Celebrating 175 Years in New England
Since 1849, our Sisters have been a presence for good in the New England area, opening multiple schools and standing with those in the greatest need.
The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur commemorated 175 years in New England in 2024, marking a significant milestone in their history in the United States. In 1849, amidst anti-Catholic sentiment, three pioneering Sisters from Belgium made the courageous journey to Boston via Cincinnati, Ohio. Despite facing hostility and hardship, they remained steadfast in their mission. Dedicated to spreading God’s goodness through education and social justice, they established schools and provided nurture throughout New England. By 1900, their influence had grown to 32 schools, which continued to increase throughout the 20th century.
Today, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur are deeply woven into the fabric of New England, with their work extending beyond education to address broader social needs, including services for seniors, children and families. As the longest-serving religious congregation of women in the Archdiocese of Boston, their enduring legacy of goodness is a testament to their tireless efforts to enrich lives across the region.
An Enduring Legacy of Goodness (1849-2024)
Videos and photos celebrating 175 years of joyful ministry in New England: Coming soon!
The Boston Pilot published several articles about the Sisters and their impact on New England, written by Sisters, Associates and others in the SNDdeN community.
The story of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur begins with Julie Billiart. Raised in a poor but devout Catholic family, Julie showed an extraordinary spiritual awareness from an early age. This deep faith would become the foundation for a global religious congregation of Catholic Sisters devoted to proclaiming the goodness of God.
“The goodness of God is a key component of the Notre Dame charism. We proclaim it on the cross we wear; we seek to make God’s goodness visible through our lives. And, during this anniversary time, we celebrate the legacy of God’s goodness that has endured for these 175 years. God will continue to love—and as we know and believe in the power of that love, extraordinary things will continue to be possible.”
— Sister Pat O’Brien, SNDdeN, a member of the U.S. East-West Leadership Team and emcee of the 175th New England Gala
