2006

The School Sisters of Notre Dame Celebrate Jubilees for 2006
(August 29, 2006)

2002: A year of celebration
(January 30, 2002)

School Sisters of Notre Dame vote and work for peace
(October 22, 2002)

School Sisters of Notre Dame vote and work for peace

October 22, 2002

During the recent General Chapter of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, held in Freising, Germany, Sister Rosemary Howarth, a Canadian, born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, was re-elected to a five-year term as the General Superior of this international congregation of over 4,400 sisters ministering in 35 countries. She is the first Canadian to hold this leadership position in the congregation.

Prior to her role as General Superior, Sister Rosemary taught elementary and special education classes in Ontario; spent several years in catechetical and pastoral work in Comas and Villa El Salvador, barrios of Lima, Peru; worked among the First Nation people of Grassy Narrows Reserve, Ontario; and worked with a Spanish Catholic community in Kitchener, Ontario.

In commenting upon her previous five years as General Superior Sister Rosemary said, "During these past 5 years as General Superior, my experiences with the members of the present general council and with our sisters have taught me much about 'communal wisdom', the challenge of international leadership and the demands of collaborative working together in faith."

Sister Rosemary's election was just one of the highlights of the General Chapter that ran from September 18 to October 16, and in which approximately 100 School Sisters of Notre Dame from around the world participated. The purpose of the chapter was two-fold: to elect those who would take on the leadership of the congregation as a whole for the next five years, and to give direction to the life and mission of the congregation for the future, that is, how the sisters, as an international congregation, can address some of the urgent needs in the world today through their life and ministry.

Elected to serve on the General Council with Sister Rosemary are a group of sisters who truly represent the international character of the congregation: Sister Marcela Rockenbach (vicar) from Brazil who has also served in Romania; Sister Laura Jean Spaeth from Wisconsin, USA, a previous General Councillor and active in cross-cultural and global-awareness programs; Sister M. Johanna Schr?ckseis of Germany, the Shalom (Justice and Peace) Representative for the Major Area of Europe; Sister Catherine Sarther of Chicago, USA, presently Provincial Leader for Chicago; Sister Francine Perez of Guam, a previous General Councillor; and Sister M. Irenea Ksiazak from Poland who has also served in The Gambia, Africa. The international headquarters of the School Sisters of Notre Dame is located in Rome, Italy.

As for the future direction of the congregation, Sister Rosemary pointed out that in this religious congregation, women from different cultures and countries are able to live and work together, forming community and proving that peace is possible in the midst of the world's diversity. During these times of international political tension, the School Sisters of Notre Dame feel themselves called to "witness prophetically to reconciliation and unity by the way we live together in local community and in our multicultural, international congregation." May the world follow their lead.