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School Sisters of Notre Dame:
A “Powerhouse” in Canada, England
and beyond for 80 years

February 14, 2007

On February 14, 2007, the Canadian Province of the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) is celebrating 80 years as an administrative unit. England is part of the Canadian Province.

Symbolic of the establishment of the province was the opening of the province Motherhouse in Waterdown, Ontario, on February 14, 1927. It sits atop the Niagara escarpment next to massive power lines that send hydro-electric power from Niagara Falls throughout Ontario. Notre Dame Motherhouse has been and remains a powerhouse of prayer and service from which SSNDs are sent throughout Canada and England. Their goal: to shine the light of Christ and the light of knowledge where there is urgent need.

Founded in 1833 by Blessed Theresa Gerhardinger in Bavaria Germany, the congregation’s initial focus was on the education of girls since, as mothers, they would be the first educators in the family and key to the renewal of the family and of society. Blessed Theresa believed that education was the most effective way to bring about change in society.

Today the congregation continues to emphasize the education and empowerment of women, children, and persons who are poor, helping them reach their full potential and use their gifts to build a better world. When Blessed Theresa died in 1879 there were over 2,500 Sisters in mission in Europe and North America. The School Sisters of Notre Dame who minister in England today, in Barnsley, Huyton and London, are part of the Canadian Province. They follow in the footsteps of Sisters who have served in England since 1864.

In 1864 Blessed Theresa sent six SSNDs to Whitechapel, London, England to teach German immigrant children. Other schools as well as several orphanages were opened in the London area, in Birmingham, and in Southend-on-Sea. These original missions are now all closed. The last to close was the convent school in Woolwich which continued until 1927. That same year, the Canadian Province was formed.

SSND presence in Canada began in 1871 when Sisters were sent from the mission in Milwaukee to administer an orphanage and teach in the small rural village of St. Agatha, Ontario. By 1927 there were 19 SSND convents in Canada, including the newly opened Convent and Boarding School in Leipzig, Saskatchewan.

It became apparent that the uniqueness of the Canadian culture would be best served by establishing a Canadian administrative unit. Given the close ties between England and Canada, the Canadian Province was given responsibility for England in 1934 and the convent school in Woolwich reopened.

There have been many changes over the years in religious life, in the Canadian province, and in the ministries of the sisters. What remains the same is the SSND educational vision.

Traditionally the SSND educational vision was largely expressed in school settings. However, from the beginning the Sisters sought opportunities to educate in innovative ways in orphanages and nurseries, and in evening and weekend classes for women working in factories.

The educational vision continues in the Canadian Province in new ways, in workshops that bring attention to global justice issues related to human trafficking and ecological sustainability, in developing ways to collaborate with school systems and Catholic lay leadership, and in raising awareness of the goals of the United Nations, especially those relating to education, the needs of women and children, and the alleviation of poverty.

Today the Notre Dame Motherhouse continues to be a powerhouse. The Sisters in the ministry of prayer and presence make it a powerhouse of support for those sent to minister in Canada, England, Italy and the USA, and in the SSND mission extensions of South America and Africa. Together with 3,800 School Sisters of Notre Dame in 36 countries, they work to empower persons through education, believing that in this way the world can become a better place for all.

Celebrations will run throughout the year. Among them is a reunion for former students of Notre Dame Academy to be held June 3, 2007. Event updates will be posted on our website: www.ssndcanadian.org.

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For more information contact:
Patricia Stortz, Communications Coordinator

Transforming the world through education.