Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur

Julie was still paralyzed when she and her friend, Françoise Blin de Bourdon, founded the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Even as a young girl, Julie had a gift for teaching, especially for teaching children about God. In France during the 1800s, most girls didn’t have the opportunity to get a good education. Julie and Françoise opened free schools for poor girls. They also opened day schools for middle-class girls and academies for the wealthy, both of which supported the free schools. Young women were attracted to their way of life and asked to join the community.

The bishop of Amiens, France, where Julie began the first community, thought the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur belonged in only one diocese – his! St. Julie knew God was calling her far beyond those boundaries. The bishop finally ended up expelling her from Amiens. It was a very painful time for Julie, Françoise, and the Sisters. St. Julie had remained faithful to the vision God had given her for the Congregation.

 

Today the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur continue this educational ministry, both formally and in less structured ways. There are Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 16 countries, where they continue their original mission of proclaiming God’s goodness and educating for life. These countries include countries where the people are suffering because of political and economic turmoil.

Whatever our circumstances, as Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, we proclaim with St. Julie, “How good is the Good God!” The cross we wear summarizes this spirituality of confidence in God’s goodness during joyful times as well as difficult ones. One side reads, “Ah, qu’il est bon, le Bon Dieu!” (“How good is the Good God!”). On the other side are the letters “ND” (“Notre Dame,” which means “Our Lady”), reminding us of the role Jesus’ mother Mary has in our lives. Like St. Julie, we trust God to inspire us as we work hard so people can experience God’s goodness and live safe, satisfying lives.