NEWS
School Sisters of Notre Dame celebrate 175th Anniversary by Sister Kathleen Jager, SSND ’70
“True to ideals set by thee, the spirit of IND.”
F
or generations, the IND community has proudly sung these lines. But from where does this spirit originate? I
believe it generated from the founding spirit of the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) who firmly planted their educational vision at IND 161 years ago. This year’s 175th anniversary of the SSND serves us well to reflect on that founding spirit. At a SSND convent in Bavaria, Germany, a magnificent
English Department Chair Sister Jane Cayer, SSND enjoys the laughter of her students.
tree encompasses the backyard. The tree, I’m told, was
grow in self-esteem, and become responsible leaders using
planted by our SSND foundress, Blessed Theresa of Jesus, on
their God-given gifts to help others live with the dignity of
October 24, 1833—the day she began our congregation. For
God’s children.
me, it has become a living symbol of our congregation’s
The congregation quickly expanded across Europe and
story. Like this tree, SSND has remained rooted for 175 years
then to North America in 1847, first planting itself on
in Blessed Theresa’s spirit as we have continued to grow,
American soil at Aisquith Street in Baltimore. Today, SSND
blossoming in the times and cultures where God has planted us.
has grown to be a powerful tree of life on five continents
Turbulent times marked Blessed Theresa’s early years.
where more than 3,700 Sisters as well as lay associates,
The Napoleonic Wars left Bavaria poverty-stricken, and
co-workers, alumnae and countless others inspired by the
secularism threatened Christian beliefs. Deeply mindful of
Gospel and Blessed Theresa’s vision form the living SSND
the gap between the gospel message and human reality,
community. Education in its broadest sense; concern for
Theresa responded to God’s call and began her congregation.
women, youth, those poor and marginalized; working
Although excluding no one from her concern, she chose the
for systemic change, peace and justice—these remain the
Christian education of girls, particularly poor girls in rural
hallmarks of SSND in mission. Like Theresa, we continue
Bavaria, as the vital service for her community. Theresa
responding to the urgent realities of our time—from founding
understood the strength of transformative education grounded
a middle school for at-risk girls in southwest Baltimore
in Gospel values in effecting systemic change – empowering
(2004), to training teachers in war-torn Sudan (2008), to
persons, especially young women, to develop their potential,
bringing worldwide concerns to the United Nations through
From left to right: IND Class of 1957 in Fourth Grade photo; School Sisters of Notre Dame circa 1960s at car and at the piano.
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the onyx | winter 2009