Celebrating 175 Years as a Global Congregation

Celebrating 175 Years Globally

In 1850, Sisters Maria Aloysia and Maria Ignatia answered God’s call to serve in Coesfeld, Germany. When political suppression in Germany forced the sisters to leave, they followed German refugees to America and beyond, continuing their ministries and extending their reach. 175 years later, their mission has spread to 17 countries worldwide. This adaptability has been a key factor in the congregation’s ability to serve globally, unbound by any one country or culture, and responsive to the needs of the time.

In 2025, the Sisters of Notre Dame join the Church in celebrating a Jubilee year with the theme “Pilgrims of Gratitude and Hope.” This year, SND gives thanks for God’s blessings, the sisters before them, partners in mission, and all who they have served. SND is filled with hope, believing that God continues to call women and bless them with the SND charism. 

Over the past 175 years, the sisters’ growth has been guided by a belief in God’s providence and a dedication to meeting the needs of each generation. The congregation’s ability to move with the changing circumstances of the world has been essential to its success and longevity. Just like the many sisters who have served before them, sisters today bring service, education and compassion to whoever and wherever they minister, making an impact for all they serve.

Help us continue to make a global impact through our mission and ministries by making a contribution

Anniversary Anthem

Watch as Sisters of Notre Dame from around the world sing our 175th anniversary anthem in their native languages, including Sisters, associates, and students from USA, Germany, Brazil, India, Africa, and more!

Celebrating through Service

To celebrate the 175th Congregational anniversary, Sisters in each Province/Delegation are dedicating 175 hours of service. This includes taking the creative initiative to do something new or extra to make an impact outside of their regular ministries. Service projects are either sister-led or sisters volunteer to help with projects led by others. SND Associates, alumni, and other affiliated groups help serve alongside the sisters in these initiatives.

View the gallery of various service projects:

SND Founded Schools Join in the Celebration

Many schools celebrated the 175th anniversary by providing 175 service hours, donations, cards and letters, and even acts of kindness.

Canned Goods Donations to “Stuff the Truck”

Lial Catholic School (Whitehouse, OH) collected 175 canned goods to donate to the Toledo SeaGate Food Bank in collaboration with the Sisters of Notre Dame, who have collaborated

on food drives to benefit the Toledo SeaGate Food Bank through the “Stuff the Truck” event for the last few years. The food drive took place during Catholic Sisters Week.

Notre Dame Academy in Toledo also participated in the “Stuff the Truck” event with a goal of collecting 175 cans. Students also helped with shifts during the canned food drop-off.

Donations to Local Causes
Maria Early Learning Center (Toledo, OH) is collecting 175 stainless steel water bottles for Isaiah 117 House, which is currently raising money to build a home in the Toledo area. Isaiah 177 House is a national organization that reduces trauma on the day children are removed from their homes and provides physical and emotional support in a safe and loving home as the children await placement in a foster home. In addition to collecting water bottles, Maria Early Learning Center will include units in the curriculum on the importance of clean and accessible water and efforts by the SNDs to provide safe and clean water across the globe.

Notre Dame Academy Schools (Los Angeles, CA) put together 175 hygiene kits for West LA Homeless, an organization that serves those experiencing homelessness directly in their area.

Putting a Smile on Sisters’ Faces
Notre Dame Schools (Chardon, OH) put smiles on the faces of sisters in the Health Care Center. The students and staff on both the high school and middle/elementary school campuses sent personal letters and cards to those sisters. In addition, Dr. Jacqueline Hoynes recognized the sisters in a column about them in an edition of Seasons magazine, which is their quarterly publication for alumni.

Notre Dame Elementary and Middle School (Chardon, OH) held a prayer service to celebrate 175 years and invited the sisters to attend.

Acts of Kindness, Prayer, and Almsgiving
Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, KY) challenged its students to complete 175 Acts of Kindness during the Lenten Season in honor of the Sisters of Notre Dame. This was introduced to the students during the Women Making a Difference Day service fair. On that day, all of the students took part in their first act of kindness by making a spring card that was delivered to residents at the local Senior Living Facilities, including the Sisters living on the 4th floor of the school and at St. Charles Community.

Julie Billiart School (Lyndhurst, OH) challenged students to complete 175 acts of kindness by Holy Thursday.

The Acts of kindness were tracked by having teachers and students complete a paper slip and enter it into a large bucket in their Chapel.

The school also focused on the Stations of the Cross during Holy Week to encourage students and teachers to visit the Chapel and the Stations of the Cross. Third-grade students celebrate their completion of their acts of kindness in photo.

Notre Dame Cathedral Latin (Chardon, OH) performed 175 acts of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving and created a wall for students to record their acts. In addition, the school partnered with the local Vincent de Paul Society that is working on getting beds for children. The students raised $1,750 to pay for pillows and sheets. Choir students also joined the SND choir in recording a song written to celebrate the 175th anniversary.

Tree Planting
Our Lady of Victory School (Washington, D.C.) welcomed nine new trees to the MacArthur Boulevard hillside. The new trees include four hornbeams, three willow oaks, a linden, and a red cedar. One willow oak was dedicated to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Sisters of Notre Dame.

Sr. Mary Frances Taymans, SND, stopped by to see the tree and visit with her 8th-grade friends who helped with her presentation on trees during Catholic Schools Week. These trees are species native to the region and have been selected for their hardiness and ability to thrive in urban environments. They will provide shade, safeguard against erosion, and, importantly, add more natural beauty to OLV’s grounds.