Become a Sister
Exploring a vocation with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur begins with a desire to learn—about religious life, about who we are as a community and about God’s purpose for your life.
Begin the Journey of a Lifetime
We look forward to connecting with you.
This page is a starting point, a guide to the resources and information that can help you discover your vocation. As you explore, we invite you to bring your questions and reflections to prayer, trusting the Holy Spirit to guide you. Remember, discernment is a journey that unfolds over time, and we are here to walk it with you. If you’d like to talk or need guidance, please reach out to Vocations@ewsndden.org.
I realize more than ever the need there is for strong, generous, courageous souls who fear nothing, except displeasing the good God.
– St. Julie Billiart, L 47
Prayer for Vocations
LORD of the Harvest,
BLESS young people with the gift of courage to respond to your call.
Open their hearts to great ideals, to great things.
INSPIRE all of your disciples to mutual love and giving— for vocations blossom in the good soil of faithful people.
INSTILL those in religious life, parish ministries and families with the confidence
and grace to invite others to embrace the bold and noble path of a life consecrated to you.
UNITE us to Jesus through prayer and sacrament,
so that we may cooperate with you in building your reign of mercy and truth, of justice and peace.
Amen.
– Pope Francis
Sister Bárbara Gutiérrez, SNDdeN - Vocations Video
Are You Called to Religious Life? Sister Bárbara Gutiérrez, SNDdeN discusses her call to religious life and what drew her to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.
World Day of Prayer for Vocations - Sister Liane Delsuc, SNDdeN
Sister Liane Delsuc, SNDdeN discusses the call to religious life and what drew her to a vocation as a vowed religious woman.
Who are the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur?
We are members of a religious order founded in 1804 by three women, St. Julie Billiart, Françoise Blin de Bourdon and Catherine Duchâtel. Our mission statement reads, “Sisters of Notre Dame, women with hearts as wide as the world, make known God’s goodness and love of the poor through a Gospel way of life, community and prayer. Continuing a strong educational tradition, we take our stand with poor people, especially women and children, in the most abandoned places. Each of us commits her one and only life to work with others to
“Create Justice and Peace for All.”
Much like academic titles (PhD, MA, etc.) the SNDdeN after a Sister’s name indicates that they are a vowed Sister of Notre Dame de Namur.
Our daily schedule depends on our local community and its individual members. Some Sisters are involved in full-time ministry, while other Sisters who are no longer in active ministry or engaged in study have a more flexible schedule. Regardless of where our Sisters live and minister, our day concludes with evening prayer and time in community.
Following Vatican II, religious Sisters were encouraged to be more present to the world and to wear clothes suitable for the ministry and time in which they served. With this invitation, Sisters prayed, reflected and discussed how to live and do this ministry. This time of reflection solidified their zeal to make known God’s goodness and love of the poor through a Gospel way of life, community and prayer. This new focus led Sisters to let go of their traditional habit and follow in Jesus’s footsteps, who did not require his disciples to wear a uniform. The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur wear a special cross as a sign of their consecrated life.
If you feel God is calling you, do not be afraid – be attentive and pray for God’s guidance. God will open the way if this is his will. Each life’s journey is unique. Here are some basic prerequisites for discerning with us:
- Have a love of God, a deep prayer life and the desire to learn and serve
- Be an active Catholic or in formation to become a Catholic
- Be in good health in body, mind and spirit
- Be between the ages of 20-50
- Be a legal U.S. citizen or have legal status to live and/or work in the U.S.
- Have a minimum of two years of college/university or equivalent work experience beyond high school and the ability to study
- Have no canonical or legal impediments to entrance
Preparing for Final Vows – An Intercultural Experience
By Sr. Gillian Wallace, SNDdeN This summer, I had a transformative experience in Namur, Belgium. I spent eight weeks there with 21 other Sisters, preparing to make their final vows. The other participants were from the Democratic Republic of the...
Dedicated Women, Sowing a Future of Hope
By Sister Rosemary Reynolds, SNDdeN This article originally appeared in our Winter 2023 issue of Sowing Goodness. After several class sessions discussing the Prophets of the Old Testament, one of my former freshman high school students asked, “Would you say that...