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July 29, 2008

A Celebration of Leadership

On July 29, the School Sisters of Notre Dame of the Canadian Province celebrated the commitment of three sisters elected for Provincial Leadership: S. Mary Heather MacKinnon as Provincial Leader, S. Irene Freeman as Provincial Councillor/Vicar, and S. Eileen Donohoe as Provincial Councillor.

The installation ceremony recognized that all Sisters together have responsibilities in the life and mission of the congregation. Sisters Mary Heather, Irene and Eileen accepted responsibility to promote unity within the Canadian Province in order to carry out the mission of Jesus Christ. They also accepted responsibility to work together through prayer and dialogue to further the Canadian Province mandates and the SSND International mandate, The Call to Solidarity.

In turn all Sisters accepted their call to participate in the life and mission of the congregation and to support the new Council.
Friends and SSND Associates were present and expressed their willingness to move in faith with the Sisters to create a just and hope-filled society.

The three Sisters who form the new Provincial Council have expertise in many areas.

S. Mary Heather has a rich educational background in theology and over 40 years of teaching experience in elementary, secondary, post-secondary and adult religious education in Southern Ontario and England.

S. Eileen, Irish born, has ministered for over 40 years in the United Kingdom in education, pastoral ministry, university chaplaincy and as director of Sophia House of Prayer.

S. Irene brings a wealth of experience in education, administration, mental health services for children and ministry with Canadian Aboriginal peoples.

The Council was elected for a term of four years by the Sisters in a week-long discernment process.

The School Sisters of Notre Dame is an international community of vowed women religious in mission. Sisters of the Canadian Province minister in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, England, the USA, Italy, and Sudan. Together with more than 3,500 Sisters globally, they dedicate their lives to transforming the world through education, especially by empowering women, children, and persons who are marginalized. For more information about the School Sisters of Notre Dame visit our website: www.ssndcanadian.org.

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For more information contact:
Patricia Stortz, Communications Coordinator

Transforming the world through education.