NDNU Receives Blessing from the Pope

In celebration of its 175^th year of educating women and men in California, Notre Dame de Namur University President Lizbeth Martin received a beautiful Apostolic Blessing from Pope Leo XIV.

This special honor commemorates the founding of Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU, formerly the College of Notre Dame) in 1851, when the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur established the first institution in California authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees to women.

The certificate, rendered formally on parchment, represents a personalized spiritual blessing from the Holy Father. It bears the official portrait of Pope Leo and an embossed seal of the Elemosineria Apostolica, or the Dicastery for Charity Services.

The Blessing states:

The Holy Father Leo XIV cordially imparts the requested Apostolic Blessing to the Director Lizbeth Martin and Sisters of Notre Dame of the United States Notre Dame de Namur University on the occasion of the 175^th Anniversary of the Foundation of the University invoking through intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an abundance of divine graces.

May God continue to bless NDNU as it continues to educate and serve students.  God is good!