The spirituality of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur is characterized by the call to discover and to become the very goodness of God in our world.
We commit ourselves to deepen our relationships with God, one another, those living in poverty, and with the whole of creation. We embrace our mission seeking life in abundance for all.
Saint Julie Billiart
Marie Rose Julie Billiart was born in Cuvilly, France, on July 12, 1751. Her whole life was animated by a great desire to make known the goodness of God. A catechist at a very early age, she continued to teach about God in spite of the paralysis that crippled her at the age of 22. Persecuted during the French Revolution, taken to Amiens, she retained always her unshakeable confidence in the good God.
On February 2, 1804, she founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame. After her miraculous cure, she dedicated herself to the education of poor girls. Opposition, however, obliged her to leave France in 1807. Her welcome by the Bishop of Namur, Belgium, ensured that the Sisters of Notre Dame could continue their work of education in the spirit that Julie had envisioned.
From the heart of her experience was born her well known expression, ”Oh, how good is the good God!”
Julie died on April 8, 1816, only 12 years after the founding of her religious community. Beatified on May 13, 1906, Julie Billiart was canonized on June 22, 1969.
Days of Special Prayer
February 2 – Foundation Day for the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (1804)
April 8 – Death of St. Julie (1816)
May 13 – Feast of St. Julie
June 22 – Canonization Day (1969)
July 12 – St. Julie’s Birthday (1751)
Spirituality Center
The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur East-West Province operate a spirituality center in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Click here to learn more.
Reflections, Prayers and Poems
Nearly all of the following were written by Sisters of Dame de Namur:
- Easter Sunday Gospel Reflection
Sunday, April 17, 2022 by Anne-Louise Nadeau, SNDdeN The End…or the Beginning? It was early Sunday morning after two days of trauma, suffering, questioning, and crying, when I decided to take a chance and go visit my friend’s tomb while - Easter Vigil Gospel Reflection
Saturday, April 16, 2022 by Sandra Araujo Santos, SNDdeN Waiting in Hope with Mary In today’s Gospel the women return bringing perfume for Jesus’ body. Today’s feast has a restoring power that even where a situation of pain is anticipated - Good Friday Gospel Reflection
Friday, April 15, 2022 by Sister Marilyn Pechillo, SNDdeN Many people question the name Good Friday. What is so good about it? It commemorates the worst of humanity, the merciless unleashing of violence against the good Jesus of Nazareth. We - Holy Thursday Gospel Reflection
Thursday, April 14, 2022 by Sister Marilyn Kerber, SNDdeN Holy Thursday. The Lord’s Supper. This first day of the Triduum carries with it so many meaningful remembrances and symbols. Pause for just a moment or so to bring just some - Palm Sunday Gospel Reflection
Sunday, April 10, 2022 by Sister Maureen O'Brien, SNDdeN The overlapping images of Palm Sunday, then and now, lead us into places where Hosannas and laments merge into one. The Gospel of Saint Luke, in today’s liturgy, sets the stage - Fifth Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection
Sunday, April 3, 2022 by Sister Betsy Mary Flynn, SNDdeN From the Earth Speaks Truth As I prayed John 8: 1-11, the woman taken in adultery, I began to see a drama unfold before my eyes. Jesus is preaching in - Fourth Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection
Sunday, March 27, 2022 by Sister Mary McClure, SNDdeN The Prodigal FatherSometimes we can be so familiar with a particular Bible Story that we can lose the impact of the story. You know the story. We all do. The younger - Third Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection
Sunday, March 20, 2022 by Sister Roseanne Murphy, SNDdeN We have read the words of Luke’s gospel many times in our lives; so much so, that often we respond to the message there with something like, “I know that.” Often, - Second Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection 2022
Sunday, March 13, 2022 by Sister Eileen Burns, SNDdeN Have you ever climbed a mountain? In my experience climbing up means pacing your breathing, keeping to a trail, spotting breath-taking vistas of the land below you and around you as - First Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection 2022
Sunday, March 6, 2022 by Sister Katy Webster, SNDdeN Today, the first Sunday of Lent, we reflect on the temptations Jesus faced in the desert for forty days and forty nights. This passage comes shortly after the baptism of Jesus - Lenten Reflection on Racism
Simple, ordinary, faithful, and caring women want to assure that their recently tortured and murdered friend had a proper burial, so they go to the site in the early morning hours to anoint the body. It is here that they - Prayer and Fasting for Peace in Ukraine
Pope Francis has called upon all members of the human family to make March 2 – Ash Wednesday – a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Ukraine. The gospels, Catholic social teachings, and our Notre Dame de Namur - Ash Wednesday Gospel Reflection 2022
Wednesday, March 2, 2022 by Sister Barbara Theilla, SNDdeN THEME: Choosing goodness secures life with and for God BACKGROUND: The Gospel of Matthew and Matthew 6: 1-6 and 16-18, refer regularly to Jewish religious leaders, the local town synagogue, the - Vigil of Christmas Gospel Reflection 2021
Friday, December 24, 2021 by Sister Barbara Barry, SNDdeN Have you noticed how the Church recognizes the enormity of the Christmas story? The lectionary is set with three readings for each Sunday during the year and whether you worship on - Prayer for International Migrants Day
Strangers in a Foreign Land Lord God, help us to remember those who tonight will go to sleep unfed and unwelcome,strangers in foreign lands, people who have fled for their lives and are far from their homes.We lift up to - Advent Week 4 Gospel Reflection 2021
Sunday, December 19, 2021 by Sister Maura McMenamin, SNDdeN “Mary set out at that time and went quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went to Zacharias’ house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as - Advent Week 3 Gospel Reflection 2021
Sunday, December 5, 2021 by Sister Ginny Scally, SNDdeN For most of my years (and now, that’s a LOT of them!), I honestly thought we “rejoiced” in the pink on this Sunday of Advent because we were half-way through this - Advent Week 2 Gospel Reflection 2021
Sunday, December 5, 2021 by Sister Edithann Kane, SNDdeN Have you ever had someone or something come into your life and change you or clarify your direction? Who – or what – was it? When was it? How were you - Advent Week 1 Gospel Reflection 2021
Sunday, November 28, 2021 by Sister Marna Rogers, SNDdeN Vengeance Day “…It will seem like all hell has broken loose–sun, moon, stars, earth, sea, in an uproar and everyone all over the world in a panic, the wind knocked out - SNDdeN Retreat explores 'Day of the Dead' tradition
When Sister Bárbara Gutiérrez, SNDdeN, was growing up in Mexico, the celebration of "Dia de los Muertos," the Day of the Dead, was observed mainly by older people. But in recent years, it has become more popular among young Mexicans - A Prayer for Memorial Day
In the quiet sanctuaries of our own hearts, let each of us name and call on the One whose power over us is great and gentle, firm and forgiving, holy and healing: You who created us, who sustain us, who - Remember
Remember the sky that you were born under, know each of the star's stories. Remember the moon, know who she is. Remember the sun's birth at dawn, that is the strongest point of time. Remember sundown and the giving away - Easter Sunday Gospel Reflection
Easter Sunday Gospel Reflection Sunday, April 4, 2021 by Sister Theresa Rynn, SNDdeN I have often thought how lucky I am to have been born in a country where Easter coincides with Spring. The winter waiting is over and all - Holy Thursday Gospel Reflection
Holy Thursday Gospel Reflection Thursday, April 1, 2021 by Sister Barbara Thiella, SNDdeN Hear Me: Do What I Do and Remember Me Come, let us walk together into a supper room and observe Jesus and his closest companions reclining at - Good Friday Gospel Reflection
Good Friday Gospel Reflection Friday, April 2, 2021 by Sister Honorine Yamba, SNDdeN We are celebrating the first day of the Pascal Triduum. It is the day of the victorious cross upon which Jesus left us the best of himself: - Palm Sunday Gospel Reflection
Palm Sunday Gospel Reflection Sunday, March 28, 2021 by Sister Barbara Metz, SNDdeN Today’s feast introduces us to the holiest week of the Church year. The scene opens for us with Jesus coming into the Holy City of Jerusalem at - Fifth Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection
Fifth Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection Sunday, March 21, 2021 by Sister Marilyn Pechillo, SNDdeN Today’s Gospel reading offers a paradigm of Christian life. It speaks of making the effort to meet Jesus, embracing His teaching and living the Paschal - Lent… An Anti-Racism PerspectiveAh or, more honestly, aaww—it’s Lent. I always have mixed feelings about Lent. Honestly, I would rather skip it, but as a good Catholic, I can’t. I like Lent’s call to a deeper relationship with Christ, but you can keep
- Fourth Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection
Fourth Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection Sunday, March 14, 2021 by Sister Roseanne Murphy, SNDdeN The readings for this Sunday are full of stories of the tension between light and darkness, sin and forgiveness. In the first reading, we learn - Third Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection
Third Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection Sunday, March 7, 2021 by Sister Camilla Burns, SNDdeN In today’s Gospel, we are moving from the wedding feast at Cana to a riot in the temple. In the Synoptic Gospels, the overturning of - Second Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection
Second Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection Wednesday, February 28, 2021 by Sister Magdalen Lawler, SNDdeN The Transfiguration Uncreated Light. ‘Longing to become in us everything You are…’ Tom McGuinness, SJ, with permission. In these days of darkness into which we - First Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection
First Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection Wednesday, February 21, 2021 by Sister Edna Maier, SNDdeN Oh Blessed Beginning! “Lent” = “Springtime”: a time for another walk with Jesus, another glimpse into His Gift of the Spirit, and a renewed awareness - Ash Wednesday 2021 Gospel Reflection
Ash Wednesday Gospel Reflection Wednesday, February 17, 2021 by Sister Maria Tecla da Silva, SNDdeN Charity, Prayer and Fasting Today’s Gospel highlights the elements of a spiritual journey: prayer, fasting and almsgiving (cf. Mt 6, 1-6.16-18). These three demand that - St. Julie: Brave enough to see it and be it.
Sister Liz Tiernan reflects on how St. Julie Billiart's echoes the words found in National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman's poem "The Hill We Climb." The beautiful, challenging poetry of Amanda's wondrous presentation, as well as her delivery, her cadence, - An Inauguration Prayer
We pray, 0 Lord, for President-elect [Joe Biden] and Vice President-elect [Kamala Harris], to whom You have entrusted leadership of this nation at this moment in history. We pray that You’ll help them bring our country together so that we - Christmas Dawn 2020 Gospel Reflection
Luke 2: 15 – 20 When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known - Fourth Sunday of Advent Gospel Reflection
Luke 1: 26-38 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was - Third Sunday of Advent Gospel Reflection
John 1: 6-8, 19-28 A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. - Second Sunday of Advent Gospel Reflection
Mark 1: 1-8 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” “a voice - First Sunday of Advent Gospel Reflection
Mark 13: 33-37 Jesus said to his disciples: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his - Sunday Gospel Reflection for the Sixth Sunday of Easter
John 14:15-21 Jesus said to his disciples: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, whom the - A Poem of Encouragement
Pandemic What if you thought of it as the Jews consider the Sabbath— the most sacred of times? Cease from travel. Cease from buying and selling. Give up, just for now, on trying to make the world different than it - Reflection from Psalm 8
By Kay McMullen, SNDdeN (1939 – 2018) O Holy, Holy One, how majestic are your names in all the earth! When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; - Earth Day: Protecting and Healing God's Creation
Fifteen years ago, Sr. Dorothy Stang, SNDdeN was killed for her efforts to protect the land and indiginous people of Brazil. Now on the 50th celebration of Earth Day, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur are renewing their commitment to - Easter Sunday Gospel Reflection
John 20:1-9 On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon - Feast of Good Friday Gospel Reflection
Feast of Good Friday Gospel Reflection Friday, April 10, 2020 Click here to read the Good Friday Gospel, which appears below the reflection. by Jo Threlfall, SNDdeN Our Lenten journey this year has been like no other in our life - Feast of Holy Thursday Gospel Reflection
John 13:1-15 Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already - Palm Sunday Gospel Reflection
Palm Sunday Gospel Reflection Sunday, April 5, 2020 Click here to read the Palm Sunday Gospel, which appears below the reflection. by Mary Ann Cook, SNDdeN There are lessons to be learned from the realities of climate change and the - Fifth Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection
John 11:1-45 Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her - Fourth Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection
John 9:1-41 As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is - Third Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection
John 4:5-42 Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It - Second Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection
Matthew 17:1-9 Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, - First Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection
Matthew 4:1-11 At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, - Prayer Before an Election
Lord God, as the election approaches, we seek to better understand the issues and concerns that confront our city, state and country, and how the Gospel compels us to respond as faithful citizens in our community. We ask for eyes - Ash Wednesday Gospel Reflection
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a - Remembering Sisters and Associates
The video below memorializes the Sisters and Associates of Notre Dame de Namur from the U.S. East-West Province who died in 2019. It was created by Terry Davis, SNDdeN with music by Sharon McMillan, SNDdeN. - Glimpse of Joy
C.S. Lewis once wrote that talking about God is like asking, “How many minutes are there in the color yellow?” St. Augustine says it another way when describing the Trinity, “I can experience far more than I can understand about - Advent Week 4: Gospel Reflection for December 22, 2019
Matthew 1:18-24 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was - Advent Week 3: Gospel Reflection for December 15, 2019
Matthew 11:2-11 When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus said - Advent Week 2: Gospel Reflection for December 8, 2019
Matthew 3:1-12 John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one - Advent Week 1: Gospel Reflection for December 1, 2019
Matthew 24:37-44 Jesus said to his disciples: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and - Sunday Gospel Reflection for August 25, 2019
Luke 13: 22-30 Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" He answered them, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, - A Mother's Day Prayer
All-loving God, we give you thanks and praise for mothers young and old. We pray for young mothers, who give life and count toes and tend to our every need; May they be blessed with patience and tenderness to care - Easter Sunday Gospel Reflection
Luke 24:13-35 That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened - Palm Sunday Gospel Reflection
Luke 23:1-49 The elders of the people, chief priests and scribes, arose and brought Jesus before Pilate. They brought charges against him, saying, “We found this man misleading our people; he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar and maintains - Fifth Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection
John 8:1-11 Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and - A Prayer for Lent
I Will Turn (a daily prayer for Lent) Lord, I will turn, Turn my face towards you. I will lay before you the desert areas I hide And turn to soak in your refreshing words of life. I will - Sunday Gospel Reflection
Luke 13:1-9 Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater - Confronting Injustice in the Amazon
The following information was created by Global Catholic Climate Movement, a worldwide network of 800+ Catholic organizations and thousands of Catholic people bringing Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ to life. This week, we commemorate the death of Sr. Dorothy Stang,"Martyr of the - Ash Wednesday Gospel Reflection
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a - Gospel Reflection on the Feast Day of the Founding of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
Luke 2:22-40 When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every - Gospel Reflection: Founding of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
Luke 3:15-16, 21-22 The people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. - Advent 2018 – Sunday Gospel Reflection for Week 4
Luke 1:39-45 Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and - Advent 2018 – Sunday Gospel Reflection for Week 3
Luke 3:10-18 The crowds asked John the Baptist, "What should we do?" He said to them in reply, "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise." Even tax collectors - Our Lady of Guadalupe
This week, the Sisters gathered at the Province Center for a prayer service in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. They began with a Reflection on the words that St. Juan Diego heard Mary speak to him in 1531: “Hear - Advent 2018 – Sunday Gospel Reflection for Week 2
Luke 3:1-6 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was - Advent 2018 – Sunday Gospel Reflection for Week 1
Luke 21:25-28,34-36 Jesus said to his disciples: "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die - Who is my Neighbor?
(in Haiku) Who is my neighbor And am I a neighbor too? God has called us all. People who suffer From domination’s power Seek helpful neighbors. A homeless man says “Thanks for the food and pillow” He knows his neighbor. - Sisters' Summer Media Suggestions
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur of the U.S. East-West Province have shared some of their favorite books and films in the latest edition of the Seasons publication. Here are two recommendations, and there is a link to the full - A Prayer for the Thanksgiving FeastFor the laughter of the children, for my own life breath, for the abundance of food on this table, for the ones who prepared this sumptuous feast, for the roof over our heads, the clothes on our backs, for our
- Thoughts from RFKThe vast majority of white people and the vast majority of black people in this country want to live together, want to improve the quality of our life, and want justice for all human beings that abide in our
- BeginningsDedicated to the memory of Karen Silkwood and Eliot Gralla “From too much love of living, Hope and desire set free, Even the weariest river Winds somewhere to the sea—“ But we have only begun
- Give WayBy Sr. Jon Julie Sullivan, SND Give way! What a perfect Easter message … Let all the stones be rolled away. All the locks undone. All the combinations revealed to opening. Give way to life wanting to come to. To
- Looking ForwardBy Sr. Barbara Thiella, SNDdeN This year I invite you to pause before you move into the new year. The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur share a lovely tradition with many other persons of faith: the last three days
- O Lord, I Almost Missed YouBy Sister Jon Julie Sullivan, SNDdeN There it was, the brown earthen hut. Put up more than a year ago, with no windows. I stopped to take a picture because it looked like the stable in the old story about
- All Are Called to HolinessThis homily was written by Sister Cathy Waldron , SNDdeN during her 50th Jubilee year and shared at the Jubilee Mass. So what is a Jubilee? Scripture defines Jubilee as a special year of universal pardon and remission of sins.
- Vacation TimePhoto and text by Sr. Jon Julie Sullivan, SNDdeN Ahhhh…vacation time! Permission to get off the road and sit still long enough to smell the ocean which is just around the bend. Sometimes, can't you just taste the salt simply
- Day to Day Resurrections"Do not be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here for he has been raised as he said." – Matthew 28:5 Day to Day Resurrections Jesus, by your Resurrection you are
- Where Dorothy is PlantedFour years ago after Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Dorothy Stang was murdered by hired gunmen on a lonely road in the Amazon rainforest, Marlene DeNardo was invited by the Sisters in Brazil to spend a study week with
- Slow Down…by Sr. Kay McMullen, SNDdeN Slow down Stop the hurry. Be still and quiet so the words that tiptoe along the edge, that pause just beyond the horizon of thought, can find you and you can hear them when they
- Life Needs Only a Small Space to Begin AgainPhoto and text by Sr. Jon Julie Sullivan, SNDdeN …a good lesson to me whenever I am at the eastern seacoast. The huge edges of the land meeting the sea always seem to have random spaces where earth has blown
- Just Around the BendPhoto and text by Sr. Jon Julie Sullivan, SNDdeN Just around the bend is how each new day begins. In many ways we are simply on a path Cleared and opened by those who are ahead. What grace there is
- I Am the Wayby Kay McMullen, SNDdeN I am the way. I am the temple's veil split open into uncharted wilderness. Water is wine now. The crippled limb is whole and the poor own the Kingdom. I am the empty tomb where failures
- Could It Be?By Sr. Kay McMullen, SNDdeN Could it be enough to stop the doing? Could it be enough only to take time to sit here? Could it be enough to stop and sit here to watch a bird to learn to
- Yesby Kay McMullen, SNDdeN With Mary, I say "yes." (Luke 1:26-28) The light is pale, gray. Wind tosses the branches of the redwoods up the hill. Here, more protected, the oaks are quiet until a stirring, then calm again. Everything–wet,
- Is it Time for You to Get Off the Bus?By Sister Edna Maier, SNDdeN Several years ago I found myself in Israel on a bus filled with tourists. We visited many of the holy places but the one place that stands out in my memory was our trip to
- Longing to Break OutPhoto and text by Sr. Jon Julie Sullivan, SNDdeN Zoos are not places I like to visit. Over the years it has dawned on me that not all zoos have fences and cages and we wild people are often in
- Blessed are you when they insult you… Novena Day 9Dorothy, they did speak lies about you, and persecute you and eventually murder you. They tried to silence you, but through your death, you became the "seed that fell to the ground." And your passion for the earth and love for the
- Blessed are those who are persecuted for holiness's sake… Novena Day 8Reflection on Psalm 130 Out of the depths, I call to you out of the hunger of the poor, out of their thirst, out of their dying, out of the fear of families forced from their homes and farms, out
- Blessed are they who show mercy… Novena Day 5Reflection on Psalm 125 You surround us like mountains; you keep us safe and secure. When we trust you, we, too, are like the mountains unshakable and enduring. You are strength. You are protection. You are mercy. You offer your