Sisters of Notre Dame - Kentucky Province

Celebrating Mardi Gras at SND

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:06:48 EST

The Associates and Sisters of Notre Dame celebrated a Pre-Mardi Gras evening on Friday, February 18, at St. Joseph Heights. They played Trivia and enjoyed lots of refreshments and desserts. Even a jester showed up – directly from New Orleans. The sisters would like to thank the mardi gras committee for making this evening a memorable and enjoyable evening.

To see pictures of the evening. Click on the pictures to create a slide show.

tags: Mardi Gras

Two Open Letters Concerning Fires in Uganda

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:34:16 EST

(By Sister Mary Janet Stamm, SND)

15 Feb.
Dear Family and Friends,
We are so grateful to you for your prayers but we ask you to continue to pray for rain and for protection from fire and water shortage and other problems due to serious drought. As I write this our forest across from our convent and schools is on fire. It is such a scary sight! We have been cutting trees and preparing a large area of the forest to make a new banana plantation. Our men have been preparing to burn it but not until tomorrow. They cleared bush and dug stop ditches and fire breakers. They had people lined up to guard so the fire would not go in the wrong place. I went this afternoon about 3:00 and walked the whole place to be sure things were protected. Even since this morning the government school across from our place and a bit up the road started a fire to burn their garden, a large one. It burned all day and the wind was pretty strong. It seemed to be under control but at 5:30 the fire jumped and went into our forest. I left the supper table to go to school to take some gloves to our men because they were going to move two bee hives which were in the forest so it could be burned tomorrow. As I walked the path I was shocked to see the flames leap into the sky. I ran home to tell the sisters and spread word for help. I met the sisters on the way for they had seen the flames after leaving our dining room. At this point the fire is still burning but it seems to be under some control. They will have to watch it all night. The police came from our neighboring village because they thought our school was on fire. The air is full of smoke as you can imagine. It continues to be so very hot and we have had not one drop of rain. Some are getting sick with respiratory problems because of the dust and smoke. Almost every night you can see fires somewhere. Please continue to help us beg for the gift of precious rain. I promise to write just as soon as it rains. Some of you ask if I was okay. Yes, I am. I had a cold or whatever it was but I am better now. Some of the other sisters have it now with bad throat, headache, etc. I think it is all related to the weather conditions. We so much appreciate your help. God bless you all.
With much gratitude,
Sr. Janet

(DAY TWO)

16 Feb.
Dear Family and Friends,
Today it is overcast and peaceful. Our forest bears the scars of the big fire last night. As I thought about what happened yesterday it came to my mind how very blessed we are with God's loving care for us. I want to share my reflections with you and also again, thank you so very much. Yesterday afternoon as the fire burned in our neighboring school's field the wind was strong. Last night after the fire jumped to our forest the wind had died down quite a bit. If it had continued to be strong as in the afternoon we would have been in big difficulties and trouble. A second thought - our workers had completed the preparations for burning which was to happen tonight. Fire breakers were in place and other preparations were made. If this had not been done again - the fire would have surely destroyed out banana plantation and reached our school buildings. Third - we did not start the fire. The police came and questioned who it was that started it. We could honestly say we did not. This makes me realize that we should have informed the police of our intentions for tonight. Well, God took care of things in his own way. A fourth blessing is that no one was hurt. Only one close call. One worker was nearly attacked by a very big snake. It brushed his leg and with the help of those around him it was killed before doing harm. I was told that the fire would make the snakes "run". I won't be surprised if we see more. As I think of these things I realize how our good God has his loving hand over us and is protecting us. Know that he is listening to the many prayers and I know that soon he will send the rain. Again - thank you so much.
With much gratitude,
Sr. Janet

tags: Sister Mary Janet Stamm

A Fund-Raiser to Benefit Uganda

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:01:40 EST

The Ludlow Knights of Columbus is sponsoring a pancake & sausage breakfast on Sunday, February 19, 2012, at Notre Dame Academy. Proceeds benefit the Sisters of Notre Dame Uganda Mission. Come out and support this worthy cause. All are invited.

tags: Uganda Fund Raiser

Presentation on Learning Communities

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:36:49 EST

On Saturday, February 11, 2012, Teri Von Handorf, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs for Gateway Community & Technical College, gave an enlightening presentation to the Sisters of Notre Dame community on “Learning Communities.” The presentation was part of “Province Day”; a day set aside for sisters to gather as a community and implement ideas from the General Chapter Document.

The morning presentation gave sisters an opportunity to share ideas and methodology of how to use these “learning communities” within their classrooms, ministries, and within their General Chapter. Ms. Von Handorf explained the concepts behind learning communities and then invited sisters to work together in groups to explore their own interpretation of how learning communities could be used to advance and implement the SND General Chapter Document.

The sisters came away from the presentation with a wonderful insight of how learning communities encourage individuals to seek, research, share, and learn in order to effect a systemic change within an organization. At the end of the presentation, Sister Marla Monahan invited sisters to sign up for the various learning communities identified within the six critical needs identified within the General Chapter Document.

The Sisters of Notre Dame wish to thank Teri for her time and enlightening presentation on “Learning Communities.”

To see pictures of the day, click here.

tags: Learning Community Presentation

Outstanding Uganda NDA Test Results

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:32:19 EST

(Message from Sister Mary Rita Geoppinger)

Dear Everyone,

Just a quick note to let you know that I am safe and sound here in Buseesa. I arrived around 3PM today (2/8/2012). Thanks be to God! Thanks for all your love and prayers that brought me here having had no problems with the travel or the baggage etc.

When I arrived at the airport at 10:30PM last evening, I was greeted with the good news that the UCE results had been released that afternoon and that places NDA as #10 in the country with an aggregate of 96% - Division One. Only one out of the class of 25 got a Division 2 and she missed the Div 1 cut-off by one point. Needless to say this is our best ever! The paper reported the results for a total of 2534 schools this year. That is quite an accomplishment. The teachers and the kids worked hard and they deserve this great success.

So join us in giving thanks and praise to our dear good God! Please keep the prayers for rain coming. We need it desperately. Keep the prayers coming for everything. We count on them.

Much love and many prayers,
Sister Mary Rita SND
Notre Dame Academy - Buseesa

tags: Uganda students