The 20th Annual Uganda Mission Pancake Breakfast will take place Sunday, February 21, 2016. 

Congress recently reinstated a law that allows you to make a tax-free gift from your IRA. Known as the IRA charitable rollover, this law no longer has an expiration date so you are free to make annual gifts to the Sisters of Notre Dame from your IRA this year...and well into the future.

Sr. Mary Luann Bender, the Mission & Ministry Coordinator at St. Charles Community, reflects on downsizing and her upcoming move from the convent at St. Charles Community to temporary residence at the St. Charles Lodge.

Sister Mary Colleen Dillon passed into the arms of our loving Father on November 28, 2015, at the age of 84.

The 2015 Uganda Maintenance Trip was an adventurous and productive success! Among many of the jobs, hundreds of screens were replaced, four new doorways were installed, and water-damaged ceilings were patched and painted. Click here for photos.

by Sr. Mary Joan Terese Niklas

Did you know...the current parking lot at St. Joseph Heights was formerly a pond?

The current, large blacktop parking lot in the back yard of the provincial center replaced the original pond on Mr. Heck’s farm. In 1912 when Mr. Heck agreed to sell his farm to the Sisters of Notre Dame, the property included a pond. An amazing event occurred on the morning of March 18, 1933. 

I went to St. Augustine School in Covington, KY for six years and became close to many Sisters of Notre Dame.  My first grade teacher was Sister Agnita.  She was very dear.  Of course, in the second grade I had Sr. Mary de Lellis, who led us through our First Communion. Then in the third grade I had dear Sister Mary Francello Orth.  She still remembers my sister's name today and asks how she is doing in Memphis. You see, my sister was the bright one in the family and a hard act to follow.

by Sr. Mary Suzanne Rose

“Why are these women so happy?” That’s the question that I wanted answered throughout my twelve years of school with the Sisters of Notre Dame. These women who had taught me since I was a little girl at St. Stephen’s School in Newport and then at Notre Dame Academy were really and truly happy people. I wanted what they had.

Sr. Mary Kathelyn Fritz passed away on Tuesday, November 10, 2015. Services will be held on Thursday, November 12 at the Sisters of Notre Dame Provincial Center.

On November 2, 2015, Sr. Bernard Clare Budde welcomed a friend from her childhood to the St. Joseph Heights Provincial Center.

by Sr. Mary Joan Terese Niklas

Did you know...why the Covington provincial center was (and is) called St. Joseph Heights?

In 1907 the Sisters of Notre Dame purchased a portion of the Fedders Farm (the current Park Hills Animal Hospital) and the adjacent Berry Farm on Lexington Pike/Dixie Highway.

Did you know? 

• Over 120,000,000 Americans do not have an up-to-date estate plan in place (H. Res. 1499). 
• Making a planned gift doesn't require that you be wealthy--only that you be willing to include the charity of your choice in your estate planning.
• Planned gifts can include: Wills/Bequests, Gifts of Stock...

Sr. Mary Paulynne Tubick (California Province) recently wrote to Sr. Mary Janet Stamm (Covington Province) with updates from the mission in Uganda.

by Sr. Mary Rita Geoppinger

This November Sr. Mary Rita Geoppinger will return to the SND mission in Uganda with eight volunteers. They are referred to as "the maintenance group" and will spend ten days taking on repairs and updates at the SND schools in Buseesa, Uganda. Sr. Mary Rita recently reflected on the upcoming trip, its challenges, and its blessings.  

What excites me most about the maintenance group making the trip is their dedication to "never leaving a job unfinished." Bob said this in the name of all the workers last year and true to their word, those who are able are returning.

Why do I enjoy being a part of the Notre Dame family, especially as an Associate of Notre Dame?  That is so simple, one word−relationship. 

by Sr. Mary Ruth Lubbers

On October 10 and 11, 2015, Sisters Mary Ann Christine Kathman, Claire Engbersen, Lourita Warken, and Ruth Lubbers took part in Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church and School’s 110^th Anniversary celebration in Birmingham, Alabama.  

Bishop John Stowe, who is the Bishop of the Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky, visited the SND Motherhouse on September 10, 2015. The Bishop was in Rome for the orientation program presented by the Vatican for all new bishops. Read the full story on snd1.org.

The Sisters of Notre Dame were founded on October 1, 1850 in Coesfeld, Germany. 

After 165 years of active apostolic ministry, there are countless instances of inspiration. However, there are bound to be a few funny stories, as well. Click below to read what inspires us today and the memories that made a few of us chuckle over the years.

by Sr. Marge Mouch

In October 2015, I will complete my first year as a Patient Support Navigator (PSN) at St. Claire Regional Medical Center in Morehead, KY. I love this work!

In this issue of the Holy Spirit Delegation newsletter:

• New delegation center
• Zinduka Women's Centre's first aid course
• African Child Day
• Creating a love of music in Kenya
• Maasai women self-help groups: Leather goods production, bee-keeping, first bank accounts, and more

Click here to read the Sisters of Notre Dame Holy Spirit Delegation September 2015 Newsletter.

In the craziness of life, it doesn't hurt to pause to discover more about yourself, your faith, and how it fits into the big picture.

Young adults are invited to the Charis "Choosing to be Catholic Retreat" hosted by the Sisters of Notre Dame.

DHL and the students at Notre Dame Elementary in Chardon, Ohio showed their generosity once again! During their annual fundraiser for the Sisters of Notre Dame Uganda Mission, the students raised money for the purchase of phonics books for their peers in Buseesa, Uganda. 

by Mekenzie Elbert

Welcome to the 2015-2016 Associates of Notre Dame candidates.

The Sisters of Notre Dame National Novitiate was featured in The Messenger and on SisterStory.

by Sr. Mary Judith Niewahner

One of the families at Holy Spirit Child Development Center recently asked if we sisters would be willing to let their daughter, Trinity, have her 8th birthday party at the convent in Newport, KY. An interesting request, and one we were happy to fulfill! The young girl's wish is to become a sister when she grows up. She also wished to have a nun birthday party.

Pope Francis has proclaimed September 1 a day of Prayer for Creation.  This “Season of Creation” concludes October 4, the Feast of Saint Francis. 

Francis invites each of us individually and as a community to enter into this period through Prayer, Reflection, by Reducing our Ecological Footprint and through Advocacy.

After my senior year of high school, I went to a Catholic youth conference. At the concluding Mass of this conference, the priest called anyone in the congregation who felt a call in their heart to the priesthood or religious life to come to the altar to be prayed over. As I watched all of these young people walk to the altar I heard a voice from within say, “You should be up there.” And I promptly stayed in my seat. 

As part of the Year of Consecrated Life, Pope Francis has called us to Wake Up The World! and joyfully proclaim the Gospel with those around us.

One way we plan to celebrate this call is by inviting everyone to the SND Provincial House to spend time with the Sisters of Notre Dame, learn about our various ministries, and explore the grounds. 

Mekenzie Elbert's August-December teaching experience and the SND Maintenance Group's November work visit at the Uganda Mission were featured in the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Meet Mayra and Nicole!

In 2014, both Mayra Martinez and Nicole Varnerin joined as postulants with the Sisters of Notre Dame. On Monday, August 10, they arrived in Covington, home of the new National Novitiate House (where Sr. Marla Monahan now serves as director).

Sr. Maria Francine Stacy was interviewed by Catholic Social Action-Archdiocese of Cincinnati in June 2015 regarding the Year of Consecrated Life. Hear what she had to say about Waking Up the World as a Sister of Notre Dame. 

by Sr. Mary Rita Geoppinger

The Education Summit sponsored by the SND National Education Office was aptly named because the time together - June 18-20, 2015 - really did represent a high point in the history of Notre Dame Education. The Summit was held at the University of Dayton. Over 150 teachers and administrators from many of our schools from the 4 U.S. Provinces, as well as our Notre Dame Schools in India, Tanzania, and Uganda were present to share the ND heritage and charism and to look toward its future full of hope.

The Notre Dame Academy president-principal model is featured in the summer 2015 issue of Best Chapter Magazine.

This fall, the St. Julie Mission in Uganda will welcome volunteers from Northern Kentucky.

Before convening with more than 400 fellow Sisters of Notre Dame in Columbus, OH, the four U.S. vocation directors came together in Covington, Kentucky.  Sr. Valerie Marie Roxburgh (Thousand Oaks, CA), Sr. Kathleen Mary Hine (Chardon, OH), Sr. Mary Teresita Richards (Toledo, OH), and Sr. Mary Ruth Lubbers (Covington, KY) met from July 20-22 to review and edit the in-the-works SND vocation website. This has been an ongoing collaboration between the four provinces’ vocation offices and communication staff.

by Sr. Mary Rita Geoppinger

SND-USA as an event is over but, in reality, SND-USA has been happening and will continue to happen, grow and change as the years go on. For this reason it was delightful to view an old video (1989) showing the anniversary celebration in Toledo of Sr. Aloysia's death. This ran on jumbotron screens during lunch breaks in the assembly area. It was fun to see how we were then and to muse on how much we have changed. It made us very conscious of how far we have come in 25 years, which doesn't seem all that long ago.

by Sr. Mary Dolores Giblin

What a blast—of Spirit action, openness to that action and to others encountered.  Altogether an enriching and motivating experience! I think we all walked away from the SND*USA gathering feeling like it is truly a blessing to belong to the Notre Dame family in the United States.

by Sr. Marla Monahan

Today was the first full day of the SND*USA National Gathering. The morning began with a liturgy led by Monsignor Charles Singler, who is Director of Priestly Vocations/Office of Divine Worship for the Diocese of Toledo and was educated by the Sisters of Notre Dame in Sandusky, OH. Appropriately, his focus for us was joy and courage.

The SND*USA National Gathering is July 23-26 in Columbus, Ohio.

428 Sisters of Notre Dame from the four US provinces will gather in one hotel to plan and pray as we work toward becoming one US province. Click here to follow updates from the national gathering. 

by Sr. Mary Margaret Droege

Today is the day:  The day we’ve been anticipating for weeks – no, months!  In a few hours we are off to Columbus to meet with sisters from our three other USA provinces: Thousand Oaks, CA, Toledo, OH, and Chardon, OH.  This “Gathering” as we call it, is one of the major steps as we move forward to form one SND-USA province.

by Sr. Mary Margaret Droege

Since 2006, when our first Uganda sister was professed, I had known our young women only through their photos and had heard stories about their participation in ministry, their enthusiasm, and their kindness.  Finally in June, the sisters in Covington would be able to meet two of these sisters, speak with them, and hear something of their personal stories.

Starting with the spring 2015 publication of The Pulse, all issues will be available on ISSUU.

by Sr. Mary Janet Stamm

Summer 2015 saw many visitors at the Covington provincial center! In June, we welcomed several of our sisters from India and Uganda to St. Joseph Heights. Sr. Mary Janet Stamm took a moment after their departures to reflect on their visits.

20 years. 2 decades. 240 months. A million beautiful memories.

On July 13, 1995, Sr. Mary Janet Stamm and Sr. Mary Delrita Glaser arrived in Uganda, East Africa, ready to build a mission that would transform a region.

The second annual Festival Hispanos took place in Dayton, OH on June 14, 2015. Sr. Maria Francine Stacy shared photos from the fun and friendly event.

by Sr. Margie Mouch

Father’s Day! What a wonderful way to celebrate it this year with our new Bishop John Stowe...

Mass on Sunday, June 21 will take place at 9:00 a.m. in St. Joseph Heights Chapel. 

Click here to buy your tickets for the 4th of July Festival Grand Raffle! If your name is drawn, you could win $500, $1000, or $2500. One ticket costs just one dollar. 

Family and friends filled St. Agnes Church on June 7, 2015 in celebration of this year's Covington SND Jubilarians. View photos

Wednesday, June 3 was the Feast of the Ugandan Martyrs.

Sr. Mary Paulynne Tubick, who serves at the SND mission in Uganda, wrote to Sr. Mary Janet Stamm on June 4 with an update on how the Sisters of Notre Dame and students recognized this important day in Ugandan and Christian history. 

by Sr. Maria Christina Hennig

In August 2014, Sr. Maria Christina Hennig made a different kind of annual retreat. She participated in spiritual exercises on the streets of Manhattan. 

The Covington Province will celebrate and honor our 2015 Jubilarians on Sunday, June 7 at St. Agnes Church in Park Hills, KY. 

The Covington Sisters of Notre Dame are looking for a few helping hands on the nature trail. No green thumb required!

Each year thousands of pilgrims flock to both the Catholic and Anglican shrines near Kampala, Uganda to mark the feast of the Ugandan Martyrs (June 3). Christians pay homage to the 45 martyrs who were killed between 1885-1887 by the ruling monarch for practicing their Christian religion.

by Sr. Mary Margaret Agnes Hemmerle

There are many ways to pray. On Wednesday, May 27, 2015 we set out on a way that was begun or rather revitalized in the 16th century by St. Philip Neri in Rome. I am talking about a walking pilgrimage. 

by Sr. Mary Janet Stamm

Life is a journey.  I am still on the way.  Reflecting on this truth helped me as I ended one grand chapter of my life, took wings and then set foot on a whole new path.  After eighteen years in active ministry in education at St. Julie Mission in Uganda, East Africa, I returned home to stay.

On May 24, 2015 in Arusha, Tanzania, the SND mission in Uganda joined the SND missions from Tanzania and Kenya to form the new Holy Spirit General Delegation. The formation of the delegation is the next step for Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya before they become a province.

On Sunday, May 17, 2015, Sr. Cormarie Rebhan volunteered at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Rome. 

Covington SND Associates gathered on May 16, 2015 to celebrate the Feast of the Visitation. 

May 13 is the Feast of St. Julie Billiart, the spiritual mother of the Sisters of Notre Dame.

Move over, Monet! Sr. Mary Ann Christine Kathman’s artwork was recently chosen as an auction item to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Cincinnati Chapter. The live auction took place at The Art of Making Memories benefit on May 7, 2015 at the Horseshoe Casino in Cincinnati.

The Sisters of Notre Dame taught me when I was a child at St Martin’s in Cincinnati and were a big influence on me. How fortunate for me to be reacquainted with the Sisters so many years later.

“We are very proud of Sister Maria Francine. She really gives of herself, always and in many ways. I am so proud that she is a witness in showing God’s love to his people.” These were the supportive words expressed by Sister Margaret Agnes Hemmerle after Sister Maria Francine Stacy was awarded the El Amigo Del Pueblo Award at the Second Annual Amigos Latinos Gala on April 24, 2015.

On April 11, 2015, a group of 77 Covington Sisters of Notre Dame and 20 of their partners in mission took part in the Covington Province's annual Day of Service.

We give special attention to honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary during the month of May. Today, we celebrated the annual May Crowning of the statue of Mary in the St. Joseph Heights Chapel, commencing our month of devotion.

Single women between 18-40 are invited to join the Sisters of Notre Dame for a week of service and fellowship in New Orleans!

Many of our blessed partners in mission came to the 19th Annual Pancake Breakfast on April 19, 2015 in support of the SND mission in Uganda.

Notre Dame Urban Education Center (NDUEC) is seeking volunteers who wish to help provide educational support services to young children in Covington.

Please join us in welcoming Mr. Jack VonHandorf, who will serve as the next principal of Notre Dame Academy, Park Hills.

We welcome Mr. VonHandorf with joyful prayer as he assumes this exciting role, which promotes and celebrates the SND charism and values of St. Julie Billiart, our spiritual mother.

Welcome and congratulations, Mr. VonHandorf!

On April 12, 2015 in the St. Joseph Heights Chapel, the Sisters of Notre Dame welcomed Theresa Brugger, Anna Geoppinger, Kim Downs, Chris Wilson, and Irene Hasenfratz to the SND Associate Program. 

My connection to the Sisters of Notre Dame began as a first grader at St. Augustine School in Covington, Ky.  It was as a first grader that I met a gentle giant of a woman, Sister Mary Francello Orth.  I was ever so fortunate to also have Sister Mary Francis Dirr in my life as a second grader.  Sister Mary Francis prepared me well for the reception of the sacraments of Confession and First Communion.

Sister Maria Christina Hennig, SND, received her chaplaincy certificate on March 7, 2015. The certification ceremony took place at the National Association of Catholic Chaplains Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. 

Along with 32,000 other participants, Sr. Mary Rita Geoppinger and Sr. Mary Luann Bender attended the March 13-15 Religious Education Congress in Los Angeles, California.

Sr. Mary Sheila Felix, SND, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 25, 2015. Services will be held Friday, March 27, 2015 at the Sisters of Notre Dame Provincial Center. 

Annual Pancake Breakfast to support the SND Uganda, East Africa Mission
Sunday, April 19, 2015
8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Notre Dame Academy Cafeteria, 1699 Hilton Drive, Park Hills, KY
Adults: $6.00 / Children: $4.00

Did you miss the February 21 airing of Kentucky Life that featured St. Claire Regional and Sr. Mary Jeanne Frances Cleves, SND? Don't worry! KET archived the episode online. Click here to watch.

Pay it forward at the annual SND Day of Service on Saturday, April 11, 2015! We will meet at the SND Provincial House before heading out to service agencies in the Greater Cincinnati area.

Sr. Mary Jeanne Frances Cleves and St. Claire Regional Medical Center will be featured on KET's Kentucky Life on Saturday, February 21, 2015. 

"My love for the Sisters of Notre Dame began as a small child.  The Sisters taught at St. John's grade school in Wilder, KY.  I had a brother or sister in just about every grade level when I attended the school and my family was very close to the Sisters..."

Have you asked yourself this question? You may interested in the online Discernment Retreat offered this Lent by the Vocation Ministers of the Greater Cincinnati Area.

Sr. Mary Renée Nienaber, SND, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 1, 2015. 

Young adults are invited for a weekend of exploring the transitions that define our past, present, and future. Take time away on February 27-March 1, 2015 to reflect with others and on your own, listen to the experiences of a young adult team, and celebrate Mass.

Following the African Conference from December 14 to 20, Sr. Mary Shauna Bankemper had the opportunity to visit our sisters in Uganda and spent Christmas in Buseesa. Visit snd1.org to read more and view photos from her trip.

Register for the March 27-29 or April 17-19 Women's Weekend Retreat to connect with yourself and other women through fellowship and a shared journey of faith.

Srs. Marla Monahan, Mary Dennise Wagenlander, and Mary Lynette Shelton, having recently completed leadership terms after many years of ministry, were blessed to participate in a sabbatical period in the fall of 2014. Read Sr. Marla's Sabbatical Reflection.

Srs. Marla Monahan, Mary Dennise Wagenlander, and Mary Lynette Shelton, having recently completed leadership terms after many years of ministry, were blessed to participate in a sabbatical period in the fall of 2014. Read Sr. Mary Lynette's Sabbatical Reflection.

Srs. Marla Monahan, Mary Dennise Wagenlander, and Mary Lynette Shelton, having recently completed leadership terms after many years of ministry, were blessed to participate in a sabbatical period in the fall of 2014. Read Sr. Mary Dennise's Sabbatical Reflection.

Due to the snow, the February 18 Ash Wednesday Day of Recollection Retreat has been canceled.

On January 25-31, 2015, we will celebrate our history and our future in Catholic education as part of National Catholic Schools Week, but we do not want to celebrate alone.