and communities a fitting opportunity to reaffirm their personal vocation to be stewards of creation, to thank God for the wonderful handiwork which has been entrusted to our care and to implore God's help for the protection of creation as well as pardon for the sins committed against the world in which we live. We invite you to join us in prayer on this day, using the prayer service prepared by the SSND Shalom team for North America. (Shalom is the term we use to describe our SSND international network for justice, peace, and integrity of creation.) To download the pdf with the prayer service, please click here: www.ssnd.org/sites/default/files/files/Shalom/care_of_creation_prayer090115.pdf 

The Shape of Your Heart, The Focus of Your Love

What I love most about this quote from Blessed Theresa is the gentle but very real challenge that it is. These are words that hit me right in the chest - right in the heart - every time that I read them. A soft poke, whispered questions: What do I love? Does my interior landscape (the things that I spend time thinking about, the things I desire, etc) seem like a reflection of what I say I love? Would a stranger looking at my day-to-day life know what I love based on what they would see me spending my time, money, and energy on? After reflecting on these things I always find myself shaking my head with a wry smile. I know the areas in which I can do better - we all do - and part of a life of discipleship is always striving to do a bit better. Being human means, among other things, having an inborn longing to become the best and most authentic version of ourselves over the course of our lifetime. This journey to wholeness, and our desire to make this journey, reminds me of Jesus' promise that, "I have come that you may have life, and have it abundantly" (Jn 10:10).

For those who are working out what they are going to do with their "one wild and precious life" (Mary Oliver), it is often helpful to take some time to consider what the shape of your heart is now and to consider what you hope the shape of your heart will become. These can be powerful insights about what makes you happy and helps you to feel most alive - what gives you abundant life.

An SSND Case Study: Sister Betty Uchytil

Sister Betty Uchytil, SSND, was recently featured in her local newspaper for starting a new role as principal at a Catholic primary school. While the school is new to Sister Betty, serving as an administrator in such a school is not - and, as the headline of the article indicates, her vocation as both an SSND and an educator has brought her to a great variety of schools over the years.  

A few things I'd like to highlight from this article:

• Sister Betty became a teacher and taught in public schools for ten years before becoming an SSND. It's normal to try a career or two before entering into serious discernment with a community!
• Her journey brought her to a school in Nepal - and, soon after, back home due to the temporary closure of the school. You never know what might happen, or how quickly your course might change, when following God's call! 

Read more about Sister Betty and her new role as a school principal here!

TREVOR MCDONALD/COURIER-POST

 

SSND has been attending ecumenical prayer services in Ferguson

Sister Cathy Doherty, SSND, has been attending ecumenical prayer services in Ferguson. She was recently featured in the St. Louis Review, which is published by the Archdiocese of St. Louis. You can find this excellent article here: http://t.co/cadEyAdAbz

Words of Wisdom from our Foundress

What modes of prayer are helpful to you at this time in your life? How might you deepen your commitment to prayer in order to keep the love of God burning in your heart?

Education in Many Forms

We shared some months ago a brief description of what has been called "The Nun Study" - an in-depth, ongoing project involving Alzheimer's research and the School Sisters of Notre Dame. The Global Sisters Report has published a fantastic article about how this study came to be, what the experiences of the sisters and the scientists have been like, and what has been learned! Well worth a read. 

http://globalsistersreport.org/news/educating-many-forms-school-sisters-notre-dame-committed-long-term-alzheimers-disease-study

Coloring as a Way of Praying...

Coloring has always been one of my favorite past-times! I have numerous coloring books or pads of white paper for doodling and when I pack for a long trip my colored pencils are often one of the first items that get added to my carry-one bag. In the last few years significant research has been conducted on the effects of coloring, especially its use in relieving stress and most recently as a way of praying. 

Carl Jung, a Psychology expert noted the benefits of coloring as a way of relaxing and created mandalas as a tool for channeling a person’s stress onto paper. Mandalas are large circular designs with intricate details that often resemble stained glass windows. Often when I find that I can’t find the words to pray or my mind is wondering I pull out a mandala and my colored pencils (crayons or markers work too) and sit in prayer letting my thoughts flow through the details in the mandala and the various colors that I chose. 

Another way using coloring to pray is through a program called Praying in Color by Sybil MacBeth. This program offers several techniques to help a person pray through their doodling. The website, www.prayingincolor.com is a great resource. I have used the simple techniques individually and with large groups and I continue to be amazed at how reflecting on a simple prayer or person while doodling can have such a positive impact on me. Not only am I more relaxed but I feel a strong connection to my faith. This is by far one of my favorite ways to pray. 

Here are a few examples of my praying through mandalas, it is my hope that this simple and creative way of praying works for you. 

 

 

 *These mandalas are from the book, Coloring Mandalas 2 for Balance Harmony and Spiritual Well-Being, by Susanne F. Fincher, 2004