Heritage Materials

Today the Sisters of Notre Dame, a Marian family of women religious, serve the Church throughout the world in education and other ministries. Together with their lay collaborators, they continue to be bearers of hope and joy, witnessing to God’s goodness and provident care.

Our Heritage is our foundation. Below are downloadable materials to help teach the history of the Sisters of Notre Dame.


Downloadable Resources:

To Coesfeld from Julie – Notes on SND Coesfeld tradition and thought which traces the founding from Amersfoort and Namur

St. Julie: Rapture in Action Commentary An artistic explanation of one aspect of St. Julie’s spirituality

Quotations of St. Julie – Words of wisdom from our Co-foundress 

A Brief History of the Sisters of Notre Dame Coesfeld, Germany – A brief history set in the context of the four seasons of the year 

Congregation of SND Booklet

Mission Charism and Story

Ceramic Relief of the SND Story – A visual explanation of the history of the SNDs shown in ceramic rendering

Reflections on Sr. Maria Aloysia Wolbring Words from the foundress

A Bit About Bernard Overberg A three-page backgrounder on the life and influence of Bernard Overberg. His catechesis and pedagogy shaped the congregation 

The Educational Legacy of Father Bernard Overberg

The Apple of His Eye – What Hilligonde Wolbring (Sr. Mary Aloysia) learned and lived from Bernard Overberg

Bernard Overberg: Spiritual and Pedagogical Principles – Insights and quotations from Bernard Overberg drawn from the paper prepared for the International Education Conference in 2007 by Sr. Margaret Gorman, SND

Quotes from Bernard Overberg

Bernard Overberg and the Educational Tradition of the Coesfeld Sisters of Notre Dame

Key Dates in the Life of St. Julie Billiart and Coesfeld Foundresses – A timeline of SND Foundresses and their lifetime milestones 

Quotations from Sister Maria Aloysia Wolbring: Foundress of the Coesfeld Sisters of Notre Dame – Words of wisdom from our Co-foundress

Coesfeld Crucifix – Commentary on the Coesfeld Crucifix 

SND Coat of Arms – An explanation of the SND congregational coat of arms

SND Congregational Cross and Explanation – A one-page explanation of the symbolism 

Foundation Day Intro and Prayer – An introduction and prayer for Foundation Day 

Foundation Day Story and Prayer – Historical context of Foundation Day

Founding Group of Five – A collage of the founding Foundation Day members

May 6 – Sr. Aloysia Death – The story of Sr. Maria Aloysia’s death on May 6, 1889 (written in 2019 by Sr. Maria Teresita Richards)

May 6, 2019 poster – Reflection on May 6, 1889 by Sr. Mary Jessica Karlinger (written in 2019)

May 13 Feast of St. Julie – Why the Coesfeld Sisters of Notre Dame call Julie Billiart their spiritual mother, by Sr. Mary Jessica Karlinger (written in 2019)

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