ASKanSND
You have questions. We want to answer.
Help us to build this page. Here is your chance to ask us a question or offer a comment.
Just use the "email us" form at the bottom of this page or use my email address to get Sr. Angele directly. Remember to ask your questions.
A: FAQ is an acronym for "frequently asked questions."
Q: Why should you ASK an SND?
A: We hope you will use this ASK an SND page to ask your your burning questions about religious life or discernment. We will be monitoring this website twice a day, so hopefully, you will have your answer in a timely fashion. You can also email me directly at
srangele@ASKanSND.org
Q: How did your congregation come to be? A: We were founded by
Julie Billiart and Françoise Blin de Bourdon in 1804 in Amiens, France. They chose the name Sisters of Notre Dame ("
Notre Dame" means Our Lady in French). The Catholic Church, at this time, only experienced sisters/nuns as serving and living in one area or diocese and responsible to the local bishop. The Bishop of Amiens wanted these new Sisters of Notre Dame to stay only in his diocese. He would not allow Julie and Fran
çoise to continue to keep contact with their sisters outside of his diocese.
Julie and Françoise believed that God wanted the Sisters of Notre Dame to be a "light to the nations" -- that is, to go all over the world. As you can imagine, Julie and Françoise as as "women of the church" were torn between what they understood God to call them to do and what the local Bishop expected. So after carefully discerning what Julie Believe God wanted her to do and by being welcomed by a Bishop who understood that their mission was "to the whole world," Julie and Françoise moved the motherhouse to Namur, Belgium in 1809. So this is why we are known as the the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.
Today we number over 1800 Sisters of Notre Dame and we serve on 5 continuents. We minister to and collaborate with co-workers nationally and internationally in order to respond to people who are under-served.
Q: What type of "rule" do you follow? A: Our "rule" was rather innovated for its day. In fact, Julie died before our "rule" was approved. It was during Françoise's time of leadership (or thirty years after the congregation was founded) that the "rule" (Constitutions/Directory) was approved. Although our "rule" was influenced by Benedictine and Jesuit traditions, ours is and continues to be significantly impacted by the spirituality of Julie and Françoise. Their love of our "good God" and their friendship continues to animate us to make known in our time, as they did in theirs, that "God is good."
Q: Who are the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur? A: We are a community of Catholic women religious who are contemplatives in action -- wo we are contemplatives who are serve God's people directly -- "hands on." Our service involves aspects of "education for life" and includes such ministries (jobs with a Christian twist) as: teachers, counselors, social workers, lawyers, U.N. Representatives, community organizers, nurses and healthcare professionals, etc.