The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur are women religious in an international Congregation, founded in France in 1804 by St. Julie Billiart. Sisters serve in Belgium, Brazil, Congo-Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Italy, Japan, Haiti, Kenya, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Peru, South Africa, South Sudan, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe, and in 27 states throughout the USA.
We commit ourselves to make known God's goodness through education in a variety of ministries. We staff offices/centers in Rome, ITALY, Namur, BELGIUM and Ipswich, MA, USA. We work to change lives and "to stand with people made poor in a world marked by increasing divisions and inequalities" (2014 General Chapter Calls).
Founded on St. Julie Billiart's belief in the goodness of God, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur bring to their lives and work a respect for the goodness and dignity of each person and a care for justice for all.
Mission Statement
Sisters of Notre Dame,
women with hearts as wide as the world,
make known God's goodness and love
with and among people living in poverty,
through a Gospel way of life, community and prayer.
Continuing a strong educational tradition,
we take our stand with people living in poverty,
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.
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur teach in schools and community education centers, and support and counsel people of all ages in pastoral ministries and social services. You will find them in ministries from Seattle to Los Angeles, San Francisco to New York City, to Kenya and South Sudan.
Retired Sisters tutor in elementary schools, teach English as a Second Language, take Eucharist to nearby care facilities and, above all, pray. They never retire from their vocation of service and prayer!
The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur are active in Notre Dame schools throughout the world, at all levels of education.
In 2014, several provinces of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur joined together to form the U.S. East-West Province. This and other entities are part of the international congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur founded in France in 1804 by St. Julie Billiart.
Sisters Eileen Burns, Elaine Bain, Mary Farren, Catherine Waldron, Patricia Chappell and Barbary Barry are the members of the U.S. East-West Province Leadership Team.