Building Our Future Together in Hope
July 7, 2026
By Sister Kathryn Keenan, SNDdeN
What does the future of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur look like? It looks like women gathered from five continents, praying together, speaking different languages and sharing a common charism and mission. In late March 2026, the Congregational Leadership Team, through the work of the Congregational Formation Team, convened an International Formators Meeting in Rome, a historic gathering of Vocation and Formation Ministers from across the entire Congregation.
Sisters and Vocation and Formation ministers from across the Congregation gather in Rome. Participants join working groups and utilize translation tools.
Associate Sabrina Harper, Vocation Promoter, and Sister Kathryn Keenan, SNDdeN, Leadership Team member, represented the U.S. East-West Province at this significant convening.
The theme — Building Our Future Together in Hope — was not merely a title. It was a declaration. Vocations are the lifeblood of our mission, and formation is how we nurture, shape and sustain the women called to carry St. Julie Billiart’s charism into the world. This meeting placed that sacred work at the very center of the Congregation’s attention.
Grounded in prayer and rooted in the spirit of our foundresses, St. Julie and Françoise Blin de Bourdon, participants reflected deeply on the realities Sisters face across the globe, including the diverse cultural contexts, unique challenges and the shared call that unites them all.
Together, they examined the essential elements of formation programs: candidate preparation, assessment requirements, the stages of formation, and the ongoing education and support of formation ministers themselves. A spirit of hope pervaded every conversation, especially as participants explored new possibilities for greater international collaboration.
Each day began with a prayer service prepared by participants and closed with Eucharistic liturgy, a cadence that kept the gathering anchored in what matters most. Woven throughout was a profound commitment to building a culture of care: for new members, for formation ministers, and for the communities that welcome and shape them.
The meeting also offered moments of grace beyond the conference room. A pilgrimage to the holy city of Assisi renewed spirits and deepened resolve. On Palm Sunday, participants joined thousands of the faithful in St. Peter’s Square for liturgy with Pope Leo XIV. Another powerful reminder that this work of formation is part of something far larger than any one province or program. The future of Notre Dame is being built prayerfully, collaboratively and with great hope.
