Please join us to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Sisters of Notre Dame at St. Peter in Cleveland, Ohio. Their witness to the compassionate love of Christ is woven into the fabric of Historic St. Peter.
The Sisters of Notre Dame originated in Coesfeld, Germany in 1850. Two teachers, Hilligonde Wolbring and Elisabeth Kühling, cared for poor and neglected children whose families could not provide for them. An orphan herself, Hilligonde professed vows and became Sister Maria Aloysia. Elisabeth made vows as Sister Maria Ignatia. The growing congregation of women religious was committed to education, caring for women and children, and witnessing to God’s goodness and provident care.
In a few short decades, the congregation would need to flee Germany due to anti-Catholic legislation. At the same time, many European Catholics were moving to the United States building new churches and schools for the immigrant population. One such parish was St. Peter in Cleveland, Ohio.
In 1874, Sr. Aloysia and 7 other pioneering sisters arrived in Cleveland responding Bishop Gilmour’s invitation. The industrious sisters built a convent east of St. Peter in 1877. The following year, Cleveland became the center of the Sisters of Notre Dame apostolic work when the US motherhouse moved to St. Peter. More women joined their congregation and a larger building was constructed in 1896.
Education was a fundamental part of the SND’s apostolic work. They taught at St. Peter School from their arrival until 1962 (when the school closed). They opened St. Peter High School in 1922 as a two-year commercial school transitioning to a four-year comprehensive high school for girls in 1940. In 1971, St. Peter High School merged with St. Stephen and Lourdes Academy to form Eireview Catholic High School next to St. Peter Church in the building now known as the Cosgrove Center.
The Sisters of Notre Dame have positively impacted the St. Peter community for generations. Since 1874, forty-two women from St. Peter have become Sisters of Notre Dame.
The Sisters of Notre Dame have grown from the intrepid eight sisters who arrived in 1874. Within 50 years of arriving in the United States, the Sisters of Notre Dame counted over 650 sisters serving in numerous locations in Ohio and Kentucky with a reputation for providing exceptional Catholic education. The SND expanded going to Los Angeles, CA to begin ministering on the West Coast.
In addition to their focus on education, SNDs expanded their social outreach ministries to serve emerging needs on the margins of society and to young adults seeking meaning and direction. Today, there are more than 1,600 Sisters of Notre Dame serving in 17 countries across the globe.
“Our charism and spirit remain alive in the Church through our witness of life and apostolic service. In fidelity to our charism we participate in the mission of Jesus Christ, witnessing God’s goodness and provident care to others. The Church sends us through our congregation to assist our sisters and brothers to direct their lives to God in faith so that all may experience God’s goodness.
As an apostolic community committed to our mission, we devote ourselves to education in all its forms, especially to catechesis and to other ministries. Impelled by a missionary spirit, we respond to the needs of the times and share God’s compassionate love with people of all faiths and cultures, particularly those who are poor and marginalized.”